Customer Reviews

Killer

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

 

 

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.

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.

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.

_Predator_ meets _Gladiator_ would be a good way to describe this science-fiction actioner set in Rome during the reign of the decadent Domitian (81-97 C.E.). A relentless, feral, and cunning alien beast lands on Earth and finds its way to Rome where it wreaks havoc and prepares to release its brood. Beastcatcher Lycon, Armenian animal dealer Vonones, and an alien hunter disguised as an Egyptian pursue the "sauropithecus" through the maze of ancient Rome.

The emphasis on Iron Age weaponry and armor indicates Karl Edward Wagner's presence (the guy knew his armor and weapons!), while the quick and sometimes choppy action passages display David Drake's style. _Killer_ moves rapidly and sometimes cleverly, but the writing style turns confusing in the more furious passages. The finale also abandons the development of Lycon's character, who should have been portrayed as more tragic and driven. The premise is the most outstanding element of this decently entertaining thriller.

Drake and Wagner add several twists on the theme of a race against time as the heroes try to hunt down an alien monster in late first century Rome.

Not that the heroes know their quarry has escaped from a spaceship - the alien merchants who have lost the monster, and are using the heroes to track it down, have disguised themselves as humans when they recruited local trackers to find it. They've told the heroes of the book that they're after a rare and very dangerous escaped ape.

To provide the heroes with additional motivation, the aliens have also set up a situation where the humans have to catch the killer quickly, or the Emperor Domitian will send them to the arena.

But the reader knows that our heroes have even less time than they realise - if they don't stop the monster before it can reproduce, mankind is in serious danger.

This book rather like a version of the film "Species" set in Rome in about 90 AD, though from the description and the cover illustration the monster is not nearly as nice to look at as Natasha Henstridge.

Since we know humanity didn't get wiped out nineteen centuries ago, I couldn't get too frightened about the possibility that the good guys would lose, but I was curious to see how they would overcome the almost insuperable obstacles the authors throw in their way.

Some nice use of irony and humour in the book, and amusing poetic justice in how several of the bad guys get their comeuppance. You are left wondering who is the real "Killer" of the title - the alien monster, the supposedly civilised aliens, or Emperor Domitian. When I read the last line of the book, the answer which I found myself thinking was to tell the speaker "Look in a mirror."

The characters and the description of ancient Rome are adequate rather than brilliant but the story is well told and anyone who likes "hunt the monster" stories is likely to enjoy the book

Part history lesson, part absolutely believable science fiction, all thriller.

To put this book in movie terms, imagine a big game hunter from Ancient Rome encountering both an Alien and a Predator at the same time. The hunter should have a short messy end, right? Guess again. The ending will stay with you for a long time.

Take "Alien", "Predator", and a Kizinti, mix well and drop into the middle of Imperial Rome. Whether you're a fan of Karl Edward Wganer, David Drake, or just like razor edged adventure with a touch of horror, "Killer" will keep your attention. Well written and exciting. This is not a kiddie story.

Great book set in the Roman Empire. Lots of action,great charactors,hidden agendas and teror! The main charactor,Lycon,is real good at his job but his life is on the line in more ways than one.The end has a nice twist to it and Drake puts spots of humor throughout to change the mood. Not a big shoot'em up book but vary enjoyable.I pull this one out about once a year and find it just as good every time I read it. Good fun.

This is a well-written action novel, though its plot is not quite as original as some other readers may think. Like all good action stories, it avoids dragging passages--but there are no time-outs for character development. There are a couple of weaknesses in the book, however. One shortcoming is the climax, where the final confrontation ends rather quickly and ordinarily; and that is surprising, considering that the entire book up to that point hypes the speed and power of the phile.
Another shortcoming concerns a rogue subplot, about how the hero's teenage son is seduced by a tutor and "converted" into a willing homosexual (yeah, sure)--leading to the hero's nasty revenge against the tutor. That subplot, besides being ridiculous, serves no useful purpose to the main plot and is evidently only a gratuituous expression of the authors' personal bias.

I bought this book in high school, but never read it. I found it when I was visiting my parents. Man, did I miss a good book. It's not Shakespear, but A Great light read. This should be destined to be movie. Definately a "guys" book. The hero, Lycor, is well written. The Plot is very original.