Thursday, September 17, 2009

Classic Book Review - Deathworld by Harry Harrison


Deathworld
By Harry Harrison
Stanza eBook version (iPhone)
Classic Science Fiction
1960

“Deathworld” has all the elements of a classic Science Fiction great and lives up to its name; spaceships, high tech weapons, psychic communication, battles, intrigue, action, and bug-eyed monsters. But more than all this it is a legendary story.

First penned in 1960 “Deathworld” is typical of the Golden Age of Science Fiction. The hero is larger than life, the antagonist(s) are creatures right out of Stephen King's imagination, and as an added bonus it contains one of the deadliest alien planets ever conceived.

Harrison, unfairly, receives a lot of bad reviews for his style and is sometimes rated as a “B” Science Fiction novelist. While not as popular as many of his contemporaries Harrison has something that many do not. An exceptional sense of humor! Read a few of the Stainless Steel Rat books and you’ll know what I mean.

“Deathworld” was nominated for a Hugo Award in 1961 and lost to “A Canticle for Leibowitz” by Walter M. Miller which is another excellent read.

After almost fifty years it still lives up to expectations and delivers great entertainment.

4 out of 5 stars

The Alternative
Southeast Wisconsin

Sent from my iPhone

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