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Berserker #4
Човекът берсеркер
ЗА ДА ПОБЕДИШ СЪВЪРШЕНОТО ОРЪЖИЕ, ТРЯБВА ДА СЕ ПРЕВЪРНЕШ В САМОТО НЕГО!
Някога човечеството се страхувало от берсеркерите — машини-убийци, решени да изкоренят живота във Вселената. Мнозина вярват, че войните с берсеркерите са минало и заплахата от настъпването на Страшния съд като че ли вече не съществува.
Но така ли е наистина?
Берсеркерите се връщат още по-силни и всемогъщи от всякога и днес е още по-трудно, отколкото преди, да бъдат спрени. Едно особено дете, получовек, полумашина, вероятно е единствената надежда на човечеството. То е неговият спасител… или, може би, неговият унищожител.
Сега съдбата на цивилизацията е в ръцете на
ЧОВЕКЪТ БЕРСЕРКЕР
Някога човечеството се страхувало от берсеркерите — машини-убийци, решени да изкоренят живота във Вселената. Мнозина вярват, че войните с берсеркерите са минало и заплахата от настъпването на Страшния съд като че ли вече не съществува.
Но така ли е наистина?
Берсеркерите се връщат още по-силни и всемогъщи от всякога и днес е още по-трудно, отколкото преди, да бъдат спрени. Едно особено дете, получовек, полумашина, вероятно е единствената надежда на човечеството. То е неговият спасител… или, може би, неговият унищожител.
Сега съдбата на цивилизацията е в ръцете на
ЧОВЕКЪТ БЕРСЕРКЕР
232 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
10 people are currently reading
401 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 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 13, 2024
Years after the last novel, some space farers find their way to a planet, where a berserker has formed a death cult. There's a tournament of death. It all goes basically nowhere, which is the fate of most death cults, isn't it?
February 28, 2018
I bought Berserker Man on a whim, without any idea it was part of a larger series and having never heard of Saberhagen, and I came away so enamoured with the story that I hope I can pick up some others in the series.
From the setup in the prologue to the arc of discovery for Michel, it's a beautiful and engaging read that introduces a world brilliantly with engaging characters, factions, and plot, so that I never felt that I needed to read previous stories to understand anything. The final third is a mesmerising journey for the reader, as you see the galaxy through fresh eyes and you read in wonder about Michel's journey and his evolution as a character.
While some of the character intrigue is setup and then brushed aside, and the ending leaves a few too many threads and questions dangling, Berserker Man is a book I've thoroughly enjoyed and will keep in my collection to read again.
From the setup in the prologue to the arc of discovery for Michel, it's a beautiful and engaging read that introduces a world brilliantly with engaging characters, factions, and plot, so that I never felt that I needed to read previous stories to understand anything. The final third is a mesmerising journey for the reader, as you see the galaxy through fresh eyes and you read in wonder about Michel's journey and his evolution as a character.
While some of the character intrigue is setup and then brushed aside, and the ending leaves a few too many threads and questions dangling, Berserker Man is a book I've thoroughly enjoyed and will keep in my collection to read again.
February 14, 2021
A surprisingly sophisticated entry in the Berserker series. This novel centers on a boy that has extraordinary powers. These powers allow the boy to meld with a superweapon created to destroy the Berserkers. However, the Berserkers also realize the potential of the boy and want to convert him to goodlife. The ending does not quite work for me--it is always challenging to describe the indescribable. Saberhagen tends to be a terse writer, but this novel could have used a bit more development and elaboration of ideas.
February 4, 2018
Berserker Man is the second full novel in the series, the first two are a collection of short stories and novellas. Saberhagen centers this series not on individual heroes/protagonists, but rather on the anti-hero berserkers themselves. Berserker Man has an intriguing plot that only resolves itself in the last few pages. By far, Berserker Man is the most mind bending of the series, centered on a child hero Michel and his eventual fusion with a new weapon (Lancelot). 3.5 stars.
June 23, 2017
The first Berserker book is strong, followed by a couple duds; this one returns to what makes the premise so compelling, human response to the threat of machine annihilation. Taking a page from Slan, the author here gives us a child-superman rather than the full grown version in AE van Vogt's seminal novel and throws in cosmic elements that give the story a good, high concept punch.
January 27, 2024
What is the link between man and machine? What responsibilities do the creators of a technology, machine, or device have to future generations?
These are two questions that millions, even billions, of people have chewed on for decades. Honestly, I don't believe anyone else has done a better job of providing the worst-case scenario than Fred Saberhagen. He's not the first, (that honor belongs to Theodore Sturgeon's 'There is no Defense' from 1948) but he certainly prods, and even provokes, his readers to analyze not just the situation, but what possibly leads up to it.
In this volume, the author gives hope to the universe inhabited by the Berserkers with the invention of a weapon system that gives its pilot the ability to destroy multiple enemy ships with (apparently) little risk to himself. The problem is that the best candidate is an eleven-year-old boy. Also, the Berserkers have an extensive fifth column of so-called goodlife working to help destroy humanity.
The book closes on a victory over the enemy, but also leaves readers with a lot of questions about what comes next.
Highly recommended for fans of Fred Saberhagen and Sci-Fi in general.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT!
These are two questions that millions, even billions, of people have chewed on for decades. Honestly, I don't believe anyone else has done a better job of providing the worst-case scenario than Fred Saberhagen. He's not the first, (that honor belongs to Theodore Sturgeon's 'There is no Defense' from 1948) but he certainly prods, and even provokes, his readers to analyze not just the situation, but what possibly leads up to it.
In this volume, the author gives hope to the universe inhabited by the Berserkers with the invention of a weapon system that gives its pilot the ability to destroy multiple enemy ships with (apparently) little risk to himself. The problem is that the best candidate is an eleven-year-old boy. Also, the Berserkers have an extensive fifth column of so-called goodlife working to help destroy humanity.
The book closes on a victory over the enemy, but also leaves readers with a lot of questions about what comes next.
Highly recommended for fans of Fred Saberhagen and Sci-Fi in general.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT!
December 27, 2023
The ever-adventurous Saberhagen takes the Berserker series in a mecha/transhumanistic direction. Some of the standard tropes are here: the semi-reluctant child pilot, the ascension to godhood and subsequent apathy, etc, but 1979 is pretty early in the game for these subgenres (the same year as the original Mobile Suit Gundam for the mecha side of things, 5 years before Neuromancer on the transhuman side) so it's safe to say these elements were not yet tropes. Saberhagen remains a step ahead of the genre as a whole.
Just as in Brother Assassin, this is more of a sketch than a diagram. We never quite dig into the meat of what it would be to transcend humanity and what that would mean to an originally-human psyche, but this whirlwind tour of the subject matter can hardly be faulted too heavily for leaving the reader eagerly wanting more.
Just as in Brother Assassin, this is more of a sketch than a diagram. We never quite dig into the meat of what it would be to transcend humanity and what that would mean to an originally-human psyche, but this whirlwind tour of the subject matter can hardly be faulted too heavily for leaving the reader eagerly wanting more.
June 5, 2020
This book was a slight drag for me to read, and coming out of my mouth that's saying something. It had some interesting plot and some quite non-formulaic fictional concepts, which was cool. This story was not the humans VS robots battle story I expected, it turned from that into a meditative, surreal, philosophical experience. I didn't know this book was part of a larger saga and according to what I read online this one is the most weird and out-there.
I didn't finish the book feeling dissappointed that it ended, but rather relieved that I could move onto another book, so didn't ring my chimes I guess.
I didn't finish the book feeling dissappointed that it ended, but rather relieved that I could move onto another book, so didn't ring my chimes I guess.
August 2, 2024
This review is for the story Berserker Man, not the book Berserker Man which contains that story as well as 3 others. Berserker Man is my least favorite of the 4 stories in that book.
It is OK, but not really like any of the other Berserker books - no clear enemy, no clear ending and the plot is fairly week and odd. Basically establishes that there is something else out in the universe beyond "Life" and "Berserkers" but then doesn't do anything with it.
It is OK, but not really like any of the other Berserker books - no clear enemy, no clear ending and the plot is fairly week and odd. Basically establishes that there is something else out in the universe beyond "Life" and "Berserkers" but then doesn't do anything with it.
October 13, 2024
I haven't read any other Berserker books, but I enjoyed this, as it stands just fine on its own. I got the feeling a few times that some parts would have been a little richer if I knew some backstory, but it was fine.
The characters are all reasonable, with very little in the way of ridiculous tropes that plague this era of SF, especially with the female characters.
The story progressed nicely, and the descriptions of completely wild, imaginative this were on point throughout.
The characters are all reasonable, with very little in the way of ridiculous tropes that plague this era of SF, especially with the female characters.
The story progressed nicely, and the descriptions of completely wild, imaginative this were on point throughout.
September 20, 2021
Ah, this should have been a strong, four plus star entry in the Berserker Series. But what can you do with a book that you were really enjoying right up until the ending? The ending really didn't work for me, it really disappointed me. But I loved everything else.
September 21, 2025
Berserkers are autonomous von Neumann machines inimical to all biological life, designed as a weapon in a war long won...can an 11-vear-old boy turn the tide in their new campaign against humanity?
If you know Saberhagen's Berserker books you know what you're in for - this one is pretty good! :)
If you know Saberhagen's Berserker books you know what you're in for - this one is pretty good! :)
June 12, 2017
Just did not like it at all.
Tough to read and a vaporous, disjointed plot line.
Pass
Tough to read and a vaporous, disjointed plot line.
Pass
November 8, 2017
This is the only book of the series I've read, I really liked it, will definitely read more of the series.
February 26, 2018
AUDIBLE BOOK
A child conceived in space is pursued by both humans and Berserkers, due to his amazing machine -human interface ability
A child conceived in space is pursued by both humans and Berserkers, due to his amazing machine -human interface ability
September 18, 2019
The book, as always from Saberhagen, was good. The essay at the end of the audio book put the whole series in a new light for me and made me even more excited about reading Berserker books.
August 12, 2022
Definitely one of the better berserker books. Not so great of a ending though.
February 11, 2023
One word = modification
April 27, 2023
Berserker Man was my first experience with Mr. Saberhagen. I read it in 1985. I couldn't put it down. He was the original Terminator creator. Robots bent on destroying all life in the universe.
August 23, 2023
Decent/solid classic Saberhagen SF with a real sideways ending (this is a book about....this is a book about...nope!).
November 7, 2025
The story doesn’t feel very fleshed out, still an interesting entry in the Berserker series.
November 13, 2010
At first glance, the title looks like something out of a comic book superhero magazine, but in reality this is part of the continuing series of Man versus Machine.
Well before Star Trek's The Doomsday Machine (a weapon left over from a millennia-old war), Saberhagen wrote about the Berserkers, an armada of war machines left over from a long-ago intersellar war. Their mission: To exerminate all life on a planet. When they "cleanse" a planet they consider it "purified" of life.
Some of Saberhagen's tales were quite gripping to me, Brother Assassin and Berserker's Planet come to mind, as some of his most exciting adventures.
The Book & the Plot!
Berserker Man is like that: A person who is unusual and not socially accepted by others his own age, an adoptee, really, is on the colonial planet Alpine, a planet rich in lakes, mountains and forests. I was disappointed that Saberhagen does not get much into describing the planet, its government or anytihng about it. He sticks to the boy, Michel, and develops him instead.
Earth is losing the war against the machines. And pockets of "goodlife" (those who support the Berserkers in exchange for money or power) are making the war that much more difficult.
A new weapon, Lancelot, is formed. It is a series of forcefields and other devices that can be worn by an individual and enhances the wearer's natural instincts. Out of ten billion people, Michel fits the bio. Anyone else wearing it may go power-mad or insane, and Michel's lack of ambition and high IQ make him unique.
What I enjoyed was Michel's own expansion as an individual. Wearing Lancelot made him strong but not invincible (since he was kidnapped by the Berserkers). The space battles are few but interesting. The main characters are really cardboard except for Michel. And the final act leaves a few plotholes and unanswered questions about his parents and his biological mother.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, a decent entry into the Berserker universe. It's been many years since I've read Saberhagen's Berserker universe and I see now what has drawn me towards his fast-paced writing.
The epilogue you can skip. It's an essay written by a Sarah Miesel that attempts to analyze Saberhagen's plots and stories in the Berserker universe and I've never read such boring drivel in my life. Skip that, and enjoy the tale!
Well before Star Trek's The Doomsday Machine (a weapon left over from a millennia-old war), Saberhagen wrote about the Berserkers, an armada of war machines left over from a long-ago intersellar war. Their mission: To exerminate all life on a planet. When they "cleanse" a planet they consider it "purified" of life.
Some of Saberhagen's tales were quite gripping to me, Brother Assassin and Berserker's Planet come to mind, as some of his most exciting adventures.
The Book & the Plot!
Berserker Man is like that: A person who is unusual and not socially accepted by others his own age, an adoptee, really, is on the colonial planet Alpine, a planet rich in lakes, mountains and forests. I was disappointed that Saberhagen does not get much into describing the planet, its government or anytihng about it. He sticks to the boy, Michel, and develops him instead.
Earth is losing the war against the machines. And pockets of "goodlife" (those who support the Berserkers in exchange for money or power) are making the war that much more difficult.
A new weapon, Lancelot, is formed. It is a series of forcefields and other devices that can be worn by an individual and enhances the wearer's natural instincts. Out of ten billion people, Michel fits the bio. Anyone else wearing it may go power-mad or insane, and Michel's lack of ambition and high IQ make him unique.
What I enjoyed was Michel's own expansion as an individual. Wearing Lancelot made him strong but not invincible (since he was kidnapped by the Berserkers). The space battles are few but interesting. The main characters are really cardboard except for Michel. And the final act leaves a few plotholes and unanswered questions about his parents and his biological mother.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, a decent entry into the Berserker universe. It's been many years since I've read Saberhagen's Berserker universe and I see now what has drawn me towards his fast-paced writing.
The epilogue you can skip. It's an essay written by a Sarah Miesel that attempts to analyze Saberhagen's plots and stories in the Berserker universe and I've never read such boring drivel in my life. Skip that, and enjoy the tale!
July 25, 2012
This review is quite a bit past due. I read this when I was roughly 13 (I'm now 42), but I must say that it was so unforgettable that I need to do this. It's not great as a standalone because Saberhagen leaves out many details about the ultimate enemy of mankind, the Berserkers. He does this as it is book 4 in a long series and has explained it already. I didn't know this and still enjoyed it and read it many times. The fact that the hero is a young boy (an orphan) that by the end has almost unlimited, God-like powers, really struck a nerve with my 13 year old youthful self. It's written in complete Saberhagen style with plenty of tech-heavy words and ideas. Not a great book but definately worth a trip to your local library.
Read
October 26, 2014Created in 1963, a monstrous mechanical race bent on the extermination - or in the short term, enslavement - of all life in the galaxy. And the Berserkers' similarity to the Daleks doesn't end there, for they naturally find themselves in similar stories. The first I read saw a tragic human think he could use the menace to his own ends; one which looked dreadful saw them use time itself as their weapon. And this is the story about the porous boundary between humanity and its genocidal adversary, in which one side forges a hybrid weapon that inevitably blows up in its face. That said, there is a degree of Stapledon-style cosmic mysticism here which no Dalek story has matched.
August 12, 2014
Where the hell did this story come from? I was shocked by the direction Saberhagen took with his Berserker setting in this little gem of a novel. His ideas for technology that extends humanity's reach in the cosmos are fantastic, and the questions he raises throughout the story are poignant. I felt like I was reading about someone else's bizarre, spaced-out dream, and I left this story feeling dazed. This is a real winner of a science fiction tale.
May 19, 2016
An old book, but still quite gripping and futuristic. From before the post-apocalyptic novels got so popular. Not loving the ending, but I can see how the rest of the series would be interesting. Definitely ok to read without reading the rest of the series.
April 30, 2007
Great premise about killer space ships trying to destroy mankind.
December 26, 2007
read 04.17.85
read 07.01.85
read 07.01.85
Read
July 8, 2016read some time in 1984
Read
December 5, 2017nice book and it have an amazing story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews