A Stainless Steel Rat is Born

Stainless Steel Rat #1

by Harry Harrison

Young Jim diGriz has but one ambition in life - to become a master criminal, perhaps the greatest that his backwater homeworld, Bit O'Heaven, has ever seen. So that he can learn the ropes, he has to mix with the right people - or rather the wrong people. And for this kind of on-the-job training the best place to meet the worst villains is in prison. But even for a customer as slippery as Jim, getting behind bars isn't easy.

So Jim does a bank job, very badly, with the avowed intention of getting himself nicked . . .

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Humor, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fantasy, Space Opera, Adventure

219 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 1985

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey) was an American science fiction author best known for his character the The Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! (1966), the basis for the film Soylent Green (1973). He was also (with Brian W. Aldiss) co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.

Excerpted from Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Lyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Stainless Steel Rat origin story.

I’ve had this on my list for literally decades but just could never pull the trigger on it and unfortunately I must say that I was a little under impressed. Harrison first introduced the SCIFI world to Slippery Jim diGriz in the late 50s with some short stories and then the eponymous classic in 1961. This one was first published in 1985. I should go back and read the 1961 book, give that one a try.

This made me think, obliquely, about John D. MacDonald’s writing. While The Rat is a criminal by choice and design, Mac’s Travis McGee also works outside the law but he is the more noble of the two, Harrison’s character is a picaresque rogue who likes to steal.

Actually, the scenes where a young Rat and his mentor, The Bishop, discuss the good they provide to society from their larcenous trade was some very good writing and almost made me like it more. Almost.

For whatever reason, I’ve never been able to fully connect with crime writing, maybe a recessive Lawful Good gene in my DNA that makes me shy away from outright thievery.

Not bad but maybe just for fans.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I'm reading these in publication order rather than chronological order, I'm quite aware that this is an origin story for our favorite thieving rat and not one that gets overly outrageous and epic.

In that respect, it's fun as hell. Hijinx and heists are fun in any quantity.

I really enjoyed his mentor, Bishop, but alas, all good things...

Basically, I can read these books all day long. Light, fun, and always funny. SF, yes, but it's really all about the glad-eyed thievery, always falling in the muck, and getting up immediately to steal again.

[Wanda Pedersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harrison breathes some new life into the Stainless Steel Rat series by going back to Slippery Jim’s beginnings. Prequels must have been a fairly new phenomenon in the mid-1980s, as the author feels the need to explain them in a foreword. How times have changed—now we have all kinds of numbering orders and it feels quite normal.

Going back to Jim’s genesis was an inspired idea. Fresh off the porcuswine farm, he is determined to get sent to jail, where he anticipates meeting some impressive criminals who can provide a master-class in crime. Instead, he finds that the wise guys aren’t in the joint, they are free and doing what they do best. After escaping, he must hatch a plan to lure in the smartest criminal of all time, The Bishop.

We watch as Jim meets his mentor, develops his “code,” and adopts the SSR persona. Very entertaining and great for a couple of evenings of reading. Very cute, if somewhat repetitive. The writing is serviceable, but kindly don’t expect anything of Raymond Chandler quality. Harrison must have blasted these books out quickly and for fun, between other projects (or whenever he needed to top up the bank account).

Book no. 195 of my science fiction & fantasy reading project.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Returning to the Stainless Steel Rat books for the first time since my teens, I was pleased to find them as entertaining as I remembered. Reading them in chronological order of events this time, rather than in publication order like I did the first time around.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple, easy to read. Nothing outstanding or deep. But if you are looking for a mickey spillane style non-brain burning old scifi, then the Rat series is for you. Very little character development yet and pretty much this book was the same story told three times.

Get into trouble, fight a bit, run away, hide, come back for revenge. x 3

[Susan Atherly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is a bit dated but still a fun read in a "It Takes A Thief" sort of flavor.

[Андрій Гулкевич · Rating 4 out of 5]

З цієї книжки може вийти непоганий серіал або навіть фільм. Історія не є глибокою, однак динамічною. Протагонгіст не встигає відійти від недавніх подій, як втрапляє у нові. Воно й не дивно - це життя людини, яка порушує закон.

