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Jan Darzek #4
Silence is Deadly
Book by Biggle Jr., Lloyd
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
6 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Lloyd Biggle Jr.
131 books27 followersBiggle was born in 1923 in Waterloo, Iowa. He served in World War II as a communications sergeant in a rifle company of the 102nd Infantry Division; during the war, he was wounded twice. His second wound, a shrapnel wound in his leg received near the Elbe River at the end of the war, left him disabled for life.
After the war, Biggle resumed his education. He received an A.B. Degree with High Distinction from Wayne State University and M.M. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan. Biggle taught at the University of Michigan and at Eastern Michigan University in the 1950s. He began writing professionally in 1955 and became a full-time writer with the publication of his novel, All the Colors of Darkness in 1963; he continued in the writing profession until his death.
After the war, Biggle resumed his education. He received an A.B. Degree with High Distinction from Wayne State University and M.M. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan. Biggle taught at the University of Michigan and at Eastern Michigan University in the 1950s. He began writing professionally in 1955 and became a full-time writer with the publication of his novel, All the Colors of Darkness in 1963; he continued in the writing profession until his death.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 7, 2019
I pulled this one of the shelf last night. Haven't read any sci-fi lately so ... I rescued this from ????? back a few years ago. Never heard of the author, though I might have read a story or two in an anthology. So far it's pretty typical of its time(1970's), an imaginative space opera. A combination of mystery and sci-fi. A problem on a faraway planet needs to be investigated and the fate of the "Galactic Synthesis" may hang in the balance. It looks like the Hero/Sleuth is on the way. Reminds me of Jack Vance.
I'm marking this as "read" as I had to close it last night about ten pages from the cliff-hanging ending. I'll be done tonight for sure. As of right now our hero Jan Darzek is in a bit of a pickle(of COURSE he is!). It'll all come out right in the end; it's just a matter of where the bodies fall and explaining a few mysteries. I've noticed over the years that sci-fi writers, particularly of the 60's and 70's, loved to create these medieval-level alien or far-flung human colony civilizations. "Heirs of Empire," the Pern series and the previously mentioned Jack Vance's "Demon Princes"(one of the books takes place on such a planet). Others like Dune combine advanced technology with feudal cultures and political systems. Seems like BOTH were represented in "The World of Tiers" series. Fun stuff. This book is a perfectly adequate representation of the genre "mystery/adventure/world-building sci-fi/fantasy." And less than two hundred pages to boot = perfect.
3.25* rounds down to 3*.
I'm marking this as "read" as I had to close it last night about ten pages from the cliff-hanging ending. I'll be done tonight for sure. As of right now our hero Jan Darzek is in a bit of a pickle(of COURSE he is!). It'll all come out right in the end; it's just a matter of where the bodies fall and explaining a few mysteries. I've noticed over the years that sci-fi writers, particularly of the 60's and 70's, loved to create these medieval-level alien or far-flung human colony civilizations. "Heirs of Empire," the Pern series and the previously mentioned Jack Vance's "Demon Princes"(one of the books takes place on such a planet). Others like Dune combine advanced technology with feudal cultures and political systems. Seems like BOTH were represented in "The World of Tiers" series. Fun stuff. This book is a perfectly adequate representation of the genre "mystery/adventure/world-building sci-fi/fantasy." And less than two hundred pages to boot = perfect.
3.25* rounds down to 3*.
July 9, 2019
Lloyd Biggle was a lesser known American 1960s-and-onward science fiction writer who passed in 2002. In it, First Councilor Jan Darzek takes on a mission to investigate the disappearance of some twenty agents on the Uncertified World of Kamm. Kamm is known as the Silent Planet because its human-like natives have no auditory sense organ, but rather communicate with finger movements. I don't remember it well, but it did not inspire me to seek out further Biggle works.
November 26, 2017
Volume 4 of the Jan Darzek series. After saving the entire galaxy in Vol 3, it's time for a cozy little mystery with lower stakes that takes place entirely on one planet.
Kamm is known as the Silent Planet because all life forms, including intelligent bipedal humanoids, have evolved no sound generating or sensing organs - they can't hear or speak. Like Earth, Kamm is an "uncertified" world, too primitive to know about or participate in the galactic society known as the Synthesis. Kamm is a bit like Earth's medieval period with knights and kings. Synthesis agents have detected the existence of a powerful weapon on Kamm, far ahead of the planet's apparent technology level. Several agents sent to investigate have disappeared and Jan Darzek is asked to find the missing agents and solve the mystery.
Miss Effie Schlupe is absent from this story, having decided to stay behind in the lesser galaxy at the end of Volume 3 to expand her submarine sandwich franchise into the new galaxy. Don't worry though, she'll be back in Vol 5. Jan Darzek manages without her by finding a young native girl who has natural detective talents. Recommended.
Kamm is known as the Silent Planet because all life forms, including intelligent bipedal humanoids, have evolved no sound generating or sensing organs - they can't hear or speak. Like Earth, Kamm is an "uncertified" world, too primitive to know about or participate in the galactic society known as the Synthesis. Kamm is a bit like Earth's medieval period with knights and kings. Synthesis agents have detected the existence of a powerful weapon on Kamm, far ahead of the planet's apparent technology level. Several agents sent to investigate have disappeared and Jan Darzek is asked to find the missing agents and solve the mystery.
Miss Effie Schlupe is absent from this story, having decided to stay behind in the lesser galaxy at the end of Volume 3 to expand her submarine sandwich franchise into the new galaxy. Don't worry though, she'll be back in Vol 5. Jan Darzek manages without her by finding a young native girl who has natural detective talents. Recommended.
