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Dumarest of Terra #3
Toyman
Space-wanderer Earl Dumarest is on the planet Toy to consult the giant computer which may contain information on the whereabouts of Earth, his lost home-world.
But soon he realises Toy is a place that gives away nothing for free. Before Dumarest can gain the information he needs, he must take part in the Toy Games - must fight like a tin soldier in a vast nursery.
And there is nothing playful about the Games on Toy. The pain is real enough; the wounds, the blood - and death.
But soon he realises Toy is a place that gives away nothing for free. Before Dumarest can gain the information he needs, he must take part in the Toy Games - must fight like a tin soldier in a vast nursery.
And there is nothing playful about the Games on Toy. The pain is real enough; the wounds, the blood - and death.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
16 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
E.C. Tubb
382 books85 followersEdwin Charles Tubb was a writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. He published over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, and is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra) an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future.
Much of Tubb's work has been written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He has used 58 pen names over five decades of writing although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.
An avid reader of pulp science-fiction and fantasy in his youth, Tubb found that he had a particular talent as a writer of stories in that genre when his short story 'No Short Cuts' was published in New Worlds magazine in 1951. He opted for a full-time career as a writer and soon became renowned for the speed and diversity of his output.
Tubb contributed to many of the science fiction magazines of the 1950s including Futuristic Science Stories, Science Fantasy, Nebula and Galaxy Science Fiction. He contributed heavily to Authentic Science Fiction editing the magazine for nearly two years, from February 1956 until it folded in October 1957. During this time, he found it so difficult to find good writers to contribute to the magazine, that he often wrote most of the stories himself under a variety of pseudonyms: one issue of Authentic was written entirely by Tubb, including the letters column.
His main work in the science fiction genre, the Dumarest series, appeared from 1967 to 1985, with two final volumes in 1997 and 2008. His second major series, the Cap Kennedy series, was written from 1973 to 1983.
In recent years Tubb updated many of his 1950s science fiction novels for 21st century readers.
Tubb was one of the co-founders of the British Science Fiction Association.
Much of Tubb's work has been written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He has used 58 pen names over five decades of writing although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.
An avid reader of pulp science-fiction and fantasy in his youth, Tubb found that he had a particular talent as a writer of stories in that genre when his short story 'No Short Cuts' was published in New Worlds magazine in 1951. He opted for a full-time career as a writer and soon became renowned for the speed and diversity of his output.
Tubb contributed to many of the science fiction magazines of the 1950s including Futuristic Science Stories, Science Fantasy, Nebula and Galaxy Science Fiction. He contributed heavily to Authentic Science Fiction editing the magazine for nearly two years, from February 1956 until it folded in October 1957. During this time, he found it so difficult to find good writers to contribute to the magazine, that he often wrote most of the stories himself under a variety of pseudonyms: one issue of Authentic was written entirely by Tubb, including the letters column.
His main work in the science fiction genre, the Dumarest series, appeared from 1967 to 1985, with two final volumes in 1997 and 2008. His second major series, the Cap Kennedy series, was written from 1973 to 1983.
In recent years Tubb updated many of his 1950s science fiction novels for 21st century readers.
Tubb was one of the co-founders of the British Science Fiction Association.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 16, 2020
Needed by Dumarest; information on the whereabouts of the planet earth. On the world Toy was the giant computer that might have the information. But the information would be costly. Dumarest would have to take part in the toy games. Fight like a tin soldier in a giant nursery. Yet there was nothing childish about being a plaything on Toy. The pain was real enough, so were the wounds and blood, and death.
.Ace Double "FEAR THAT MAN" & "TOYMAN" by Koontz, Dean & Tubb, E. C.
.Ace Double "FEAR THAT MAN" & "TOYMAN" by Koontz, Dean & Tubb, E. C.
March 13, 2018
travelers, beware the planet called Toy! part blood-sport arena, part corporate plutocracy, home to the mightiest computer in the galaxy. poor, studly Earl Dumarest - that frequently stripped & prodded yet always stoic searcher for the lost planet Earth - finds himself caught in yet another planet's web of intrigue, and all he wanted to do was ask Super Computer a simple question. the Dumarest Saga may be pure pulp but its prose is anything but purple: dry, efficient, and occasionally stylish, with an emphasis on an economy rather than a lushness of words. the narrative is sleek and slender; the tone is nonchalant. the focus on slave-owning, custom-bound shareholders made for an interesting secondary narrative that eventually eclipses Dumarest's own struggles. this would be a solid 3-star book but unfortunately the writing occasionally felt rushed and a couple important transitions are needlessly abrupt, leading to some irritation and confusion on my part. overall it is modestly enjoyable, but there are better entries in this fun, long-running classic series.
