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theaceofpages's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book is very different to the first Deathworld Book. Jason is kidnapped (almost voluntarily because he's silly) by Mikah who wants him to be held responsible for his crimes. But on the way, Jason crashes the ship on a planet that is inhabited by a planet inhabited by people who follow a slave-based culture. The two are captured and travel the desert in search of food with Mikah wanting to fight for his freedom (to the death if needed) and Jason wanting to figure out a way to exploit the system for his. I enjoyed the discussions around morality, but I do think slavery was a bit of an uncomfortable choice (it gets pretty close to being slavery apologist). Both Mikah and Jason were also incredibly frustrating (in different ways), the world bringing out the worst in them. I did find the world building interesting though and wonder where the third book will take us.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Slavery, and Classism
vzem's review against another edition
5.0
A great second part of the Deathworld series, with even more humour and engineering ingenuity! This book is a good rendition of the common sci-fi trope "future alien in the world of the past, reinventing technology for their survival". Additionally, it is worth mentioning that the book has THE MOST ANNOYING antagonist that I've seen in books - he pissed me off as much as Umbridge from the Harry Potter universe!
The main topic explored in the book is the exploration of the relativity of morals and such constructs:
"Don't you see the obvious point here—that human conduct can only be judged in relation to its environment? Conduct is relative. The cannibal in his society is just as moral as the churchgoer in yours."
The main topic explored in the book is the exploration of the relativity of morals and such constructs:
"Don't you see the obvious point here—that human conduct can only be judged in relation to its environment? Conduct is relative. The cannibal in his society is just as moral as the churchgoer in yours."
kynan's review against another edition
1.0
TL;DR: A non-sequitur to [b:Deathworld 1|2037559|Deathworld 1 (Deathworld, #1)|Harry Harrison|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327944642l/2037559._SY75_.jpg|6376454] with familiar names and unfamiliar faces. In your face lectures on ethics embedded in an implausible plot with an insufferable protagonist.
TL: Jason! What happened??? I just recently re-read all of the [b:The Stainless Steel Rat|64394|The Stainless Steel Rat (Stainless Steel Rat, #4)|Harry Harrison|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328073906l/64394._SY75_.jpg|824589] series and my initial thought, as I read this, was "I bet there was a huge publishing gap between [b:Deathworld 1|2037559|Deathworld 1 (Deathworld, #1)|Harry Harrison|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327944642l/2037559._SY75_.jpg|6376454] and 2, and that the very much larger than life persona of Slippery Jim diGriz leeched into Jason so that by the time Deathworld 2 was written Jason and James were muddled together in Mr Harrison's mind". Imagine my surprise when I discovered that not only do books 1 and 2 predate all but one of the Stainless Steel Rat series, so does [b:Deathworld 3|1934066|Deathworld 3 (Deathworld, #3)|Harry Harrison|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327946160l/1934066._SY75_.jpg|1936533]! So, it's not so much that Jason's character changes are a result of a long-term relationship that the author had with another character from another series, but that Jason's more likeable and well-rounded characteristics underwent a "regression to the Harrison mean"
TL: Jason! What happened??? I just recently re-read all of the [b:The Stainless Steel Rat|64394|The Stainless Steel Rat (Stainless Steel Rat, #4)|Harry Harrison|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328073906l/64394._SY75_.jpg|824589] series and my initial thought, as I read this, was "I bet there was a huge publishing gap between [b:Deathworld 1|2037559|Deathworld 1 (Deathworld, #1)|Harry Harrison|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327944642l/2037559._SY75_.jpg|6376454] and 2, and that the very much larger than life persona of Slippery Jim diGriz leeched into Jason so that by the time Deathworld 2 was written Jason and James were muddled together in Mr Harrison's mind". Imagine my surprise when I discovered that not only do books 1 and 2 predate all but one of the Stainless Steel Rat series, so does [b:Deathworld 3|1934066|Deathworld 3 (Deathworld, #3)|Harry Harrison|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327946160l/1934066._SY75_.jpg|1936533]! So, it's not so much that Jason's character changes are a result of a long-term relationship that the author had with another character from another series, but that Jason's more likeable and well-rounded characteristics underwent a "regression to the Harrison mean"
charlibirb's review against another edition
4.0
Another fun book. Not much depth, but good world-building and the main character wasn't impervious to every trouble. He used his psy powers only once in the book, though... What a waste of a power!
tacanderson's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The story was fine, except that the "religious" character, Mikah, was boring, cliche, unoriginal, unrealistic and annoying. I'm sure Harry Harrison thought he was being very clever, but he wasn't.
jdsutter's review against another edition
3.0
Not nearly as good as the first one. Mikah is an unbearably annoying character, the long philosophical debates between Jason and Mikah weighed down the story and were all the more frustrating because I didn't really agree with either of them on all points. And Jason's stupid arrogance was the cause for the entire problem that was the basis of the story to begin with. An ok story, but I hope book 3 is better.
mautt_d's review against another edition
3.0
Plenty to chew on with this sequel to Deathworld, though it's a significant step-down from the first. A strangely no-longer-psychic Jason is stranded on a hostile, regressed world where only two classes exist: slaves and masters. Harrison makes it interesting to see the moderately educated and abundantly clever Jason navigate through a bleak world that is less convincing than Pyrrus (which I feel was mainly a though exercise.)
The messages of the book are shakier, as Jason butts heads with his initial captor, religious zealot Micah. Harrison doesn't seem particularly interested in actually engaging what the "Micahs" of our world believe and leaves us with a caricature. That deprives us of an interesting clash of ideals as well. Additionally, Jason's actions and their presentation also come off as pro-interventionist and the book makes the fatal mistake of technological progress as a force of inherent good.
It leaves a bad taste after the first Deathworld's messages about cooperation and coexistence.
3 out of 5 stars
The messages of the book are shakier, as Jason butts heads with his initial captor, religious zealot Micah. Harrison doesn't seem particularly interested in actually engaging what the "Micahs" of our world believe and leaves us with a caricature. That deprives us of an interesting clash of ideals as well. Additionally, Jason's actions and their presentation also come off as pro-interventionist and the book makes the fatal mistake of technological progress as a force of inherent good.
It leaves a bad taste after the first Deathworld's messages about cooperation and coexistence.
3 out of 5 stars
pbanditp's review against another edition
2.0
The main character could not possibly know as much as he does in this book. It was unrealistic and pulls you out of the story. I did enjoy the first book but now Jason it just a know-it-all about everything from philosophy to automobile repair to telecommunications and bomb disarmament.
hotsake's review against another edition
3.0
Decent but not nearly as good or entertaining as the first book.