Customer Reviews

Deathworld Trilogy

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

I'm another who read and re-read this book from about 13 yrs old to ??. Have read this more than any other book (4 or 5 times) and I went through A LOT of sci-fi at the time! True adventure with a character every boy will identify with. Man v. Nature, Good v. Bad, David v. Goliath. And his gun is just "so cool"! :-)

I have read the trilogy three times. "Deathworld" is about a planet literally at war with its settlers, a race of supermen. Jason din Alt, a smart-aleck gambler, becomes embroiled in their cause against his will. "Deathworld 2"--din Alt is marooned on a backward planet of slavery, steam engines, and flintlock rifles. "Deathworld 3" is one of the most exciting. The protagonists of the original "Deathworld" decide to colonize a planet run by conquerors reminiscent of the Mongol hordes, complete with their own Genghis Khan leading them. Jason din Alt has to infiltrate the horde. All 3 books are very exciting reads!

Sometimes, all the stars align. This is how he have one hit wonders like Macarena, this is how we have Greece winning the Euro 2004 Championships and this is how we have Deathworld, a product of cosmic conspiration.

Now, don't think even, for a second, that the stars aligned to give us a Penguin classic. Deathworld's low brow hairline is almost indistinguishable from the eyebrows with its packed action, stretched believability, and more often than not simplistic prose.

But there is something in Deathworld that will make even the most sophisticated SF readers and critics go back and read it one more time, secretly indulging in it, with the same dark but never publicized indulgence of chewing on clipped toenails, or watching porn when the kids are asleep.

Harry published two sequels to Deathworld, which are not worth mentioning. This is Das Book. If you have never read Deathworld, and this probably means you are young or new to the genre, go ahead, read it and then join the massive ranks of secret followers.

The stars have aligned. 5 of them for Deathworld.

This book is an old favorite, and a classic space adventure. The characters are interesting and the storyline unique for its time. Other reviews go into great depth on the storyline and characters...this review addresses the formatting for the Kindle.

There are what appears to be three carriage returns after each paragraph. The white space is so great it interrupts the reading flow.

Still a great story, but its a hard read.

Jason diNalt is a drifter and a gambler who finds himself drawn into a gun-running scheme for Pyrrus, a planet of colonists who are at war with the rapidly evolving and highly lethal flora and fauna of their homeworld. What is the secret of this bizarre and deadly planet? Why does it seem hellbent on destroying the colonists?

[...]I read it the first time when I was 10 or so and loved it. During my teen years I re-read it (and its two sequels) several times, but I haven't touched it for at least 20 years.

Honestly, it holds up. It's a real fun SF yarn. However, the free edition out there has been converted from the Astounding Science Fiction magazine version of the story. (I have also read that it appeared in Analog and in Galaxy magazines instead. I don't know which source is accurate.) Spot comparisons have proved to me that the book edition is expanded and a bit richer, though the plot is essentially the same. Interestingly, there are at least four different editions sold through Amazon for the Kindle 2 e-reader, all of which appear to be the older and shorter version of the story (though one contains the original illustrations as well, which I would like to see).

Do yourself a favor and pick up this book online through Amazon used books or Ebay, you will not be disappointed. This is the type of science fiction book that authors don't write anymore. Imaginative, witty, humourous, and packed with enough adventurous situations to fill a hundred lesser books. The main character Jason din Alt is a jack-of-all trades type character, similar to the Rat in Harrison's other well known novels. This book will always hold a place on my bookshelf!

DeathWorlds unwordly view of most of the caracters astounded me. And I loved it. For 9 hours straight I read the book without leaving the couch. Harry Harrison is a great author and anyone who reads this and loves space/fantasy books will love this book.