May 12, 2018
Dumarest of Terra is a 33-volume series of science fiction novels by Edwin Charles Tubb. Each story is a self-contained adventure, but throughout the series, Earl Dumarest, the protagonist, searches for clues to the location of his home world, Earth. Dumarest is a galactic adventurer, sometime bodyguard, mercenary, gladiator, prospector, hunter, gambler and starship jack of all trades. Dumarest, as he is most often referred to in the books, is on a quest to return to the lost planet of his birth amongst the diverse and disparate worlds of the milky way galaxy. His home planet is Earth. In all of the books the notion of there being a planet called Earth is laughable to most of the people he meets, and for those who have heard the name, it is only as a myth from the deep past
The stories are set in a far future galactic culture that is fragmented and without any central government. Dumarest was born on Earth, but had stowed away on a spaceship when he was a young boy and was caught. Although a stowaway discovered on a spaceship was typically ejected to space, the captain took pity on the boy and allowed him to work and travel on the ship. When the story opens in The Winds of Gath, Dumarest has traveled so long and so far that he does not know how to return to his home planet and no-one has ever heard of it, other than as a myth or legend.
It becomes clear that someone or something has deliberately concealed Earth's location. The Cyclan, an organization of humans surgically altered to be emotionless (known as Cybers), and on occasion able to link with the brains of previously living Cybers (the better to think logically), seem determined to stop him from finding Earth. Additionally, the Cyclan seeks a scientific discovery that Dumarest possesses, stolen from them and passed to him by a dying thief, which would vastly increase their already considerable power.
Also appearing in many of the books is the humanitarian Church of Universal Brotherhood. Its monks are spread throughout many worlds as are the Cyclan, the two being arch-enemies - which does not make the Church Dumarest's ally, but in some instances they support each other.
In this book Dumarest is on the planet Toy. On Toy is the most powerful computer in the galaxy, and Dumarest hopes it will know the location of Earth.
Toy isn't just home to the computer. There is also a huge arena there, and before long Dumarest is fighting for his life therein this arena. Unfortunately, this is a common location for Earl. He seems to spend most of the 33 Dumarest books there. He realises Toy is a place that gives away nothing for free. Before Dumarest can gain the information he needs, he must take part in the Toy Games - must fight like a tin soldier in a vast nursery.
And there is nothing playful about the Games on Toy. The pain is real enough; the wounds, the blood - and death.
This is a slightly average entry in the series. Readable and fast paced as usual.
The stories are set in a far future galactic culture that is fragmented and without any central government. Dumarest was born on Earth, but had stowed away on a spaceship when he was a young boy and was caught. Although a stowaway discovered on a spaceship was typically ejected to space, the captain took pity on the boy and allowed him to work and travel on the ship. When the story opens in The Winds of Gath, Dumarest has traveled so long and so far that he does not know how to return to his home planet and no-one has ever heard of it, other than as a myth or legend.
It becomes clear that someone or something has deliberately concealed Earth's location. The Cyclan, an organization of humans surgically altered to be emotionless (known as Cybers), and on occasion able to link with the brains of previously living Cybers (the better to think logically), seem determined to stop him from finding Earth. Additionally, the Cyclan seeks a scientific discovery that Dumarest possesses, stolen from them and passed to him by a dying thief, which would vastly increase their already considerable power.
Also appearing in many of the books is the humanitarian Church of Universal Brotherhood. Its monks are spread throughout many worlds as are the Cyclan, the two being arch-enemies - which does not make the Church Dumarest's ally, but in some instances they support each other.
In this book Dumarest is on the planet Toy. On Toy is the most powerful computer in the galaxy, and Dumarest hopes it will know the location of Earth.
Toy isn't just home to the computer. There is also a huge arena there, and before long Dumarest is fighting for his life therein this arena. Unfortunately, this is a common location for Earl. He seems to spend most of the 33 Dumarest books there. He realises Toy is a place that gives away nothing for free. Before Dumarest can gain the information he needs, he must take part in the Toy Games - must fight like a tin soldier in a vast nursery.
