"Deathworld" centers on Jason dinAlt, a professional gambler who uses his somewhat erratic psionic abilities to tip the odds in his favor. He is challenged by a man named Kerk Pyrrus (who turns out to be the ambassador from the planet Pyrrus) to turn a large amount of money into an immense sum by gambling at a government-run casino. He succeeds and survives the planetary government's desperate efforts to steal back the money. In a fit of ennui, he decides to accompany Kerk to his home, despite being warned that it is the deadliest world ever colonized by humans...DEATHWORLD! DEATHWORLD is one of the classics of the Golden Age of science fiction, born in the pages of Astounding Science Fiction under the editorship of John W. Campbell, Jr.
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"Light, fast, entertaining, and full of action. The supermen of Deathworld are doomed to eventual defeat in the war against the natural inhabitants of their world. Jason Din Alt, gambler and bored adventure seeker, becomes convinced that he can solve the mystery of how the violence started and end it despite the colonists' unwillingness and disbelief that the war can be ended. Deathworld reads like typical over the top pulp science fiction, yet actually has a deeper meaning than mere entertainment and thrills from the violent danger that gives the planet it's name. Reading between the lines there is some subtle yet very pointed commentary about indoctrination and how it can negatively influence cultural responsibility and maturity if taken to an extreme." — Michael (4 out of 5 stars)
"Light, fast, entertaining, and full of action. The supermen of Deathworld are doomed to eventual defeat in the war against the natural inhabitants of their world. Jason Din Alt, gambler and bored adventure seeker, becomes convinced that he can solve the mystery of how the violence started and end it despite the colonists' unwillingness and disbelief that the war can be ended. Deathworld reads like typical over the top pulp science fiction, yet actually has a deeper meaning than mere entertainment and thrills from the violent danger that gives the planet it's name. Reading between the lines there is some subtle yet very pointed commentary about indoctrination and how it can negatively influence cultural responsibility and maturity if taken to an extreme."
" Fantastic book, has been around 20 years since I last read it. It is short and quick but not a book you easily put down once started. "
" Fun sci-fi novella from 1960. Harrison creates an unusual planet and then an interesting scenario about how the human colonists (with help from an off-world gambler who is the hero of our story) develop a solution to their ecological problem. "
" Excellent series - good read - "
" Was a great read but not a classic. Good fun and action packed with a few unexpected twists. "
" Yesterday's quick read while waiting for my car to be fixed. Classic SF at its finest, full of BEMs and warring planetary tribes from the author of the Stainless Steel Rat series. "
" This was one of Harry Harrison's best books - the whole Deathworld series was good. It is a shame he only wrote three of them. "
" I thought this book, or should I say science fiction novel was a very awesome read, the story itself fascinated me. So, definitely a read/book worth your time, if you can make one. :) "
" A strangely well written science fiction novel. This is pretty old (it is on the Gutenberg project) but read as if it were written yesterday. Look forward to reading more of his "
" Its an eye-opening, full of adventure and action, and have some moral lesson. "
" Cheesy sci-fi noir fun, with a Moral, but don't let that stop you. Reliable reports indicate that the two sequels are not as good. I might read them anyway because completist. "
" This has been the book that's opened a world of science fiction for me. As well as the world of fiction literature at all. "
" Old fashioned space opera/serial. Today's installment "Only one man can save a dying planet". Pure sixties SF. Not bad for it's day but hasn't aged well, IM0. "
" Fun to read, has an interesting setting. "
" A very interesting setting, the characters are cookie cuttered together, some of the dialogue is very dynamic but most of it is unmemorable. the main character starts the story off very self motivated, and by the end the author would like us to believe he is selfless... "
" Quite an enjoyable story, but where it's going is the important thing. I have the second one ready to run and will do so in due course. "
" Another retro-read, Space Nazis vs Psionically active attack plants. ow can you go wrong. "
" One of my favorite classic scifi books. Interesting characters saving the world in epic style. "
" Overall an entertaining book. The characters were interesting and the story was engaging. I will most likely read the second and third books in the series. I would consider this one of the hidden gems from Project Gutenberg. "
" This is where Avatar got its planet from "
" Yup, just another indulgence on my part into unrealistic sci-fi fantasy. The author has very good use of language and great way of setting up the climax. But like most stories of this kind, the science is sketchy and the ending seems a bit rushed and too neatly wrapped up. "
" A somewhat amusing read on the go, but as I was finishing it it just made me wish The Stainless Steel Rat books were on FeedBooks instead. Damn you copyright! I've paid for this series twice already! "
" Not bad for what it is, but not my kind of book. "
" Not great literature and I didn't expect it to be. Entertaining and a lot of fun. It took me back to my science fiction adolescence. I've had some problems with a few of Harrison's novels because of dialogue, but the dialogue here was good enough that it didn't pull me out of the story. "
" Not a great book. Read it on my stanza app in my ipod. Easy read, simple story. 1960 vision of space. Mainly read it because I wanted to read one of Harry Harrison's books. "
" I loved this series as a young teenager...but I doubt I would still think so highly of it. I haven't read this series in nearly 40 years. "
" Overall: A quick, interesting and thought-provoking science fiction story. I would recommend it for the space-nerdy comic book types. "
" I was hoping for something with more "bite" but the prose was good and breezy. "
" One of my favorite books of all time. I decided it was time for a re-read since the last few books I've picked up have been let downs. "
" The Deathworld series by Harry Harrison is an excellent trilogy and right up there with The Stainless Steel Rat series. Very worth reading. "
" Fun when you're young. Probably does not stand up well if you read it as an adult. "
" this is the coolest book it has an incredible plot mixed with an equaly incredible worlds!! "
" loved this trilogy almost as much as Ender "
" I really enjoyed this book and would recomend it to any science fiction lover. "
" Fun pulp jaunt in the Stainless Steel Rat vein. "
" The first stories I ever read by Harry Harrison, concerning his slightly psionic gambler, Jason DinAlt. These are pure fluff science fiction, but still very entertaining. This book contains 3 of the "Deathworld" stories. "
Harry Harrison (1925-2012) was drafted into the Army after finishing school and served in World War II, where he learned both to shoot guns and repair analogue computers. Leaving the Army at the end of the war, Harrison teamed up with Wally Wood and produced professional comic book art. When the comic book boom came to an end, Harrison moved from drawing to writing. In 1957 his story, “The Stainless Steel Rat” was published in Astounding, and introduced a character which would stay with him (and readers) for the next forty-odd years. In 1975 Harrison had his first brush with Hollywood when his novel, Make Room! Make Room! was used for the basis of Soylent Green. His novels have also been successfully adapted for other media: radio plays and readings, a board game, at least one computer game, and, taking us full-circle, comic books, most notably 2000AD’s adaptations of the Stainless Steel Rat books.
In a career spanning sixty years, Harrison produced more than a hundred short stories, edited over thirty anthologies, and published more than sixty novels.
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