Some of Harry Harrison's finest stories collected together and illustrated. A brand new Stainless Steel Rat story is included.
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Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Harrison's short stories are what pulp science fiction should have been, but almost never was. These 12 tales, drawn from his 40-year career, have all the fast-moving plots, outrageous alien characters and general fun of the genre without the purple prose and pretentious pseudoscience. Some of the stories here are little more than page turners, well written and entertaining but slight. Others, like "The Streets of Ashkelon," "Roommates" (the basis for the movie Soylent Green ) and "Brave Newer World," explore serious issues in thoughtful and original ways. Harrison's concerns about overpopulation and the environment sound surprisingly timely now, considering how long ago some of these pieces were written. Refreshingly, with the exception of a few strident moments in "Brave Newer World," Harrison never becomes preachy or lets the message get in the way of a good yarn. Despite its title, the collection contains only one story about Slippery Jim DiGriz, the Stainless Steel Rat. Readers familiar with Harrison's previous DiGriz novels ( Deathworld , et al.) will find the plot twists rather predictable, but these tales are worth reading nonetheless.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
This collection of 13 tales by the author of Deathworld (Ace: Berkely, 1987) and West of Eden ( LJ 8/84) includes "The Golden Years of the Stainless Steel Rat," as well as 12 other stories that span a 40-year writing career.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By James Yanni
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is a collection of science fiction shorts from Harry Harrison, the creator of The Stainless Steel Rat and Bill The Galactic Hero; 13 of what he considers to be his best. (The rear cover blurb claims 14, but either they can't count, or I can't.)
These are the kind of science fiction short stories that got me interested in the genre, over twenty years ago when I was a kid. Some of them have aged better than others; I find myself shaking my head at some of the stock plots and characters. And some of the ideas that are addressed seem a bit dated, 25 years later. But all of them DO address ideas, ideas that were fascinating to a 14 year old 25 years ago, and would probably be fascinating to one today. Some of them, of course, are fascinating to a 41 year old today.
If you're a fan of old-fashioned science fiction, you'll love this book. If you're not, but are curious about what kind of stories cause those who are to be so, this book is for you. And if you're an inquisitive youngster who HASN'T read a lot of science fiction, this book is perfect for you. But if you've read a lot of classic science fiction, and have gotten a bit jaded, you may find this book a bit too reminiscent of an old copy of Analog magazine.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars
3 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Classic science-fiction short stories.
May 8 2000
By James Yanni
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is a collection of science fiction shorts from Harry Harrison, the creator of The Stainless Steel Rat and Bill The Galactic Hero; 13 of what he considers to be his best. (The rear cover blurb claims 14, but either they can't count, or I can't.)
These are the kind of science fiction short stories that got me interested in the genre, over twenty years ago when I was a kid. Some of them have aged better than others; I find myself shaking my head at some of the stock plots and characters. And some of the ideas that are addressed seem a bit dated, 25 years later. But all of them DO address ideas, ideas that were fascinating to a 14 year old 25 years ago, and would probably be fascinating to one today. Some of them, of course, are fascinating to a 41 year old today.
If you're a fan of old-fashioned science fiction, you'll love this book. If you're not, but are curious about what kind of stories cause those who are to be so, this book is for you. And if you're an inquisitive youngster who HASN'T read a lot of science fiction, this book is perfect for you. But if you've read a lot of classic science fiction, and have gotten a bit jaded, you may find this book a bit too reminiscent of an old copy of Analog magazine.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent short story science fiction book
Nov 5 2010
By Larry
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A nice anthology of short storys from "Astounding Science Fiction" and other monthly science fiction periodicals in book form.
1 of 4 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not Free SF Reader
Nov 16 2007
By Blue Tyson
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
An ok collection of stories by Harrison, with the average at 3.31.
The first is easily the strongest, and he finishes with, sensibly enough, yet another Stainless Steel Rat tale, as you would hope given the title.
Stainless Steel Visions : The Streets of Ashkelon - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : Toy Shop - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : Not Me Not Amos Cabot! - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : The Mothballed Spaceship - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : Commando Raid - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : The Repairman - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : Brave Newer World - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : The Secret of Stonehenge - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : Rescue Operation - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : Portrait of the Artist - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : Survival Planet - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : Roommates - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : The Golden Years of The Stainless Steel Rat - Harry Harrison
Native superstition addition.
4.5 out of 5
Battery illusion goad.
3 out of 5
Hereafter reservation.
3 out of 5
End code.
3.5 out of 5
Aid Corps.
3.5 out of 5
Local blending mechanics.
3 out of 5
Longevity minority sabotage.
3.5 out of 5
Big rock time first or last?
3 out of 5
Wrong place to land.
3.5 out of 5
Comic machine.
3 out of 5
Slavery remains.
3 out of 5
Shortage society.
3 out of 5
The Rat goes undercover in aged disguise to spring an old friend from an old crooks prison.
3.5 out of 5
Basically a 3.25 out of 5, here.
The first is easily the strongest, and he finishes with, sensibly enough, yet another Stainless Steel Rat tale, as you would hope given the title.
Stainless Steel Visions : The Streets of Ashkelon - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : Toy Shop - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : Not Me Not Amos Cabot! - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : The Mothballed Spaceship - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : Commando Raid - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : The Repairman - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : Brave Newer World - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : The Secret of Stonehenge - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : Rescue Operation - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : Portrait of the Artist - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : Survival Planet - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : Roommates - Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Visions : The Golden Years of The Stainless Steel Rat - Harry Harrison
Native superstition addition.
4.5 out of 5
Battery illusion goad.
3 out of 5
Hereafter reservation.
3 out of 5
End code.
3.5 out of 5
Aid Corps.
3.5 out of 5
Local blending mechanics.
3 out of 5
Longevity minority sabotage.
3.5 out of 5
Big rock time first or last?
3 out of 5
Wrong place to land.
3.5 out of 5
Comic machine.
3 out of 5
Slavery remains.
3 out of 5
Shortage society.
3 out of 5
The Rat goes undercover in aged disguise to spring an old friend from an old crooks prison.
3.5 out of 5
Basically a 3.25 out of 5, here.
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 3 reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
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