And there is nothing playful about the Games on Toy. The pain is real enough; the wounds, the blood - and death.
This is a slightly average entry in the series. Readable and fast paced as usual.
August 13, 2018
Three books in and I’m figuring out more why I like Dumarest so much. At first my brain was trying to compare him to James Bond or one of Robert E. Howard’s heroes, but really he’s more of an Edgar Rice Burroughs’ style character – three parts John Carter with a spoonful of Kirth Gersen from Jack Vance’s Demon Princes novels and a dash of Arthur Dent on top.
Once again Earl Dumarest finds himself in hot water upon landing on a new world. On the planet Toy, he’s conscripted right off the ship into a primitive wargame fought for the pleasure of the local aristocracy and the insane chief stockholder, the Toymaster. Meanwhile, a conspiracy is brewing on the planet to overthrow the Toymaster, but the despot has both the planet’s vast computational library anda the resources of the ever more nefarious Cyclan on his side.
What sets this book apart from the first two is that Dumarest’s story and the “main” story of the book – the plot to overthrow the dictator – don’t even intersect until the final chapters. Until then, Dumarest’s adventures trying to stay alive feel like a subplot to the main action. That and a truly surprising twist at the story’s climax keep this series from falling completely into formula.
I may as well admit I’m going to read this whole series and add all 30+ volumes to my to-read shelf.
Once again Earl Dumarest finds himself in hot water upon landing on a new world. On the planet Toy, he’s conscripted right off the ship into a primitive wargame fought for the pleasure of the local aristocracy and the insane chief stockholder, the Toymaster. Meanwhile, a conspiracy is brewing on the planet to overthrow the Toymaster, but the despot has both the planet’s vast computational library anda the resources of the ever more nefarious Cyclan on his side.
What sets this book apart from the first two is that Dumarest’s story and the “main” story of the book – the plot to overthrow the dictator – don’t even intersect until the final chapters. Until then, Dumarest’s adventures trying to stay alive feel like a subplot to the main action. That and a truly surprising twist at the story’s climax keep this series from falling completely into formula.
I may as well admit I’m going to read this whole series and add all 30+ volumes to my to-read shelf.
June 7, 2022
This is the third adventure of Earl Dumarest. Most ingredients are there, a member of the Cyclan, one of the Brotherhood, the inevitable fight in an arena. The feudalistic society. Some are missing. Still no affinity twin. He does not throw his knife and most surprisingly, there are no relationships to women.
So, the planet Toy has a powerful (meaning at the time also huge) computer. And Dumarests hopes to get some information about his home planet Earth.
One thing I liked about this novel is that the ruler of the world is called Toymaster. And the Aristocrats are called stockholders. As in: “My lady?“ - “I am the Stockholder Ledra. On Toy this is both title and respectful form of address.“ - “My apologies, Stockholder Ledra.“ - “The title is sufficient.“
Why do I love the Dumarest books so much? Some people turn to Shakespeare to get pearls of wisdom. I am content with stuff like this:
“Flattery, he thought, the cheapest coin of intrigue but still the most reliable. Appeal to a man’s ego. Hold up a mirror so that he can see his image in gross exaggeration. Plant a seed of doubt, of suspicion and let it grow as grow it must.“ (p. 92)
Or how about this little dialog: “You object being called a slave?“ - “No, I object to being treated like one.“ (p. 110)
And did he get his information? Unfortunately the cyber destroyed the bank with the information. So all he gets is the tiny piece of knowledge that another name for the planet is Terra. He did not know that. Better than nothing and much more than he would later achieve. And as the new Toymaster observes: “He has his quest.“ And would we not all like to have one?
So, the planet Toy has a powerful (meaning at the time also huge) computer. And Dumarests hopes to get some information about his home planet Earth.
One thing I liked about this novel is that the ruler of the world is called Toymaster. And the Aristocrats are called stockholders. As in: “My lady?“ - “I am the Stockholder Ledra. On Toy this is both title and respectful form of address.“ - “My apologies, Stockholder Ledra.“ - “The title is sufficient.“
Why do I love the Dumarest books so much? Some people turn to Shakespeare to get pearls of wisdom. I am content with stuff like this:
“Flattery, he thought, the cheapest coin of intrigue but still the most reliable. Appeal to a man’s ego. Hold up a mirror so that he can see his image in gross exaggeration. Plant a seed of doubt, of suspicion and let it grow as grow it must.“ (p. 92)
Or how about this little dialog: “You object being called a slave?“ - “No, I object to being treated like one.“ (p. 110)
And did he get his information? Unfortunately the cyber destroyed the bank with the information. So all he gets is the tiny piece of knowledge that another name for the planet is Terra. He did not know that. Better than nothing and much more than he would later achieve. And as the new Toymaster observes: “He has his quest.“ And would we not all like to have one?
