Berserker Fury

Berserker #10

by Fred Saberhagen

Intelligent, space-faring killing machines whose sole purpose is to destroy all biological life, the Berserkers have developed units that can pass for human-created androids to be used to for an all-out attack on humankind, but the humans are one step ahead. Reprint.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Audiobook, Science Fiction Fantasy, Military Science Fiction

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Fred 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.

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have fond memories of reading Berserker novels as a kid that are now a bit tarnished by this volume. Sorry Fred, but this was a real chore to get through. There's an interesting cowardice/revenge story line in the beginning, which threads through (barely touched) in the middle and then resumes toward the end. But the bulk of this book is 300 pages of indecipherable space battle and positioning. I felt I should have had a dining-room-table-sized map board where I could move around models of carriers, dreadnoughts, bombers & whatnots, just in order to keep track of everything. Human interest makes almost no appearance through all of this. We're not really given a reason to care. Is it just assumed that we should?

[Raven · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disjointed, weirdly redundant, randomly dropping in-and-out of plot-and-story sometimes from paragraph-to-paragraph, and so blatantly a badly conceived attempt at "the battle of Midway, but in spaaaaace." Not even remotely up to the standards of writing in previous novels of the series.

And yet where the human story is told, where the characters struggle and we watch, the writing is well-done...and laden with numerous missed opportunities so much more worthy of the word count than what is actually there. Still, the reader has to struggle through a lot of garbage for the gems, and it is questionable as to if it is worth it.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable war and spy take on the Berserker universe

[Clay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting bits and situations. Rather a slog in the middle during the heat of the big battle.

I noticed a lot of repetition of information and events. It didn't feel like it was seeing the same event from a different character's perspective, though I could (maybe) see that as the author's reason. Even so, no need to go into the details each and every time.

[Cynik · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little different tone from some of Saberhagen's other berserker books. It was a little harder to get into, it was more about the people than the actual berserkers or the war. I still enjoyed the read, it just wasn't quite the same as others in the series.

[Phil · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read something like 10 berserker novels, and this was a real let down. Jeez, some editing please! No tricky ending twist, no surprises, just Meh.

[Tony Ciak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, the robots are taking over, another enjoyable book in the series. Loved it!

[Jay Goemmer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Berserker Fury (1997) by Fred Saberhagen.

"Fred, get an editor... PLEASE! (sobbing)"

The tautly-written opening scene is well-deserving of the novel's title, but its ever-increasing redundancies eventually decay into a fragmented, non-sequential narrative toward the end of the book. Unfortunately, that turn of events hopelessly distracted this reader from what could have been wonderful character development, and lessened the impact of two characters' unexpected sacrifices.

I found the name of the planet Uhao interesting and different, until I realized that it was merely "Oahu" spelled backwards. Only in Chapter 28 was the "familiar name letter reversal" ploy *really* annoying, when Saberhagen tossed off Nodrog (Gordon), Adnilem (Melinda), and Egroeg (George) inside of 3 paragraphs.

I first noticed Saberhagen becoming redundant in _Berserker Kill_ (1993), but it was painfully obvious in _Berserker Fury._ While his early Berserker stories are well-crafted and crisply written, this novel is not. If Fred's succeeding Berserker novels are written this poorly, I'm strongly tempted not read any further in the series. In the end, the foreshadowing isn't followed through to its full potential, which is just plain disappointing to the reader.

In brief, at this point in his writing career (1997), Fred Saberhagen is in dire need of an editor who understands science fiction *and* literature, and would be able to gently shepherd him back to excellence again. "Sadder still to watch it die/Than never to have known it." --Rush, "Losing It," _Signals_

(09 Sept 2005)

[Vinny · Rating 1 out of 5]

You have GOT to be kidding me. This writer gets paid to re-write historical episodes? Spoiler alert: this book is the Battle of Midway recast in the Berserker universe. The planet of "50/50" is, can you guess it? Midway. There are three human carriers. One is called Stinger (Hornet, get it?). Etc. etc. Some of the names are even amalgams of historical names. This is the second book that is calling into question my liking of the Berserker series altogether. I guess I was younger before. Not sure if I will finish this book.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It an Okay book. It STRONGLY resembles WWII's Battle of Midway. I'm more interested in the individual story of the two main protagonists. Enh I fizzled out half way though. I had too much in my life and wasn't a gripping tale enough.

[R.K. Goff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutly fabulous example of the joys of short stories. A great thing for summer reading or I've-just-finished-Vanity-Fair reading. Highly recommended.

True Sci-Fi fun.

[James Macmicking]

Hard to go wrong with a Berserker book when you're in the mood for a good space opera. Hard to go wrong with Saberhagen for that matter.

[Peter Learn · Rating 2 out of 5]

What was most annoying about this book was the repetitiveness. Things had to be described 5 times. for instance the final battle, a retelling of Midway in the first place.