Planet of the Damned Book

Harry Harrison is a "giant" from the past in sci-fi/fantasy. Best known for this "Stainless Steel Rat" series of books, he also filled many a page with his Deathworld series and numerous other books. Having read Deathworld (the first of the series and not the others) and liked it, and having run across this book, I had to give it a try. While I consider this book more like 3 1/2 stars, I couldn't go up in this case because, well, it just wasn't a compelling read.

Brion Brandd has just won "The Twenties," a planet-wide competition on his planet that keeps the population in line. He is recruited by Ihjel, a past Winner (capital intentional), to journey to a distant planet and help save it from itself. Time, however, is running out. The ruling class on the planet is bent on destruction of their neighboring planet, who is equally bent on preventing their own annihilation by decimating their aggressive neighbor. It's up to Brion to save both worlds...in just three days.

This is an enjoyable story. The predicament of the plot is good and the process by which the plot unfolds and a (possible) solution to the seemingly imminent destruction of two worlds doesn't require any serious suspension of disbelief. From a science fiction standpoint it all makes sense. The dialog and process is mostly realistic as well. But...there's nothing compelling about this story.

None of the characters seem to have any real depth. In addition to none of the characters actually having a description (or at least a memorable one), none of them come off the page. There is no connection between the reader and the characters, no emotional response. When characters die, I was almost left thinking, "So what?" I felt equally nonplussed about the looming dual planetary destruction as well. That sense of tension and apprehension that should have been there just never was present for me. I read through each page but never got worried because I didn't connect with anyone enough to really care. It was a story that happened "in a galaxy far, far away" and never got any closer to me.

If you're a Harry Harrison fan, this is worth reading. A lot of Harrison's typical approach is here, and his science, though not "hard," is reasonably sound. His characters, also typically Harrison, are larger than life. There are no bit parts in Harrison's books. But I'll be darned if I can say you'll be emotionally charged after completing this book. I won't say skip this one, but I can't say pick it up either.