September 21, 2024
“Toyman” (1969)
Overall Rating 7/10 – A Toy of Goodness
Plot
Our protagonist, Earl Dumarest, finds himself woken from space travel and catapulted into a fight for survival on the planet Toy. He quickly finds himself in the middle of this Alien world’s politics and enslaved to a fightmaster who intends to pit him against the greatest foe. Can Earl Dumarest work out who is friend and who is foe? Can he escape this world …?
Writing Style
Easy, flowing sentences. The occasional loss of fluidity. An occasional spattering of obscure words. Very modern style. Quite easy to watch the film unfold in your head but some dis-jointed sectional plots.
Point of View/Voice
Written in the 3rd Person / Past Tense (standard convention)
Critique
This is the third E. C. Tubb novel in the Dumarest series and was written in 1969. Unlike its predecessor (“Derai”, the 2nd book in the series) I mostly managed to stay focused as the plot tried to jump around. Quite a bit better or, am I just getting used to it?
In this story, the story flow was pretty good and, for the most part, held my attention preventing me from putting the book down (which is always a good indicator for a book). It was sometimes a little tricky to hold differing parts of the story together but, on the whole, it was quite do-able.
Just like the others I have read in this series, there were some surprises at the end. Once again, I failed to see these things coming even though they were laid open within the story-telling all the way through. Sometimes I think I read with my eyes shut!
Having now read a total of four of these books AND having found each to contain a gladiator style contest, I am now going to go back to reading some modern David Baldacci (I want to catch up with Amos Decker!) But, I will be back to the Dumarest Saga soon enough …
Overall Rating 7/10 – A Toy of Goodness
Plot
Our protagonist, Earl Dumarest, finds himself woken from space travel and catapulted into a fight for survival on the planet Toy. He quickly finds himself in the middle of this Alien world’s politics and enslaved to a fightmaster who intends to pit him against the greatest foe. Can Earl Dumarest work out who is friend and who is foe? Can he escape this world …?
Writing Style
Easy, flowing sentences. The occasional loss of fluidity. An occasional spattering of obscure words. Very modern style. Quite easy to watch the film unfold in your head but some dis-jointed sectional plots.
Point of View/Voice
Written in the 3rd Person / Past Tense (standard convention)
Critique
This is the third E. C. Tubb novel in the Dumarest series and was written in 1969. Unlike its predecessor (“Derai”, the 2nd book in the series) I mostly managed to stay focused as the plot tried to jump around. Quite a bit better or, am I just getting used to it?
In this story, the story flow was pretty good and, for the most part, held my attention preventing me from putting the book down (which is always a good indicator for a book). It was sometimes a little tricky to hold differing parts of the story together but, on the whole, it was quite do-able.
Just like the others I have read in this series, there were some surprises at the end. Once again, I failed to see these things coming even though they were laid open within the story-telling all the way through. Sometimes I think I read with my eyes shut!
Having now read a total of four of these books AND having found each to contain a gladiator style contest, I am now going to go back to reading some modern David Baldacci (I want to catch up with Amos Decker!) But, I will be back to the Dumarest Saga soon enough …
April 18, 2025
*** Possible Spoilers ***
This is a basic space opera. The setting is the far future. Humanity has spread across the galaxy and Earth is mostly a myth. Dumarest, our protagonist, travels from planet to planet looking for a clue which will let him find Earth, on which he was born and removed at a very young age for some unknown reason. Not surprisingly he doesn't find it for if he did, the series would be over. Nevertheless on each planet he has an adventure of some sort. He's strong, an excellent fighter, taciturn, and a fine hero. If you're looking for character development move on. This is a fine rip-roaring plot, the kind of book which, in earlier times, might have been described as a pot boiler. It is great for long public transit rides if you prefer books to endless phone scrolling.