[Kat Hooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

A Stainless Steel Rat is Born is a prequel to the Stainless Steel Rat series. Jimmy Bolivar diGriz is a smart and ambitious 17-year-old who feels trapped and inhibited on the backward planet of Bit O' Heaven where his parents are porcuswine farmers. Jim learned early in life that he was clever and unscrupulous enough to take what he wanted from others and, more than anything, he enjoyed planning and carrying out these little escapades. So, while his classmates were drudging through the material that he had already easily mastered, he decided to spend his time learning useful skills like lock-picking and fighting until he was old enough to be sent to the adult penitentiary where, he presumed, he'd meet masterminds like himself who could tutor him in more nefarious skills. That's why we meet Jimmy robbing a bank and purposely getting caught on his 17th birthday.

Unfortunately, prison is nothing like what Jim was expecting; it's full of losers. But Jim does pick up one useful scrap of information there: the cleverest criminal in Bit O' Heaven, The Bishop, has never been caught. Jim knows he must escape prison, find The Bishop, and become his apprentice.

A Stainless Steel Rat is Born is a great addition to the Stainless Steel Rat series. It fills in Jim's backstory, gives us the origin of his names for himself ("Slippery Jim diGriz" and "The Stainless Steel Rat") and is just plain entertaining in its own right. It's a great place to start with the series and can easily be read as a stand-alone novel.

If you're an audiobook reader, you must try this series on audio. (And if you're not an audiobook reader, this is a good one to start with -- it's only about 7 hours long). Phil Gigante's narrations really add to the humor. In this book he starts off with a rather hickish sounding voice for Jimmy -- different than the voice he used in the other books. At first I was slightly annoyed and thought it was a mistake, until I realized that over the course of the book he gradually and discreetly morphed the voice into the one I was used to (which I like much better). I see now that he was showing the transition from Jimmy diGriz, son of porcuswine farmers, into The Stainless Steel Rat. Nicely done, Mr. Gigante!

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is fun. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, it’s easy to follow, and the main character is likable albeit not very deep.

Fun, fast-paced, and readable in a way early 60s books often aren’t, TSSR is a heist and hijinks novel that is easily accessible and entertaining. If you like classic sci-fi, you’ll probably enjoy it!

My only real gripe about this book is that the story doesn’t depend a lot on sci-fi aspects to be a story. This novel could be set today. Angelina could easily have been stealing an airplane or a fancy car. and the story would have been unchanged. In this regard, aside from a few spaceships and tech here and there, nothing was really sci-fi-ish. We don’t have any aliens, nothing outlandish regarding society, and the technology is very surface value. As such, this novel stays in its lane and doesn’t try and "say anything." For me, it’s a bit too simple and surface value, but I will admit I flew through it. It’s quite fun.

The characters aren’t very deep. We get glimpses that Jim doesn’t like his parents but nothing to explain his personality or background. Yet, his personality is very easy to understand and follow - he’s like if Han Solo were crossed with James Bond - but he’s not very introspective or contemplative. Does he need to be, though? Because if the book had taken time to delve into his backstory, it would have taken away from the pacing and the story at hand. It might have made it too serious, which I don’t believe was the intent of the novel.

What’s also fun about this novel is watching Jim, an accomplished thief and grifter, get grifted himself. Angelina is one step ahead of him at all times, and part of the fun was watching him - and everyone else - underestimate her. We don’t get a lot on Angelina either, as she’s an elusive character for most of the novel, but I will say I enjoyed how she was the villain. I did find it a bit reductive that she was motivated by her looks, and that, aside from that queen for two sentences, there were no other women in the novel, but I do think a lot of the sexist stuff Jim says is meant to be a critique, given it's so blatantly ridiculous. E.g. how he says women are too emotional but he is the one who spends the whole book chasing after a woman he thinks he loves .

The love story was predictable, inevitable, and without a lot of merit, but it definitely gave a bit more depth to the motives of old Jimmy. One thing I did like was that when it comes to his recruitment, it isn’t just, “You’re on the team - go” he’s expected to undergo training first.

So, an enjoyable story that’s nonetheless a bit forgettable, despite the fantastic title.

[Gav451 · Rating 3 out of 5]

So then, the first if one goes by the narrative chronology but. like with Star Wars, in fact the author wrote these prequels after the main event. I like Harry Harrison, he has a decent sense of humour and a punchy direct style that made this fun to read but I did have one or two issues that just took some of the sparkle from it.

The young Jim seemed too wise and too fully formed in the book. The voice of the author felt too old, like it was a tale told by the old person and he was adding a sheen of acceptability to the whole affair. I liked the well told tale but this wisdom and certainty for a 17 year old meant that the sense of threat was lost a little.

There was too much prophetic foreshadowing in the book and too many lectures. Harry worked just a bit too hard to get us to like this thief with a heart of gold. He didn't need to, he was pushing at an open door.

The very last line is a stinker. Too self congratulatory. It was not needed at all.

Having said all that there was much too like.

There was a wide and world spanning plot. I did not know where it was going and liked the way it went.
The atmosphere was old time small town America but in the future. Like the Martian Chronicles. while it was not accurate I liked this view of the universe for its simplicity and charm.
I loved the fact he downloaded the papers then printed them out to read. I do not know why but it tickled me no end.
The pace was good and the writing solid and functional.
It was a page turner, I was never bored.

So overall I'd say this book was a win. Not a classic by any means and very light hearted in tone but it was nice to read an up book without any sign of a dystopia future. To read a book that was clearly meant to be fun.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was familiar with Slippery Jim diGriz the spacefaring criminal before he made his appearance in 2000AD. The books showed a bright guy trying to break rules and help himself to money which he reckoned he was earning by ingenuity.
This teen-suitable book introduces a seventeen year old lad on a backwards pork farming planet, though as you can imagine farming porcuswine isn't that easy given their size, ferocity and porcupine quills. Jim wants more out of his life than his parents are able or inclined to provide. He raids a bank to get thrown in jail - the sardonic humour is early apparent as he hits an alarm with his elbow, thinking 'do I have to do everything myself?' But upon discovering that jail is not full of criminal masterminds as he'd hoped, but unintelligent lowlifes, he just has to break out again and go on the run.

An interesting twist sees Jim on a slaver planet, not enjoying life, and feeling responsible for an elderly father figure. Various high-tech setups are described but I note a planet still has phone boxes, though of course we don't know if they are the same as 20th century ones. Despite a considerable amount of action and violence, the deaths are very few, and women do not figure largely, making this a teen boy's read at the time it was written. The message we can take from the story is that for those with initiative, intelligence and ingenuity, there will always be alternative methods of getting what they want. Now for the rest of the series!

[Linda Isakson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always nice to become acquainted with our hero's humble past. Jim wasn't born a rat, but had to discover how to become one through tutelage and loss. By purposefully landing himself in jail, Jim tries to learn from his fellow crooks but realizes only the best rats never get caught. Unfortunately, Jim accidently reveals the secret whereabouts of the most infamous and much-sought-after rat, in an attempt to show off his skills to said master rat. Now, he not only has to save his own skin but that of his new master.

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Judged within the lines of another science-fiction heist novel, A Stainless Steel Rat Is Born is not any worse off than those that came before it. But as an origin story, I found it rather lacking. Jim already knows all the basics of his trade before the story even begins, and possesses mostly the same mindset and pacifistic honour as he does later in life. There's very little he actually has to learn over the course of this "origin" story itself. I would have wished to see more of a contrast there.

[Tim Seley · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I was twelve years old I probably would have enjoyed this much more. But I’m not. So I didn’t.

[Петър Стойков · Rating 3 out of 5]

Въпреки, че е леко елементарен и детски на моменти, Хари Харисън ми е един от любимите автори – в неговите книги винаги е застъпена здраво нишката на социалната антропология и практически всяка от тях представлява изследване на това както би станало ако…

Във всяка от книгите на Хари Харисън се разказва за някаква далечна планета, на която са се преселили хора, но постепенно, както става с изолираните места, са оформили някакво специфично и уникално общество. Базирайки се на историята, Харисън рисува феодални, деспотични, племенни и всякакви други общности и начини на живот, а комбинирайки ги с уникалните условия на планетите, се получават невероятни комбинации.

Такава е и комбинацията в първата книга от серията за „Стоманения плъх“ – умен младеж, роден на безбожно скучна фермерска планета, където единственото занимание е да отглеждаш прасета и да чакаш годишния Свински панаир, за да се напиеш с домашна ракия. Той решава, че повече му прияга професията на престъпник, намира си учител в тоя занаят, и от там започват приключенията и пътешествията му.

