#108 Fashion victim: The Garments of Caean (1976) by Barrington J. Bayley

Classic SF with Andy Johnson

The Garments of Caean is a science fiction novel by the British author Barrington J. Bayley (1937 - 2008). It forms a part of his classic run of unusual and energetic books in the mid-1970s, and is included in guide 100 Must-Read Science Fiction Novels. This is a space opera with an odd hook - it is about clothes, specifically an incredible Frachonard suit which gives its wearer remarkable influence over others.
This is both an exciting interstellar adventure with comic elements, and an interesting vehicle for sociological speculation about cultural exchange, self-image, and whether the clothes really make the man.

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