This is a basic space opera. The setting is the far future. Humanity has spread across the galaxy and Earth is mostly a myth. Dumarest, our protagonist, travels from planet to planet looking for a clue which will let him find Earth, on which he was born and removed at a very young age for some unknown reason. Not surprisingly he doesn't find it for if he did, the series would be over. Nevertheless on each planet he has an adventure of some sort. He's strong, an excellent fighter, taciturn, and a fine hero. If you're looking for character development move on. This is a fine rip-roaring plot, the kind of book which, in earlier times, might have been described as a pot boiler. It is great for long public transit rides if you prefer books to endless phone scrolling.
April 28, 2020
My favorite write is Vance. Especially his stories about space-travelers are enjoyed. But Tubb also has a good knack of writing in this genre. This series is about Dumarest, a space traveler going from planet to planet to find his original home, planet Earth. I like the descriptions of the planets, cultures and habits he encounters. All imaginations of Tubb.
This is #3 in the series of 32 where he gets stranded in Toy where everything is a game to pass the boredom. But in his case a deadly game to beat the Toymaster. He is still looking for information on Earth but again the information gets destroyed before he can access it. Time to move on.
This is #3 in the series of 32 where he gets stranded in Toy where everything is a game to pass the boredom. But in his case a deadly game to beat the Toymaster. He is still looking for information on Earth but again the information gets destroyed before he can access it. Time to move on.
December 21, 2020
The annoying thing about this book is the amount of typos and formatting errors - did they not have proofreaders in the 70s? Also, the cover on my version (not the same as the one on here) is horrible and somehow a little disturbing.
Still, it's another that puts paid to the worry that my re-reading off this series might make me wonder what I saw in them first time round, all those years ago. Good, pulpy, SF adventure, with a likeable (although somehow seeming less so at times) hero and virtual-moustache twirling villains. Yet more heartache for Dumarest at the end as his objective - data on the whereabouts of Earth - is destroyed by his own hand.
Still, it's another that puts paid to the worry that my re-reading off this series might make me wonder what I saw in them first time round, all those years ago. Good, pulpy, SF adventure, with a likeable (although somehow seeming less so at times) hero and virtual-moustache twirling villains. Yet more heartache for Dumarest at the end as his objective - data on the whereabouts of Earth - is destroyed by his own hand.
April 9, 2020
This is honestly probably the most fully realized of the first three books of the Dumarest series. Dumarest is often part of a large ensemble, but here he's genuinely a supporting character, just one that has to step up at the end and kind of bring things to a head. The actual main character, a bureaucrat seeking to overthrow the cruel governor of the planet Toy (yeah, yeah, it's dumb) is the mostly fully rounded and interesting character the series has created yet. Really great, really fun, just like the others in the series, but even better.
December 3, 2017
I'm buying and reading this series just for the nostalgia.
Some things that were exotic to me first time I read it, but now seem just hilarious: the planet-city. Y'know, where the whole planet speaks the same language and has just one guy ruling the whole damned planet. Also the insta-love. What's with that stuff, lol.
Anyways. Glad I read it. I should get book 4 and hopefully 5 next month.
Some things that were exotic to me first time I read it, but now seem just hilarious: the planet-city. Y'know, where the whole planet speaks the same language and has just one guy ruling the whole damned planet. Also the insta-love. What's with that stuff, lol.
Anyways. Glad I read it. I should get book 4 and hopefully 5 next month.
October 24, 2025
It's the third book in the series, and already feeling very formulaic. Hero arrives on new planet. Hero finds himself in dire straits. Hero hops from frying pan to fire and back until finally finding a way to get back off-world.
The women characters are slightly better in this volume, and aren't really portrayed as any worse than the men for the most part.
The women characters are slightly better in this volume, and aren't really portrayed as any worse than the men for the most part.
January 26, 2022
I really liked the story. I am looking forward to the next books in the series and learning more about the Cyclans.
I thought Earl was going to use the slave collar by wrapping it around Groshen’s neck.
I thought Earl was going to use the slave collar by wrapping it around Groshen’s neck.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 12, 2022I've always enjoyed E.C. Tubb's "Earl Dumarest" books. I happened onto Derai when I was in High School, and once I read this book, I was enamored with the author's hero, Dumarest. I recommend this to any sci fi fans out there.
November 7, 2022
Traveller style quest.
Dumarest has landed on another world. This world has a super computer that contains much data. The society is corrupt and lost much of it's original vigor. Dumarest has to fight a lot.
Dumarest has landed on another world. This world has a super computer that contains much data. The society is corrupt and lost much of it's original vigor. Dumarest has to fight a lot.
April 10, 2014
‘Space-wanderer Earl Dumarest is on the planet Toy to consult the giant computer which may contain information on the whereabouts of Earth, his lost home-world.
But soon he realises that Toy is a place that gives away nothing for free. Before Dumarest can gain the information he needs, he must take part in the Toy Games – must fight like a tin soldier in a vast nursery.
And there is nothing playful about the Games on Toy. The pain is real enough; the wounds, the blood – and death.’
Blurb from the 1976 Arrow paperback edition
In 1969 the concept of a supercomputer meant a machine the size of a city, or at least a very large building.
Dumarest visits the planet Toy, famous for its reference computer, from which he hopes to extract the coordinates of lost Planet Earth.
Toy is a planet run by stockholders who farm the silk of mutated spiders. The ruler of Toy is Groshen, the amoral Toymaster and major stockholder.
Dumarest becomes involved, unwillingly, in the political battle between the Toymaster and his minor stockholders, battles which are being partly orchestrated by the sinister Cyclan. Cyber Creel is on Toy to offer his services to the Toymaster, although, (as is usual) the Cyclan have ulterior motives for their actions.
As in ‘Derai’, Dumarest is forced to partake in a bout of ‘games’, this time in a cage pitted against some of the planet’s deadly mutant spiders.
Plotwise, it is rather too similar to the previous novel, and Dumarest ultimately finds only a small clue to add to his knowledge of Earth, in that Earth was also called ‘Terra’ or ‘Tellus’.
But soon he realises that Toy is a place that gives away nothing for free. Before Dumarest can gain the information he needs, he must take part in the Toy Games – must fight like a tin soldier in a vast nursery.
And there is nothing playful about the Games on Toy. The pain is real enough; the wounds, the blood – and death.’
Blurb from the 1976 Arrow paperback edition
In 1969 the concept of a supercomputer meant a machine the size of a city, or at least a very large building.
Dumarest visits the planet Toy, famous for its reference computer, from which he hopes to extract the coordinates of lost Planet Earth.
Toy is a planet run by stockholders who farm the silk of mutated spiders. The ruler of Toy is Groshen, the amoral Toymaster and major stockholder.
Dumarest becomes involved, unwillingly, in the political battle between the Toymaster and his minor stockholders, battles which are being partly orchestrated by the sinister Cyclan. Cyber Creel is on Toy to offer his services to the Toymaster, although, (as is usual) the Cyclan have ulterior motives for their actions.
As in ‘Derai’, Dumarest is forced to partake in a bout of ‘games’, this time in a cage pitted against some of the planet’s deadly mutant spiders.
Plotwise, it is rather too similar to the previous novel, and Dumarest ultimately finds only a small clue to add to his knowledge of Earth, in that Earth was also called ‘Terra’ or ‘Tellus’.
October 19, 2010
Earl Dumarest had come to the planet of Toy to consult their Great Library Computer in hopes of locating his home planet Earth. he hadn't seen it since he was ten, biologically speaking. Real time, what with slow travel and fast travel passage between worlds, thousands of years had passed. Humanity lived on a million worlds and most didn't believe the race had originated on one world.
Toy was under the control of a madman, the self-styled Toyman, who used combat and blood, as well as wagering, for his pleasures.
No sooner had Dumarest left the spaceport than he was arrested for vagrancy because he didn't have the price of two passages off-planet. Put into an army and forced to fight another force, he was on the losing side. Survivors were left on the battlefield to be hunted and killed by clean-up crews. You either won or you died.
Dumarest wasn't one to give up easily. He and a friend fought and killed one crew, stole their flight-raft, and escaped.
Now he was being hunted.
At the same time, there were several factions looking to depose, kill, the Toymaster, and Dumarest gets caught up in that as well.
Toy was under the control of a madman, the self-styled Toyman, who used combat and blood, as well as wagering, for his pleasures.
No sooner had Dumarest left the spaceport than he was arrested for vagrancy because he didn't have the price of two passages off-planet. Put into an army and forced to fight another force, he was on the losing side. Survivors were left on the battlefield to be hunted and killed by clean-up crews. You either won or you died.
Dumarest wasn't one to give up easily. He and a friend fought and killed one crew, stole their flight-raft, and escaped.
Now he was being hunted.