[Little Timmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another in the stainless steel rat books. They are all quick reads with alot of humor in them. The stories remain fresh and new. Very recommended, especially to teen readers or someone new to SiFi

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like normal the Stainless Steel Rat is nothing but an enjoyable read start to finish. It was interesting reading in publication order and going back in time to this prequel. I loved seeing his progression from a dinky bank robber up to conning an entire planet.

Jim feels like the same character, just younger and dumber. Seeing him interact with a superior he revered was awesome, and it's no wonder where he was helped along to find his strong moral code (one of my favourite bits about the character). The Bishop was a great teacher and I was genuinely sad at the end of his story, I wonder if we ever learn his true name. All of the characters really are great, even the ones who suck. Dreng was my favourite side character by far.

I think I'd definitely like to read these in chronological order eventually, it feels like all of the pieces will click together pretty well. Thankfully I still get to see the next bit of his life clear when he gets drafted, but I've got pretty high hopes about his outcome on that one.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

These things are still so fun. Pointless and silly, but after a couple of books that maybe weren't quite up to snuff this prequel feels like a return to the form of the first novel again. As we jump back to young Jim diGriz's formative years we get to enjoy his first few jobs, meet his mentor, and see what kind of a world could create a man like the Stainless Steel Rat!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Iowa Canal Players put on a great comedy at this years’ Archon/TuckerCon/NASFiC. As Janice and I were leaving, she was telling me what a great spoof it was on the Stainless Steel Rat books by Harry Harrison. She said I did not get much of the inside humor because I hadn’t read these books yet. In order to correct this oversight I have extracted a couple of these novels from the farm library and started reading them.

Janice suggested I start with this one, every though it is not the first one he wrote, because it tells the tale of how Jimmy DeGriz became the above mentioned rodent (in name only – no metamorphic activity occurring).

The story starts with a very young Mr. DeGriz robbing a bank on the plant Bit O’ Heaven, and then getting intentionally caught – you see he wants the criminal education only those on prison can give. Unfortunately Prison U. failed to provide the higher education our hero – and I feel comfortable calling him that as you will see later – required; thus a jailbreak with a somewhat reluctant partner. The one thing he gleaned was that a master criminal called “The Bishop” who could be the one to teach him what he yearns to know.

The one problem is that the gentleman with the chess piece moniker is retired and no one knows how to contact him. Jimmy figures the best way to flush him out is to commit a crime and make it look like the old guy did it.

He does, and meets him in an unusual scene and they end up having some very interesting adventures. Harrison writes with ease and keeps the ride going swiftly. Every time it looks like things are fine, another problem occurs. In the end Jimmy learns that he is not a crook or even a common criminal. He is one who lives outside the rules of everyone else and as such it is a lonely life but a rewarding one.

At first I had some issues with the philosophy of the Rat, but in the end I felt comfortable with the way Harrison justifies what Jimmy has become. He learns from the old man that even though they are outside of the normal rules of society, they have a strict set of rules they live by.

I recommend this book have started an omnibus of three other SSR novels. I am confident these will be as entertaining.

[Shelly L · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like a smart arch-criminal type now and again. It’s the smart that draws me. And the allure of power, too, of course. If only I had that kind of power, right?! But right now, the fantasy of being contemptuously smarter-than, feeling entitled to live outside the law, with a smirky license to skim off the top and to write your own rules ... it just rings hollow and falls horribly flat. Too real, too wrong, too gross. Oppressive. Privileged. Corrupt. Honestly? It makes me sick.

[Книжни Криле · Rating 5 out of 5]

Хан Соло, Снейк Плискин, Корбен Далас, Капитан Майкъл Рейнолдс, Ридик, Спайк Спийгъл, Питър Куил... Съвременната фантастика е бъкана с чаровни анти-герои, някои лениви и лежерни, други тарикати, трети устати, а повечето всичко от изброеното на куп. Брадясали циници, отегчени от живота, плюещи (че дори и хапещи, дращещи, стрелящи...) по системата, всеки със своето тъмно минало и лични демони, и всеки въоръжен с богат репертоар от хапливо-иронични лафове. И дълбоко, под тази яка черупка, зад маската на корав тип с ампутирана съвест, дреме златно сърце, което често подтиква към неохотно забъркване в чужди неприятности и дори евентуална саможертва.

Как да не ги обичаш, нашите сай-фай анти-герои и космически каубои?

