Deathworld Trilogy [Paperback]

Harry Harrison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1976

DEATHWORLD centers on Jason dinAlt, a professional gambler who uses his somewhat erratic psionic abilities to tip the odds in his favor. He is challenged by a man named Kerk Pyrrus (who turns out to be the ambassador from the planet Pyrrus) to turn a large amount of money into an immense sum by gambling at a government-run casino. He succeeds and survives the planetary government's desperate efforts to steal back the money. In a fit of ennui, he decides to accompany Kerk to his home, despite being warned that it is the deadliest world ever colonized by humans...DEATHWORLD! DEATHWORLD is one of the classics of the Golden Age of science fiction, born in the pages of Astounding Science Fiction under the editorship of John W. Campbell, Jr.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Berkley; First Edition edition (February 1, 1976)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425030717
• ISBN-13: 978-0425030714
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,374,526 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kill or be killed!, May 25, 2000

By 

joe_n_bloe (Ester AK USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Deathworld (Deathworld Trilogy) (Paperback)

It's a darned shame that this book spends most of its time out of print. (Or for all I know, all of its time out of print nowadays.) The trilogy is one of Harrison's best "machinegun typewriter" books by far. The opening premise of the first novel is that "Deathworld" is a jungle planet teeming with life that evolves with a speed and ferocity unlike any other planet in the universe. To survive for even a moment on the surface you must be superbly trained and superbly armed and prepared to kill hordes of clever and supremely deadly predators. And then you need to figure out how to get work done in the meanwhile!

And obviously, people with the skills needed to survive on Deathworld might find work elsewhere ... in sequels perhaps.

A slightly different flavor than the Stainless Steel Rat but nonetheless terrific non-stop action. Grab the next copy you see.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good 'old-style' space romp, April 27, 2001

By 

Michael Holmes "mjmh66" (Attleboro, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deathworld (Deathworld Trilogy) (Paperback)

A classic from the old 'boys school of space opera' (like Heinlein's juveniles). All 3 are very short novels, they are a very quick read, with lots of action and improbable last-minute escapes. The settings are the most interesting parts of the drama, and how these settings affect the characters that live on these death-dealing planets. The protagonist is a pretty typical super-skilled quick-witted know-it-all, but is fairly likeable -- the con artist with the heart of gold.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Si-Fi Classic, December 14, 1999

By 

Scott W Duncan (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deathworld (Deathworld Trilogy) (Paperback)

I bought this book on a whim as I waited for a friend to arrive at Penn Station in 1978. I was so enthralled that I almost missed his arrival! It is really that good. Compossed before the PC era of Mr Harrison (when no one dies and all "good people", fight for "equality and social justice", it concerns the ultimate expression of darwinism on a planatary scale. A race of people whose homeland is literlary evolving to kill them, will of need themselves evolve to become the most leathal race of men in the galaxy.(Ok, so Dune was first!) Sarcasm, wit and action, ballanced with just the right level of homocidal ferver and hair splitting suspence! A true 70s must read!