March 12, 2023
1978 grade A+
2002 grade A+
2012 Grade A+
2023 Grade A
Hardcover and Ace double novel C1977
Series D4
A SciFi Detective Mystery from one of the best story tellers, and world and character builders in the business. The book starts with an action sequence from later in the story and then restarts at the beginning to fill in the background for first time readers. Stick with it. The story picks up when the journey begins.
The protagonist was a detective on Earth and is now the leader of the galactic synthesis which keeps watch over the space faring member planets and non-space faring non-member planets like Earth. When their world-size computer spits out a warning about a problem, he goes to investigate. In this case a planet whose inhabitants have no hearing.
The prose is excellent but is a little verbose and repetitive in places causing a small amount automatic speed reading. Otherwise it is easy, fun, interesting, and fast reading.
RECOMMENDED.
2002 grade A+
2012 Grade A+
2023 Grade A
Hardcover and Ace double novel C1977
Series D4
A SciFi Detective Mystery from one of the best story tellers, and world and character builders in the business. The book starts with an action sequence from later in the story and then restarts at the beginning to fill in the background for first time readers. Stick with it. The story picks up when the journey begins.
The protagonist was a detective on Earth and is now the leader of the galactic synthesis which keeps watch over the space faring member planets and non-space faring non-member planets like Earth. When their world-size computer spits out a warning about a problem, he goes to investigate. In this case a planet whose inhabitants have no hearing.
The prose is excellent but is a little verbose and repetitive in places causing a small amount automatic speed reading. Otherwise it is easy, fun, interesting, and fast reading.
RECOMMENDED.
January 4, 2019
4.5 stars
August 20, 2025
solid 5/5. it's the first time in a while that ive devoured a book in a couple days. the worldbuilding is incredible, and Lloyd Biggle Jr(lol what a name) ties in a detective plot so well to this deaf alien world. the intricacies of life on a deaf planet were well portrayed. I love the descriptions throughout the book of vibrant textures, colors, and strong odors that exist in lieu of hearing. it gave me a sort of emotional deja vu calling back to reading the wizard of Oz, and the giver/gathering blue by Lois Lowry when I was just a wee lad.
it is a wonderful concept for a diplomat to infiltrate a deaf planet. each rouse that the protagonist plays to keep his cover is so enticing. There are so many sticky situations with some really crazy outcomes, but it is an adventure sci-fi novel so I am happy to suspend disbelief. entertaining is an understatement. the author tied everything together so well, and I'll certainly be seeking to read some more Lloyd Biggle Jr. in the future.
it is a wonderful concept for a diplomat to infiltrate a deaf planet. each rouse that the protagonist plays to keep his cover is so enticing. There are so many sticky situations with some really crazy outcomes, but it is an adventure sci-fi novel so I am happy to suspend disbelief. entertaining is an understatement. the author tied everything together so well, and I'll certainly be seeking to read some more Lloyd Biggle Jr. in the future.
June 4, 2022
Enjoyable from start to finish
Biggle creates a beautifully envisioned world peopled by imaginative characters, and explores them in a fast-moving plot that will keep you reading and wondering what will come next. Kamm is a world without sound--or at least without hearing, on the verge of war as a new king is being chosen in a secret process where agent Jan Darzek suspects offworlders have been meddling.
Biggle creates a beautifully envisioned world peopled by imaginative characters, and explores them in a fast-moving plot that will keep you reading and wondering what will come next. Kamm is a world without sound--or at least without hearing, on the verge of war as a new king is being chosen in a secret process where agent Jan Darzek suspects offworlders have been meddling.
November 8, 2020
Found this blast from the past sci-fi book. I have several of Biggle's books, and this one was a fun read. I remember I always enjoyed the types of worlds and aliens the author created......
December 5, 2014
There's this one Lloyd Biggle Jr book I never finished, and I keep picking up his books wondering if this is the one. So far, I haven't found it. But they are all blasts to my past. My local library, when I was a kid, had all his books.
This book is well into a series starring Jan Darzek, who first appeared in "All The Colors of Darkness". An act of sacrifice in that book made him the only human allowed to know of the galactic civilization, which he adopts as his own and becomes a mover and shaker of same.
In this one, he's become the leader of the council that secretly rules the galaxy (or at least, oversees the AI that actually does the ruling). When he discovers that a backwater planet is about to be ruthlessly destroyed by the AI, he goes on a personal mission to discover why this nontech planet has been considered such a threat. A world where no animal (including the human-like sapients) can hear... but a world which may have developed the galaxy's first death ray.
Biggle wrote back in the golden age of SF, and is largely now forgotten. Which is criminal.
I would start a Biggle collection not with this book, but with "Monument", his crowning work, or his short story collection, "The Metallic Muse".
This book is well into a series starring Jan Darzek, who first appeared in "All The Colors of Darkness". An act of sacrifice in that book made him the only human allowed to know of the galactic civilization, which he adopts as his own and becomes a mover and shaker of same.
In this one, he's become the leader of the council that secretly rules the galaxy (or at least, oversees the AI that actually does the ruling). When he discovers that a backwater planet is about to be ruthlessly destroyed by the AI, he goes on a personal mission to discover why this nontech planet has been considered such a threat. A world where no animal (including the human-like sapients) can hear... but a world which may have developed the galaxy's first death ray.
Biggle wrote back in the golden age of SF, and is largely now forgotten. Which is criminal.
I would start a Biggle collection not with this book, but with "Monument", his crowning work, or his short story collection, "The Metallic Muse".
November 11, 2012
This was a wonderful, fun, and fast read that was unusual and interesting. Jan Darzek sets out to discover why agents of the Galactic Synthesis are disappearing on a world were the inhabitants are deaf. On this world, called Kamm, he finds a dark, complex society and is totally unprepared for the difficulties he encounters. