Wasp (book)
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Wasp is a science fiction novel by Eric Frank Russell, first published in 1957. It was reprinted in London by Gollancz in 2001 with ISBN 0575070951, and distributed in several countries.
In this novel, the Earth is in a war with the Sirian Empire. The Earth is more advanced technologically, but the Sirian Empire has a 12-to-one advantage in people and equipment. James Mowry, the protagonist from Earth, is intensely trained in explosives, psychological warfare, and other important topics. He's then dropped onto the Sirian planet Jaimec, to wage a one-person war by causing mayhem and distracting the Sirians. His job is described as being like a wasp that can distract a driver and cause a car crash. Mowry begins by placing stickers around the planet with subversive announcements from "Dirac Angestun Gesept" (the Sirian Freedom Party), and through a series of antics causes the police state of the Sirians to react far in excess to the threat.
The book includes many small cultural details that to many make the alien culture more believable. It includes many small phrases (such as using "Yar" for yes and "Nar" for no) that have been repeated elsewhere. The exact relationship of the Sirians and Earthlings is never clearly stated, but the Sirians are clearly very similar in both appearance and way of thinking.
The novel has often been noted for its wry sense of humor. Many have simultaneously found the book disquieting as well; the protagonist commits murder and actively works to create a sense of fear in the populace. Its themes have been considered especially disquieting by many after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Terry Pratchett has commented about Wasp that "I can't imagine a funnier terrorists' handbook".