After I inquired if he would be interested in writing a review of his latest book, The Stainless Steel Rat Returns, he responded not just with a review but several short reviews like the quotes one finds on the cover of books. All in different characters. First though, a synopsis of the book.
Synopsis:
After a ten-year absence, the return of one of the most enduring series characters in modern SF
James Bolivar "Slippery Jim" DiGriz, Special Corps agent, master con man, interstellar criminal (retired), is living high on the hog on the planet of Moolaplenty when a long-lost cousin and a shipful of swine arrive to drain his bank account and send him and his lovely wife, Angelina, wandering the stars on the wildest journey since Gulliver's Travels.
In this darkly satiric work, Harry Harrison bring his most famous character out of retirement for a grand tour of the galaxy. The Stainless Steel Rat rides again: a cocktail in his hand, a smile on his lips, and larceny in his heart, in search of adventure, gravitons, and a way to get rid of the pigs.
Harry Harrison's Reviews:
If reviewed by...
PAID FLACK:
An overwhelmingly funny, adventurous, captivating novel for young and
old. Rush out and buy--2 copies of more.
JEALOUS SF WRITER:
Oozing damp turd of a so-called funny book. Highly recommended--for
the dust bin. Do best to avoid.
PUBLISHER'S HACK:
The year's best novel of intrigue, lost love, adventure--a hilarious
romp through the foothills of adventure to the heights of SF
perfection. You will laugh, cry, thrill, chill--and buy ten copies
for those near and dear to you.
OVERSEXED TEENAGER:
Boy--pant, pant--that horny Angelina!! Like to get into her knickers...
RUSSIAN TRANSLATOR:
What means "...his borborygmus?"
JEALOUS SF AUTHOR:
Not that funny...or adventurous...or unputdownable..
AUTHOR:
...?
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLES
BAM
POWELL
I'd like to thank Harry Harrison for taking the time and participating. Also I'd like to thank Paul Tomlinson who maintains Harry's blog and website.
You can learn more about Harry Harrison by checking out his site and blog.
I would also like to say that while I provided links to his latest book, I love the series and would recommend to anyone looking for some fun SF to start at the beginning and read the whole series.
ReplyDelete"oozing damp turd" ... I can't shake the image.
ReplyDeleteNow that's good!
ReplyDeleteSo this is the Harry Harrison you told me about? I knew nothing about him before this (I considered that he might just be one of your imaginary friends), but now I'm intrigued. Thanks for the introduction.
ReplyDeleteI'm probably the only person reading your blog who actually read Make Room! Make Room! (when it first came out). Based on your post, I'm gonna check him out again...thanks!
ReplyDeleteDUDE!!!! Hilarious one line reviews. You got to add those to your ongoing series. I love, love, oversexed teen and jealous SF.
ReplyDeleteVery funny one line reviews, for sure! I haven't heard of any of these books, either. Are you sure you grew up in Canada?
ReplyDeleteI have read a Stainless Steel Rat book. I quite liked it and it is strange I haven't read the others.
ReplyDeleteAha! I'm flying this Saturday - I'll be heading to half price books to look for the first in this series.
ReplyDeleteAwesome that you got a personal favorite author for your blog. That is very cool of you to think to try, and cool that he participated.
I've read four or five of the Stainless Steel Rat books (I think the last one I read was a prequel, when he was a teen). They're all very good, and I wish there was a way to translate them into a movie, but unfortunately the aspects that make Jim DiGriz such a great character are really hard to put across, as it's mostly his internal dialogue and quick witted skills at getting in and out of danger that define him.
ReplyDeleteI also read the version drawn in the UK '2000AD' comic.
How did I miss that this was coming out?!? Can't wait to read it. Going to order right NOW.
ReplyDeletelol gotta have the over-sexed teen
ReplyDeleteHaven't read of his stuff, but you've intrigued me now!
ReplyDelete