Conference noted::sf

Out of how many? :-)

SK

Ahem, an alternative review:

Finished A STAINLESS STEEL RAT IS BORN last night, and was pretty 
disappointed in it. Compared to the other books in the series (especially 
THE STAINLESS STEEL RAT SAVES THE WORLD), I thought the plot was inferior, 
and the humour (except some of the descriptions of McSwiney's) near non-
existent. I got the impression that Harrison himself wasn't particulary 
interested in the story.

Harrison appears to have written himself in a corner with the Stainless 
Steel Rat. Evidence is the back-cover blurb ("...the last in the SSR
series.") and the fact he's now writing "prequels." Maybe he's planning to 
start up a new series with James and Boliviar DeGriz?

Fred

I'd rather he went back to din Alt.
     							Don

	I just found the last -Stainless Steel Rat- book, entitled

			"A Stainless Steel Rat is Born"

I have felt for years that Harry Harrison is one of the more underrated
writer's in the SF world.  Sure, he may not have the sweeping style of 
Zelazny (whom I love) or the critical acclaim of Anthony (whom I also am
quite fond of), but his books have a special magic that make me laugh. 
Slippery Jim Digriz is one of the most "real" characters I have ever come
across.  From what I have read of this book, which goes back to Digriz's
childhood start as a master criminal, the style continues.

I have not finished it yet, but I can tell that if you like the first
four books, that this one will surely not dissapoint you.  

Any comments on Harrison, Slippery Jim, or commiting the perfect crime?

Dan

Alfred Hitchcock's anthologies (& Columbo episodes) contain many 
almost-perfect crimes where *one* little mistake trips 'em up.  

My favorite one is the hen-pecked husband with the live-in pain-in-the-
*** mother-in-law who, out of the kindness of his heart, build's them
a Deluxe Hot Tub, and thoughtfully leaves them an adequate supply of 
their favorite wine beside it ....

     						Don

    
    This month's SFBC guide is offering, as one of its selections-of-
    the-month, THE STAINLESS STEEL RAT GETS DRAFTED. 
    
    -Steve

    I've just started SSR gets Drafted and while it's probably not quite
    up to the standards of the older ones (it's been a long time since
    I read them) it has kept me up fairly late at night turning pages...
    
    More later when I finish it, but I like it!
    
    Willie

    Hi there one and all,
    
      I'm new to this notesfile but very keen on reading. I started
    on Asimov, Bradbury, Clarke (alphabetically set out library) and
    eventually ended up with Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat
    series, which I found extremely good fun.
      Unfortunately, I only had two of these novels at the time and
    when I'd read those I went on to other things. Which brings me
    to a question : what other SSR books were there in the series and
    which ones do you recommend ?
      
        thanks in advance,   andy
    
    

>                       <<< Note 852.0 by REPAIR::HOBBS >>>

> : what other SSR books were there in the series and


The ones I know about.. (in no order at all)


The SSR
The SSR revenge
The SSR saves the world
A SSR is born

And don't forget :

The SSR gets drafted

Not as good as the others in my opinion but definitely worth a read.

    
    
    Isn't there The SSR for president!, also.
    
    If you like this series, (which I love.)
    
    I would also suggest the Retief series by (I think.) Mike Lamuer.
    (someone please correct me on the author's name.)
    

    - .1
    
    That's Keith Laumer, Dennis.

    
    
    Thanks. Drat. Who is this Asimov guy anyways that I keep hearing about.
    
    								:)
    

    Also, The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You!
    

    You are aware that Harrison is currently in Hollywood working on script
    re-writes and consulting on the Stainless Steel Rat movie....

    No! But that's excellent. ANy details? Who's playing slippery Jim?
    Who is directing?
    
    					Max
    

    No details available at this time.  I'll get more when I talk to him
    this weekend.

    I hope t'hell you asked whether there'd be more books forthcoming!

    He seems to like this series, but would not commit to any more books.
    
    As for the movie, he says he cannot release any details, yet.  It's in
    his contract.

    Now's your chance.
    
    Got any questions you want answered from Harry Harrison?  I will be
    conducting an interview with him this afternoon at 5:00.  Post your
    questions here or send them to me EMAIL.

    
    Oh, geez, I hate when I read these things late like this.  I would
    love to have you get me Ambalasi's autograph!!!!  And I'd love to know
    if he's going to do any more Eden books, they were great!!!!  Did you
    ask him?
    
    Nobody can sling an insult like Ambalasi can!!!
    
    Helen

    Already spoke to him, but I'm picking him up at the airport on the
    17th.  I'll ask him then.

    Ambalasi????
    
    
    ...and ask him when there'll be more Rat stories, would you?
    
                                     

    Harrison says he has another book in the works called 
    "The Stainless Steel Rat Sings the Blues" which will be accomponied by
    and audio tape containing "some of the worst songs in SF".

    Well a search turned up no references to Bill The Galactic Hero (or Bil
    as he is known in the troopers - two L's for officers only Bowb). I
    hadn't read this book for several years then the other day I saw two
    sequels :
    
    Bill The Galactic Hero on The Planet of Robot Slaves
    
    &
    
    BTGH on The Planet of Bottled Brains (co-authored by Rob Sheckley).
    
    Anyone else read these ?, BTGH is still one of my favourite books,
    BTGHOTPORS is OK but by the time we reach the bottled brains it has
    (IMO) gone downhill.
    
    Not surprisingly BTGH always reminds me of Who Goes Here (Bob Shaw)
    which always leads me back to Heinlein's Spaceship Troopers.
    
    Comments ?
    
    Cheers
    
    /f

    I got only a few pages into "BTGH on the Planet of Tasteless
    Pleasure" before the joke ran out.  I remember the original Bill
    with fondness, but I'm afraid this is another example of
    share-cropping.   A name author dashs off some outlines and an
    agent expands it into an N-volume series.  It's not as if SF is
    so rich in innovation these days that we can afford to give a
    hundred feet of shelf space to stuff like this.  /jlr

    I bought up a couple of the 'sequels', read a couple of chapters, and
    threw them both in the trash.  Utter, unrequited, unrelieved dreck!
    
    Willie