Attempting to pigeonhole Scholars as a simple political thriller or spy novel would do a disservice to the book, since it also partakes of the paranoid conspiracy genre...the techno-thriller, and even a bit of alt-hist Elizabethean-punk. I find it to be firmly embedded in the broad fantastika canon, and believe that any reader who generally favors more cleanly delineated echt science fiction will cherish and welcome it ... Featuring much black humor, kinetic fight scenes, a certain cosmopolitan gravitas and savvy about ethics and utilitarianism, this book alternates tender, somber moments with vicious brawls, without one wasted word.
Highly recommended for readers looking for classic spy stories such as those by John le Carré and Len Deighton, because this work stands up to the best of the genre.
Whipping modern war games and Renaissance skullduggery into a frothy blend, this long out-of-print 1988 spy novel is part of the rediscovery of World Fantasy Award winner Ford’s legacy ... Ford (1957–2006) injects historical speculation about Marlowe and a plot to kill Queen Elizabeth into the deadly high-tech espionage and naval warfare, making a mélange that should catch the interest of readers of alternate histories and spy novels alike.