At the same time, there were several factions looking to depose, kill, the Toymaster, and Dumarest gets caught up in that as well.
December 25, 2014
As a young teenager, about twelve I think, newly introduced to sci-fi and absolutely in love with the genera I came across one of the Dumarest saga books in a second hand bookshop somewhere in the middle east. It was a major event. I am not sure which one it was because it was so long ago, I think it might have been 'The Winds of Gath' but I read them, loved them, and then mostly forgot them as one does with teenage infatuations.
Recently at a book fair I came across a E. C. Tubb book at a book fair, I bought it out of nostalgia and was amazed to find, as I read it that the story is as rocking as I remembered it to be; The Dumarest books absolutely rock!
I just found Toyman and read it for the first time. It is great classic sci-fi: a hard handsome hero an impossible quest, a corrupt society...and I love how E. C. Tubb used a traveller in the galaxy to explore the social inequalities that humanity creates. The writing style is dated to be sure, the cover is so eigties that you have to giggle when looking at it, the plot is a little overdone and still, it is a rollicking good classic sci-fi!
Recently at a book fair I came across a E. C. Tubb book at a book fair, I bought it out of nostalgia and was amazed to find, as I read it that the story is as rocking as I remembered it to be; The Dumarest books absolutely rock!
I just found Toyman and read it for the first time. It is great classic sci-fi: a hard handsome hero an impossible quest, a corrupt society...and I love how E. C. Tubb used a traveller in the galaxy to explore the social inequalities that humanity creates. The writing style is dated to be sure, the cover is so eigties that you have to giggle when looking at it, the plot is a little overdone and still, it is a rollicking good classic sci-fi!
January 21, 2024
Earl Dumarest drags his broke-ass to Toy, survives the games, gets caught up in stockholders games, gets dragged back into games, all the while finding out a fraction more about Earth.
The novelty has kinda worn off for me with the Dumarest saga. I mean, came here for the Traveller RPG inspiration, while deciding which more serious read to dive into. So it's a procrastination read. 33 volumes of this? I've already started book 4, don't have the next few volumes at the ready, don't think I'll be chasing them up unless they practically fall in my lap.
Without googling, I think I've figured out why the Cyclan are interested in foiling Dumarest. Whew. I may have saved myself some interminable reading here. Time for one more, then I'm out.
The novelty has kinda worn off for me with the Dumarest saga. I mean, came here for the Traveller RPG inspiration, while deciding which more serious read to dive into. So it's a procrastination read. 33 volumes of this? I've already started book 4, don't have the next few volumes at the ready, don't think I'll be chasing them up unless they practically fall in my lap.
Without googling, I think I've figured out why the Cyclan are interested in foiling Dumarest. Whew. I may have saved myself some interminable reading here. Time for one more, then I'm out.
June 3, 2012
Earl Dumarest has landed on another bad planet. He's come to Toy to consult the supercomputer known as the Library about the location of Earth only to end up on the losing side in a gladiatorial game where the member of the losing team are all put to death and then, illegally, he escapes the arena. Now a fugitive from the authorities, Dumarest must find a way to complete his mission and stay alive.
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November 20, 2019
This is still my favourite Sci-fi series.
It may be dated and have flaws but Dumarest is still the best space hero.
simple stories written to a specific formula
This is one of the best instalments, and even though I have read them before, I still enjoy re-reading them.
It may be dated and have flaws but Dumarest is still the best space hero.
simple stories written to a specific formula
This is one of the best instalments, and even though I have read them before, I still enjoy re-reading them.
February 10, 2014
It took me a bit to get into this, as SF is not my prefferd genre ... but I could appreciate the smartness of the book and the stroy telling, and towards the end I was thinking I would like to read more to see how this character develops.
March 26, 2016
Still holding my interest...I am loving the fact that I might just get to read this series all the way through one last time in my long life. I don't like changing it from 4 stars to 3 stars but as one gets older one is a bit fussier (not more discerning :-)
December 7, 2012
Ace Double Novel 020-23140-060
Fear That Man, Dean R Koontz, grade C-
Toyman, EC Tubb, grade C, Dumarest book 3 (D3)
Fear That Man, Dean R Koontz, grade C-
Toyman, EC Tubb, grade C, Dumarest book 3 (D3)
September 25, 2018
A solid Dumarest book, with Tubb really seeming to find his style. I especially like the ending, which lets Earl progress on his quest.
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