Но има един, може би не толкова известен като гореизброените, но определено заслужаващ свое място в пантеона (а защо не и екранизация!) – предшественик на днешните популярни физиономии, едно старо куче... Е, може би не точно куче, по-скоро плъх! Да, говорим за героя на покойния Хари Харисън - Джеймс Боливар ди Гриз, познат още като Хлъзгавия Джим или Стоманения плъх. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле":

https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...

[Tristan Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book as a teenager in the early 1980's and have re-read this one and the others in the Stainless Steel rat series a number of times since, including recently. For me the Stainless Steel Rat is Born is a perfect introduction into the world of Slippery Jim DiGriz, which are all a delight to read but also into the world of Sci-Fi. I should add that an interest in Sci-Fi is not a prerequisite to reading this set of books.

Finally I would like to say thank you to Harry Harrison for introducing us to Jim DiGriz, a truly lovable rogue.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have fond memories of this series from my high school days. If I recall, this wasn't the best of the bunch so I'll continue my trip down memory lane.

This short book had a lot of the strut and attitude I remember liking. I find the main character to be fun and cheeky in a satisfying way. His distaste for killing and roguish nature still amuses.

The writing is rough sometimes and it has these maddening sentence fragments that drive me up the wall. Neither overshadow the compelling elements. I guess voice wins.

[Thom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good origin story, with all the standard bits (mentor, daring escape, lessons learned). The beginning was better than the end, which was just okay. Also not as high-tech as the other stories.

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

I passed on this books all through high school. Never could get past the title. Anyway, I finally tried one. Can't say I'm a big fan but this one was kind of fun.

[scafandr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Наверное, в каждом жанре есть писатели, с творчеством которых ты обязан быть знаком, если являешься поклонником данного жанра. В фантастике такой человек явно Гарри Гаррисон. Фантастику и фэнтези я начал читать сильно позже, чем большинство "фантазеров", поэтому Гарриссона у меня не было ни в детстве, ни в подростковом возрасте. Но советы прочитать что-нибудь из его творчества мне попадались с самого начала увлечения. И естественно, чаще всего советовали прочитать "Стальную крысу". Я постоянно откладывал знакомство с Крысой на потом, может быть когда выйдет какое-нибудь интересное издание с красивой обложкой, или может быть когда случайно кто-нибудь подарит, а может когда рак на горе свистнет...
И так получилось, что Гарриссон у меня начался не с Крысы, а с других романов и рассказов, по которым я сделал вывод, что это все-таки приличный такой олд скул, за которым специально бегать не стоит. А при случае прочитать можно. И ровно такой случай мне подвернулся, когда я увидел в магазине "Рождение Стальной Крысы" на украинском языке. Тоненькая книга, всего один небольшой роман, вроде как первый в цикле - почему бы не начать с него, а потом принять решение, продолжать читать на другом уже языке или махнуть на Крысу рукой.
Джим ди Гриз - молодой плут-авантюрист, а по простому вор. Но вор благородный - убивать не убивает, бедных не грабит, когда надо помогает. В романе ему всего 17 лет, он пока еще неопытный, но у него есть большое желание стать Вором с большой буквы В. А для этого ему нужно у кого-нибудь поучиться. И такого человека Джиму подсказали - есть некий Слон, которого практически невозможно найти, но его все знают и уважают.
Собственно, в "Рождении Стальной Крысы" Джим ищет учителя, находит его и, как бы это банально ни звучало, учится.
Оценки у цикла весьма высоки (выше 8 из 10). Многие отмечают искрометный юмор, море авантюр и успешных афер. Наверное, наивно было бы мне ждать всего этого, учитывая, что в детстве Гарриссона у меня не было, а бравые похождения 17-летнего вора в космосе все-таки больше относится к подросткам, чем к взрослым читателям. Собственно, так оно и получилось - смеяться как-то не хотелось. Юмор довольно простой, сюжет такой же. Вроде действия проходят на разных планетах, а антуража не чувствуется. Да и фантастика в книге больше для галочки... Все-таки это фантастика прошлого столетия. Все-таки вынужден признать, что ожидал немножечко большего. Роман оказался простым, наивным, но веселым и быстро читающимся.
А вот когда я полез искать подробности про Крысу, то с удивлением узнал, что на самом деле это не первый роман цикла и начинать с него не рекомендуется. Вот же засада! Про становление Стальной Крысы лучше читать тогда, когда ты уже знаком со взрослой Крысой и тебе хочется узнать, с чего все начиналось. Ну ладно, что поделаешь... В итоге на Крысе крест пока не ставлю и может быть в будущем когда-нибудь прочитаю парочку других романов цикла. Но опять же не буду ждать от новых книг ничего эдакого. Я уже знаю, на что Гарриссон способен, поэтому вряд ли он сможет меня удивить.

[Kevin Phyland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harry Harrison gives us the origin story of James diGriz, son of a porcuswine herder from Bit O’Heaven. Kicked out of home he pursues a life of crime and gets himself sent to prison to further his criminal education. Discovering that only unsuccessful criminals get imprisoned he escapes and seeks a rumoured retired master criminal known as The Bishop to whom he hopes to be apprenticed. Committing a number of crimes using The Bishop’s trademark calling card he eventually attracts his attention but is refused an apprenticeship. However, his surfacing after so many years retirement has led to The Bishop’s capture and Jim now feels obliged to rescue him. Which he does, and is thus befriended and finally apprenticed. Together Jim and The Bishop plan a heist that has some minor problems causing them to flee offworld but who knew you couldn’t trust spacers who could be bribed? Abandoned on a primitive world of feudal law they must find a way to escape. You know what you’re getting with a Rat story. Ignore any inconsistencies and deus ex machina magic rabbits from hats. It’s fun!

[Alexander Theofanidis · Rating 5 out of 5]

(ελληνική κριτική στη συνέχεια της αγγλικής)

A Stainless Steel Rat Is Born is the sixth instalment in Harry Harrison’s series featuring the legendary Jim DiGriz. Despite the almost misleading “#1” label, the book was written a full twenty-five years after the first in the series and, as even a moderately intelligent imbecile might deduce, it is a prequel. Those who grew fond of Jim as a champion of law and justice now have the opportunity to discover what he was up to before falling afoul of the long arm of the law and encountering his bewitching Angelina — in short, the early steps of Jim’s journey into the world of crime and swindling.

If you are concerned this might be a cheap cash-in designed to milk the good name of the Stainless Steel Rat you so cherished, rest assured: there is no cause for alarm. Harrison remains steadfast in tone and quality. If you were expecting a blend of science fiction, satire, and adventure... THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT YOU SHALL FIND — in just the right proportions and quantities. And while this volume places particular emphasis on exploring the character of the hero in his adolescent years, DiGriz is DiGriz, full stop. Thus we witness, as one might expect, a young DiGriz learning how to survive, to navigate perilous circumstances, and to construct the mythos that will one day establish him as one of the galaxy’s most astute and independently-minded criminals.

Harrison’s prose is witty, rich in irony and humour. The narrative flows briskly, peppered with reversals and cleverly orchestrated scenarios. That said, the novel occasionally loses momentum when it leans too heavily on the mere recitation of events rather than delving into psychological nuance — but, really, we’re not always in the mood to plumb the Mariana Trench of character depth. Sometimes we crave something punchy, clever, and laced with humour. Now, if you find the protagonist seems less fully formed than in previous volumes, do compose yourselves: we are dealing with a teenager, a criminal-in-the-making, a work in progress, for Pete’s sake! Munch on your crisps and enjoy the way A Stainless Steel Rat Is Born enhances our broader understanding of Jim DiGriz’s transformation from a “mere juvenile delinquent” (LOL) into the charmingly anarchic hero of space-faring exploits.

It is enjoyable, fast-paced, and entertaining — aimed, OBVIOUSLY, at those already enamoured with the world of the Stainless Steel Rat. And if it is not the most deep-and-meaningful, nor the most structurally complex volume in the series, do relax and regard it as an essential puzzle piece for the devoted fan. Oh, do grow up…


Το A Stainless Steel Rat Is Born είναι το έκτο βιβλίο στη σειρά του Harry Harrison με ήρωα τον θρυλικό Jim DiGriz (θα ήθελα πολύ να δω το μεταφραστή στα ελληνικά που θα προσπαθούσε να αποδώσει το «Stainless Steel Rat»… «αρουραίος από ανοξείδωτο ατσάλι;» ή «inox αρουραίος;»). Παρά το σχεδόν παραπλανητικό #1 στη σειρά, έχει γραφτεί 25 χρόνια μετά το πρώτο βιβλίι της σειράς και όπως ακόμη και ένας μετρίας ευφυΐας… ηλίθιος μπορεί να καταλάβει, πρόκειται για prequel. Όσοι αγάπησαν τον Jim σαν υπέρμαχο του νόμου έχουν την ευκαιρία να δουν τι έκανε πριν πέσει στην τσιμπίδα της εννόμου τάξεως και γνωρίσει τη μαγευτική Αντελίνα του, εν ολίγοις, τα πρώτα βήματα του Jim στον κόσμο του εγκλήματος και της απατεωνιάς.

