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comradedan's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
gearyofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I had a really good time reading this. It is snappy storytelling at its finest.
The world building is quick, the scale of threat is clear.
At no point bogged down with how things work, you just know that they do and what's at stake.
Looking forward to reading more of his work.
The world building is quick, the scale of threat is clear.
At no point bogged down with how things work, you just know that they do and what's at stake.
Looking forward to reading more of his work.
elskabee's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Grabbing books off your parents' bookshelf that they thrifted back in the 80's is a risky endeavour. I had mixed success with this one as there's aspects I liked: the overall plot, not over explaining the sci-fi elements, some of the ideas and themes. Bu there was plenty I didn't like, mostly the dated stuff like having a singular female character, hypermasculinity, ableism, calling people 'primitive'. Also the writing was very flat and dry for the most part. It was very fast-paced and readable, but at the expense of properly developing characters and having emotional depth.
I think I cut this book a lot of slack due to how old it is, and I enjoyed it more when looking at it as a 60+ year old sci-fi book and the creativity involved in the overall concept even if I found the execution to be lacking for me personally. I don't feel the need to rate this because of my mixed feelings, but maybe a 2.5 or 3 overall.
I think I cut this book a lot of slack due to how old it is, and I enjoyed it more when looking at it as a 60+ year old sci-fi book and the creativity involved in the overall concept even if I found the execution to be lacking for me personally. I don't feel the need to rate this because of my mixed feelings, but maybe a 2.5 or 3 overall.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
sortabadass's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
theaceofpages's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Imagine a planet at war with the people that settled there. Everything from the animals and plants to the weather seems to want to get rid of them. A world where despite training, most die young and civilisation is forced to live behind guarded walls. Welcome to Pyrrus. And the professional gambler Jason dinAlt is its first tourist. Of course he doesn't know what he's doing and of course everyone is scared of the danger that may cause.
Although short, this book accomplishes a lot. Despite being older SciFi, I don't think I have come across anything like it before. (Since I'm mentioning its older SciFi, it's surprisingly free of misogyny! Jason does make some questionable remarks but Pyrrus is surprisingly equal and we get a relatively strong female character in Meta. Maybe there are still some stereotypes woven in and maybe she asks too many questions but it's a lot for its time. Maybe not quite what we'd expect in modern times but hey, at least she is there for more than sex appeal). As a biologist I'm very interested in Pyrran life and how it evolved. I'd love the opportunity to study such a unique system. I'm planning on picking up the next book soon and hope we get to see some more of it. Maybe the characters and writing/events are a bit simplistic at times but it was a fun read!
Although short, this book accomplishes a lot. Despite being older SciFi, I don't think I have come across anything like it before. (Since I'm mentioning its older SciFi, it's surprisingly free of misogyny! Jason does make some questionable remarks but Pyrrus is surprisingly equal and we get a relatively strong female character in Meta. Maybe there are still some stereotypes woven in and maybe she asks too many questions but it's a lot for its time. Maybe not quite what we'd expect in modern times but hey, at least she is there for more than sex appeal). As a biologist I'm very interested in Pyrran life and how it evolved. I'd love the opportunity to study such a unique system. I'm planning on picking up the next book soon and hope we get to see some more of it. Maybe the characters and writing/events are a bit simplistic at times but it was a fun read!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Animal death, Death of parent, Violence, Blood, Child death, Death, and Gun violence
Minor: Medical content and Misogyny
vzem's review against another edition
5.0
A fantastic sci-fi book that is fast-paced and full of adventure! I read it in my childhood and liked it because it had lots of exciting future devices, race of warrior-like people, monsters, etc. Now, reading it again as an adult, i can also appreciate the allegories within the narrative. These include the stiff-mindedness of people born to a closed culture, and by the opposition the advantage of a fresh perspective on things. Thus, this literary work is interesting from the standpoint of sci-fi and from exploring psychology and culture. Let me end with a quote from the book that resonated with me:
- "I don't know," she said. "I can't be sure. For the first time in my life I find myself with more than one answer to the same question."
