Starrigger [Paperback]

John De Chancie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 1984

Independent space trucker Jake McGraw, accompanied by his father Sam, who inhabits the body of truck itself, his "starrig," picks up a beautiful hitchhiker, Darla, and a trailer-load of trouble. One of the best of the indies, Jake knows a few tricks about following the Skyway, which connects dozens, or maybe hundreds, of planets. Nobody knows how many and nobody really knows the full extent of the Skyway and much of it remains unexplored. But, somehow, a rumor gets started that Jake has a map for the whole thing and suddenly everybody wants a piece of him: an alien race called the Reticulans, the human government known as the Colonial Assembly, and a nasty piece-of-work called Corey Wilkes, head of the wildcat trucker union TATOO. No matter what Jake does, no matter how many twists and turns he makes, he can't shake any of the menaces on his tail. The Starrigger series, continues with Red Limit Freeway and concludes with Paradox Alley.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Ace (November 15, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441783058
• ISBN-13: 978-0441783052
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,334,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John DeChancie is a well-known author of science fiction and fantasy. He is most famous for his Skyway Trilogy (STARRIGGER, RED LIMIT FREEWAY, PARADOX ALLEY) and his seriocomic fantasy adventure series beginning with CASTLE PERILOUS and running to eight volumes. His short stories have appeared in many different magazines and paperback original anthologies. Living in Los Angeles, he is at work writing more fiction in addition to screenplays and teleplays. He has a background in music, TV and film production, and was the 2005 recipient of the Forrest J. Ackerman Award for significant contributions to Science Fiction.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Space Truckers & Intragalactic Intrigue, December 18, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Jupiter, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starrigger (Paperback)

John DeChancie's "Starrigger" series, including "Red Limit Freeway" and "Paradox Alley", takes independent trucker Jake McGraw, his father Sam, who inhabits the truck itself, and beautiful hitchhiker Darla on a wild ride across several planets. They're being chased by many people with a single mission... they want the map of the interplanetary Skyway he's supposedly carrying. The Skyway is the superhighway linking dozens, possibly hundreds of planets across the galaxy. Much of it is unexplored, and the fabled Roadmap becomes the desire of several large interests, including an alien race called the Reticulans, the human government known as the Colonial Assembly, and nasty villain Corey Wilkes, head of the wildcat trucker union TATOO. Every time Jake turns a corner someone, or something, is on his tail. The Starrigger Trilogy is probably the most entertaining sci-fi story I've ever read, (including works by the biggest writers), and it remains my favorite to this day. It's a balance of classic sci-fi's dream technology and fantastic alien worlds, blended with good humor and Jake McGraw's everyman view of his life, his bizarre situation, and his attempts to unravel himself from the whole mess. Find out what awaits him "at the legendary end of the universe". I suggest this series to anyone who can get their hands on it. Also, try his 8-volume "Castle Perilous" series for humorous fantasy, monsters and magic.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most entertaining trilogies I have ever found!, March 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Starrigger (Paperback)

I ran across 'Starrigger' (Book One) in a second-hand store 16 years ago, read it over and over, then began my hunt for the rest of the set. The story is so imaginatively creative and colorfully interwoven with a plot line that will capture anyone's imagination that looks for timeless sci-fi that does not age. This story combines the very best of everything I could wish for in a book that can be read several times without losing it's captivating effect. I found myself lost in the book untill I was finished. A true gem. All I can say is read all three books to get the full effect. John DeChancie has my highest admiration for a story well told.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Sci-Fi Book. Should be in Library of Congress, July 20, 1995

By A Customer

This review is from: Starrigger (Paperback)

Starrigger and it's two other sequels "Red Limit Freeway" "Paradox Alley" are excellent. The skyway goes all over the universe. One problem; the builders forgot to draw a map. This is no big deal for star trucker Jake McGraw until, for some reason, everybody decides that he has one. This series of books is a true serial. If you can find one then enjoy it. The best way is to get all three and take a couple days of work, shut off the radio, and tie up the wife & kids. When you are finished with them you will have been led on an odessy that makes Jason and his Argonauts look like a ferry-boat ride.