Αν φοβάστε ότι πρόκειται για αρπαχτή που σκοπεύει να αρμέξει το καλό όνομα του… ανοξείδωτου αρουραίου που αγαπήσατε, δεν υπάρχει κανένας λόγος ανησυχίας. Ο Harrison παραμένει πιστός στο ύφος του και κρατάει σταθερή την ποιότητα. Αν περιμένατε ένα μείγμα επιστημονικής φαντασίας, σάτιρας και περιπέτειας… ΑΥΤΟ ΑΚΡΙΒΩΣ ΘΑ ΒΡΕΙΤΕ και, μάλιστα στις σωστές αναλογίες και ποσότητες, άσχετα αν στο παρόν δίνεται έμφαση στην εξερεύνηση του χαρακτήρα του ήρωα στα εφηβικά του χρόνια, ο DiGriz, είναι DiGriz, πάει και τελείωσε. Βλέπουμε λοιπόν, όπως είναι άλλωστε αναμενόμενο, έναν νεαρό DiGriz να μαθαίνει πώς να επιβιώνει, να χειρίζεται καταστάσεις και να χτίζει το μύθο του ως ένας από τους πιο έξυπνους και ανεξάρτητους εγκληματίες του γαλαξία.

Η γραφή του Harrison είναι διασκεδαστική, γεμάτη ειρωνεία και χιούμορ. Η αφήγηση κυλά γρήγορα, με διαρκείς ανατροπές και έξυπνα στημένες καταστάσεις. Ωστόσο, το βιβλίο χάνει κάποιες φορές τη δυναμική του όταν αναλώνεται περισσότερο στην αφήγηση γεγονότων παρά στην ψυχολογική εμβάθυνση, αλλά ειλικρινά δεν έχουμε κάθε μέρα όρεξη να πιάνουμε την τάφρο των Μαριάννων από πλευράς εμβάθυνσης σε χαρακτήρες, μερικές φορές θέλουμε κάτι σπιντάτο και έξυπνο, με χιούμορ. Τώρα, αν σε σχέση με προηγούμενους τόμους, ο χαρακτήρας σάς φαίνεται λιγότερο πλήρης, σοβαρευτείτε, μιλάμε για ένα έφηβο, ένα εγκληματία εν τη γενέσει, ο άνθρωπος διαμορφώνεται ακόμα, for pete’s sake! Φάτε τα γαριδάκια σας και απολαύστε τον τρόπο με τον οποίο στο ευρύτερο πλ��ίσιο της σειράς, A Stainless Steel Rat Is Born έχετε την ευκαιρία να κατανοήσετε καλύτερα τη μετάβαση του Jim DiGriz από έναν «απλό νεαρό παραβάτη» (LOL) σε έναν γοητευτικά αναρχικό ήρωα της διαστημικής περιπέτειας.

Είναι ευχάριστο, γρήγορο και διασκεδαστικό, απευθύνεται ΠΡΟΦΑΝΩΣ κυρίως σε όσους αγαπούν τον κόσμο του Stainless Steel Rat και αν δεν είναι το πιο deep καταdeep και profound ή σύνθετο βιβλίο της σειράς, χαλαρώστε και δείτε το ως ένα απαραίτητο κομμάτι του παζλ για τους φαν. Μπωωωω…

[Drrr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Я навіть не розумію за що я ставлю 3 зірочки....книга не сподобалася. це не мій жанр. таке не люблю і таке не читаю. напевно така оцінка за героя, бо він цілеспрямований. іде вперед напролом і пох що там інші кажуть. є ціль - треба досягнути. за це все таки я поставила 3, а так книга не оч...

[Mikhail Ignatev · Rating 2 out of 5]

Я понимаю, почему это может нравится лет в 11)