Archive for the ‘Harry Harrison’ Category
Today’s guest post is from Richard, who runs The Broken Bullhorn. Richard is a very active blogger, offering discussions and reviews of new and older mysteries, science fiction, and graphic novels/comics. If you’re looking for a friendly blog that covers a wide range of genres and offers discussions in the comments, be sure to add The Broken Bullhorn to your feeds.
Deathworld, by Harry Harrison
by Richard
(Deathworld by Harry Harrison (Astounding Science Fiction, 1960, 1964, 1968 – see below), Conde Nast Publications, plus various paperback publishers. E-book publication (2009-02-04). Deathworld Wildside Press, my copy: the Kindle Edition.)
“Deathworld” is the name of a series of short science fiction novels by Harry Harrison including the books Deathworld (first published 1960, serialized in Astounding Science Fiction), Deathworld 2 (1964, initially titled The Ethical Engineer and serialized in Analog) and Deathworld 3 (1968, serialized in Analog as The Horse Barbarians), plus the short story “The Mothballed Spaceship” (written as part of a tribute to John W. Campbell). The central hero is Jason dinAult a gambler who becomes involved with colonists of an extremely hostile planet.
dinAlt is a professional gambler who uses his erratic psionic abilities to tip the odds in his favor. He is challenged – with a hefty incentive – by the ambassador from the planet Pyrrus, to turn a large amount of money into an immense sum by gambling. He succeeds and survives the planetary government’s desperate efforts to steal back the money but winds up on Pyrrus, which, it turns out, is the deadliest world ever colonized by humans.
The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison, a Guest Post by Lynn of Lynn’s Book Blog
Posted on: January 21, 2014
I’ve been friends with fellow blogger Lynn, of Lynn’s Book Blog for years. We started commenting on each other’s blog, and before we knew it we were doing read alongs together and plotting to take over the world! Okay, not that last part. Well, maybe a little. In today’s guest post, Lynn talks Stainless Steel Rat, and how she got started reading more speculative fiction. Crime, con artists and capers in outerspace? sign me up!
The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison
by Lynn Williams
This month I’m reading some Vintage Sci Fi for Little Red Reviewer’s Vintage Sci Fi month – which also dovetails quite nicely with Stainless Steel Droppings Sci Fi Experience. Basically, it’s a bit like cheating – you read one book and it counts for both events. Win. We all love a cheat – don’t deny it! It’s like finding a short cut or a bargain – it makes you happy!
I’ve read a few sci fi books already but the first that I can put towards my Vintage event is Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison. I did think about writing a little introduction about the author but, to be honest, I’m probably not the best person to do that. This is my first reading experience of this author and so to start waxing lyrical would just be plain silly – there are plenty of people out there who could really do him justice rather than me just regurgitating facts from Wiki! The reason I chose this book? To be honest I don’t read much sci fi and that’s something I like to address. To be even more honest the reason for this is because I find it a little bit daunting. Basically sci fi scares the pants off me because I think I’m not going to understand it! I mean, it’s not like I’m a raging dunce but I hold my hands up that maths and science are not my forte – and I don’t want to read a book that makes me feel ridiculously stupid (is that bad?).
When I started blogging, one of the first blogs that I came across was Stainless Steel Droppings (followed by Little Red Reviewer). I’ve been following these blogs for quite some time now and in doing so I’ve read books that I frankly would never have picked up, I’ve read books that the cover alone would have had me walking out the shop!, I’ve read a few classics and I’ve taken part in readalongs that meant the subject of the book was dissected in a really fun way. Carl, over at Stainless Steel Droppings named his blog so because he has loved this author since being a young boy first stepping into the sci fi realm. I really like that sort of thing and so I thought I’d read this book to find out for myself just how good these books are. After all, if these books encouraged one person’s love of sci fi then what not mine?? Also, reading a bit about the Stainless Steel Rat its clear that this series is fun with a cheeky rogue being the main protagonist.
That all being said, the pressing issue – did I like it and would I continue with the series – yes, and yes!
The Stainless Steel Rat was the first in the series (although I think there have been prequels written since). The book sets off really well with Jim diGriz going from one crime caper to the next. The reason why this is so unusual is that crime has virtually been eradicated in this future world. Genetic tampering (presumably) has removed the trait and so there are very few master criminals working the stars, not to mention the crime enforcers are poorly placed to deal with such crime. Jim has little respect for the law and his lofty attitude is in a sense his undoing. He finds himself in a situation where he’s being chased and in attempting to escape capture is actually being manoeuvred into a trap – he’s used to being the one who’s always one step ahead. This isn’t a spoiler by the way – basically Jim is caught by the Special Corps – their aim (to boldly go maybe) to recruit master criminals and use their cunning and wily ways to catch others! A thief to catch a thief – not a bad plan.
the Little Red Reviewer 
Recent Comments