Killer [Mass Market Paperback]

David Drake (Author), Karl Edward Wagner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 1990

Bestselling author David Drake and World Fantasy Award-winning author Karl Edward Wagner now join forces to tell the epic tale of Lycon, the greatest beast hunter that ancient Rome had ever seen, pitted against a murderous alien in a battle for survival...with the fate of the Earth hanging in the balance!

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books (June 15, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812509846
• ISBN-13: 978-0812509847
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,995,490 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bloody, grim, exciting and satisfying, February 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Killer (Mass Market Paperback)

The late, missed, Karl Edward Wagner (author of the "Kane" novels of sword and sorcery) and his friend David Drake (who has written a lot of "military sci-fi") collaborated on this bloody, grim, exciting and satisfying novel combining the bloodlust of Imperial Rome and savage alien worlds. Well-written, with Lycon and his friend Vonones particularly welldrawn and sympathetic characters. Who is the real "killer' of the title: the sadistic Emperor Domitian, the cunning reptilian "phile," or the former gladiator Lycon? Hopefully someone will reprint this fun book, if not it is well worth looking for in the science-fiction sections of your better used book stores. Wagner's death at the age of 49 a fear years ago was a major loss.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars SCI-FI SUSPENSE IN ANCIENT ROME, February 26, 2004

By 

K. Jump (Corbin, KY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Killer (Mass Market Paperback)

The arena of Emperor Domitian is always hungry for a new bloodsport, so when an unheard-of strangely-scaled and vaguely simian animal appears in the wake of a fiery explosion, the enterprising men who capture it think it will be no more than a new toy for their Roman "lord and god." But the "lizard-ape" as they call it has other ideas. Displaying intelligence and ferocity beyond anything its would-be captors have seen before, the creature escapes. Can gladiator-turned-beastcatcher Lycon track down this new game in time, or will the streets of Rome run red with blood?

A collaboration of renowned science fiction and fantasy authors Karl Edward Wagner and David Drake, "Killer" is a fast-paced mix of military history, unfettered action, and doomsday thriller. For the lizard-ape is in fact a particularly diabolic alien, one which if not brought to earth before it's too late will contaminate the whole world with its evil progeny, a contagion for which the only cure is thermonuclear fire.

A fast, potent read enlivened with likeable protagonists and villains you love to hate and realistic non-stop action, "Killer" is a light and engaging white-knuckler that for those who like sci-fi, fantasy or thrillers, is great literary excitement.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gladiator meets Predator, December 18, 2000

By 

Mark Rueden (Tampa, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Killer (Mass Market Paperback)

Think of an animal used for bloodsports in a galactic empire, and have it brought to Imperial Rome. Think of the attention to detail in the movie "Gladiator". ALL of the characters in the book (heroes and villains alike) are very smart, and very competent. This book would make a "Killer" movie. This is one of the best books I've ever owned! I lost mine years ago, and have been looking to get another copy ever since.