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Berserker #6,9,12
Berserker Death
It happened long ago and far away. Perhaps in this galaxy, perhaps in one close by. Two war-maddened races fought-and though both are extinct, their legacy abides: the Frankenstein weapon that destroyed not only the enemy, but the creator. The Berserkers, robotic, asteroid-sized killers programmed to one purpose: to seek out and eradicate all life. The death machines have harried their way across our galaxy. Now they have come for us. But humans are anything but easy prey . . . Three complete novels set in this seemingly endless war against death itself.
The Berserker Wars: Despatches, battles, setbacks, and victories in the millennium-long battle between humans and the killing machines, woven into a seeping saga, with heroes, cowards, villains and even a prankster sharing the stage in the desperate struggle for survival.
Berserker: Blue Death: The colony on Shubra had been annihilated by the great blue Berserker that men called Leviathan, and Niles Domingo's daughter was on that colony. Obsessed with the need for vengeance at any cost, he set out, tracking Leviathan through the mists of the Milkpail Nebula. But his pursuit would be neither simple nor straightforward, and he had no suspicion of the strange turn his quest was about to take.
Berserker Kill: Once again, a Berserker attacks-but instead of destroying all life in its path, this one steals an orbiting biological lab filled with human zygotes, then wipes out all pursuers. The Berserker's plan for using the lab is completely unknown-but the humans and a lonely Artificial Intelligence assigned to the case are certain that it can only be very bad news for the beleaguered human race.
The Berserker Wars: Despatches, battles, setbacks, and victories in the millennium-long battle between humans and the killing machines, woven into a seeping saga, with heroes, cowards, villains and even a prankster sharing the stage in the desperate struggle for survival.
Berserker: Blue Death: The colony on Shubra had been annihilated by the great blue Berserker that men called Leviathan, and Niles Domingo's daughter was on that colony. Obsessed with the need for vengeance at any cost, he set out, tracking Leviathan through the mists of the Milkpail Nebula. But his pursuit would be neither simple nor straightforward, and he had no suspicion of the strange turn his quest was about to take.
Berserker Kill: Once again, a Berserker attacks-but instead of destroying all life in its path, this one steals an orbiting biological lab filled with human zygotes, then wipes out all pursuers. The Berserker's plan for using the lab is completely unknown-but the humans and a lonely Artificial Intelligence assigned to the case are certain that it can only be very bad news for the beleaguered human race.
768 pages, Hardcover
First published February 8, 2005
84 people want to read
About the author
Fred Saberhagen
335 books494 followersFred Saberhagen was an American science fiction and fantasy author most famous for his ''Beserker'' and Dracula stories.
Saberhagen also wrote a series of a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular ''Empire of the East'' and continuing through a long series of ''Swords'' and ''Lost Swords'' novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an It was while he was working for Motorola (after his military service) that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, ''The Golden People''.
From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as well as writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter.
Saberhagen also wrote a series of a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular ''Empire of the East'' and continuing through a long series of ''Swords'' and ''Lost Swords'' novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an It was while he was working for Motorola (after his military service) that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, ''The Golden People''.
From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as well as writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 10, 2014
An omnibus with at least 2 novels that all Berserker fans should read... but not the best of the best for your first foray into the world of the Berserkers.
The first book in the omnibus, The Berserker Wars, contains stories that are found in other collections (Berserker and The Ultimate Enemy), so while they're very good, you have likely read these before if you've been following the series.
The second book in the omnibus, Berserker Blue Death, is a quick read. The main parts of the plot are very, very similar to Moby Dick, but it's an enjoyable read. I give it 3.5 stars.
The final book in the omnibus, Berserker Kill, is a great addition to the series in terms of providing more information about the "Berserker universe", but is unsatisfying in several ways, and is indeed the weakest part of this package. I give it only 2.5 stars, sadly.
Why so low? The narrative lags, and then shifts uncomfortably, which is a bit jarring. Worse, however, is the fact that none of the characters are consistent enough to be compelling. Seemingly major characters (with lots of interesting potential) are killed shortly after being introduced. Other characters undergo dramatic changes and don't have the same "feel", so the reader loses interest as a result.
I'm a big fan of Saberhagen's Berserker cycle, so I do recommend that you start with some other works first, and then come back to read these for completeness sake - you'll learn lots about the other races (Carmpan in particular, and even the ancient Builders), which helps keep the series nicely robust.
If only Hollywood would make a movie franchise out of the Berserker series... it would be truly monumental.
The first book in the omnibus, The Berserker Wars, contains stories that are found in other collections (Berserker and The Ultimate Enemy), so while they're very good, you have likely read these before if you've been following the series.
The second book in the omnibus, Berserker Blue Death, is a quick read. The main parts of the plot are very, very similar to Moby Dick, but it's an enjoyable read. I give it 3.5 stars.
The final book in the omnibus, Berserker Kill, is a great addition to the series in terms of providing more information about the "Berserker universe", but is unsatisfying in several ways, and is indeed the weakest part of this package. I give it only 2.5 stars, sadly.
Why so low? The narrative lags, and then shifts uncomfortably, which is a bit jarring. Worse, however, is the fact that none of the characters are consistent enough to be compelling. Seemingly major characters (with lots of interesting potential) are killed shortly after being introduced. Other characters undergo dramatic changes and don't have the same "feel", so the reader loses interest as a result.
I'm a big fan of Saberhagen's Berserker cycle, so I do recommend that you start with some other works first, and then come back to read these for completeness sake - you'll learn lots about the other races (Carmpan in particular, and even the ancient Builders), which helps keep the series nicely robust.
If only Hollywood would make a movie franchise out of the Berserker series... it would be truly monumental.
July 19, 2025
A collection of short stories and two novels set in Saberhagen's Berserker universe. All of the stories share the same problem: How do you write reaslistic-seeming stories about beings that are stronger, faster, and smarter than humans and want all humans dead, without all the humans dying? The shorter novel, "Berserker Blue Death", faced this problem head-on by giving the humans roughly equivalent power via technology. The story was a version of "Moby Dick" with berserker in place of whale, and was not bad. The short stories, with only one or two exceptions, found ways to sidestep the superior power issue and deal with some other gimmick. The final longer novel, "Berserker Kill," was simply poorly written. It dwelled on issues that could have been explained in a tenth the space. For example, it was repeated about a hundred times (possibly an exaggeration, but it doesn't feel like one) that "we don't understand the berserker's motive." Nor were the characters very interesting, except a couple that got killed before they did much.
May 20, 2017
Read about 10 pages.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews