Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site ptsfb.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!Glacier!well!ptsfa!ptsfb!djl From: djl@ptsfb.UUCP (Dave Lampe) Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: A Stainless Steel Rat Is Born Message-ID: <230@ptsfb.UUCP> Date: Fri, 13-Sep-85 23:15:37 EDT Article-I.D.: ptsfb.230 Posted: Fri Sep 13 23:15:37 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 15-Sep-85 05:08:48 EDT Organization: Pacific Bell, San Francisco Lines: 38 _A _S_t_a_i_n_l_e_s_s _S_t_e_e_l _R_a_t _I_s _B_o_r_n by _H_a_r_r_y _H_a_r_r_i_s_o_n This book is logically the first one in the saga of James Bolivar diGriz (a.k.a. Slippery Jim). It follows him from the time he turns 17 and is legally an adult until he is 19 or 20. James has apparently always been a gifted crook although there are some flashbacks to show us his not so fumbling beginnings. This book shows us James turning from a crook into "The Stainless Steel Rat". The first part of the book takes place on the planet of his birth, "Bit O'Heaven", which sounds remarkably like Secaucus New Jersey. :-) Here James starts his life outside the law. Bit O'Heaven is theoretically a frontier planet, but even here life has stagnated and nothing has changed in a thousand years. James refuses to fit the mold and decides that a life of crime is his only chance for freedom. The second part takes place on the planet Spiovente which is run by a sort of feudal mafia. This part I found reminiscent of "Deathworld II". There is very little new in this book that has not been said in the other books in this series, or in the Deathworld series. But if you enjoyed them, you will enjoy this one also. It is well written and keeps the interest of the reader. My only complaint is that I could not believe the ending. I thought it did not fit with the characters as drawn througout the book. (If I said anymore, I'd need a spoiler warning.) I would like to know if anybody else found it as disconcerting as I did. Dave Lampe @ Pacific Bell {ucbvax,amd,zehntel,ihnp4,cbosgd}!dual!ptsfa!ptsfb!djl (415) 823-2408 Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com