- "Congratulations," he said. "It's a sign of growing up."
- "I don't know," she said. "I can't be sure. For the first time in my life I find myself with more than one answer to the same question."
- "Congratulations," he said. "It's a sign of growing up."
ogreart's review against another edition
4.0
Imagine a world where everything is trying to kill you. Welcome to Deathworld. The twists and turns of the plot really kept me going. I was never quite sure where Harrison was going, but I let go and let him lead me through it. More good old-fashioned old school sci-fi.
rheren's review against another edition
4.0
I tried this book out on a lark, because it sounded like an entertaining mindless book. I was very pleasantly surprised: sure it's old-fashioned, straightforward shoot-em-up at times, but it has a surprisingly interesting and thought-out storyline. Several genuinely interesting plot twists keep you wondering what will happen next, and I found it a very enjoyable book to read.
dantastic's review
3.0
When professional gambler Jason dinAlt is hired to run a stake up into the billions by some colonists, he is intrigued by tales of their world and opts to return to it. However, Pyrrus is the most hostile world in the universe, with every life form bent on the extermination of the colonists, even the plant life.
I read a few of Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat books years ago and decided to give this one a try. It was free on the Kindle so the price was right.
Deathworld is a tale of man vs. environment. Is it better to tame the wilderness or live in harmony with it? That seems to be the theme of the novel.
Jason dinAlt is a gambling scoundrel, probably a literary descendant of C.L. Moore's Northwest Smith. Jason goes to Pyrrus out of curiosity and winds up leading a revolution of sorts.
Deathworld, aka Pyrrus, is a heavy gravity world where the plants and animals are trying to kill the colonists and have been for centuries, evolving at a frightening rate. The colonists continually try to exterminate the hostile life forms and keep on colonizing. Sound familiar?
The story kicks into high gear when it becomes apparent that the colonists aren't the only humans on the planet and the core theme is really driven home.
Even though there's an ecological message, it's not heavy handed and even people who are anti-environment will find it entertaining.
It's a pretty slim book and I don't want to blow all the surprises. It's a fun read and doesn't feel as dated to me as a lot of its contemporaries. Three out of five stars.
I read a few of Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat books years ago and decided to give this one a try. It was free on the Kindle so the price was right.
Deathworld is a tale of man vs. environment. Is it better to tame the wilderness or live in harmony with it? That seems to be the theme of the novel.
Jason dinAlt is a gambling scoundrel, probably a literary descendant of C.L. Moore's Northwest Smith. Jason goes to Pyrrus out of curiosity and winds up leading a revolution of sorts.
Deathworld, aka Pyrrus, is a heavy gravity world where the plants and animals are trying to kill the colonists and have been for centuries, evolving at a frightening rate. The colonists continually try to exterminate the hostile life forms and keep on colonizing. Sound familiar?
The story kicks into high gear when it becomes apparent that the colonists aren't the only humans on the planet and the core theme is really driven home.
Even though there's an ecological message, it's not heavy handed and even people who are anti-environment will find it entertaining.
It's a pretty slim book and I don't want to blow all the surprises. It's a fun read and doesn't feel as dated to me as a lot of its contemporaries. Three out of five stars.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
4.0
Yet another accidental reread but feel pretty much the same as last year. Might continue on with the series. But as I counted of many i started/continued this year (119 series in total), I'm not sure if I'm gonna rush it
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3.7 stars. An fun non to seriously taking sci-fi adventure on a planet where the creature and beasts tries to kill you. Enjoyed it but didn't love it hence the rating. Might continue on with the series though. Enjoyed the narration of B.J Harrison as well, which was one of the main reason why I looked this book up, glad I did
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3.7 stars. An fun non to seriously taking sci-fi adventure on a planet where the creature and beasts tries to kill you. Enjoyed it but didn't love it hence the rating. Might continue on with the series though. Enjoyed the narration of B.J Harrison as well, which was one of the main reason why I looked this book up, glad I did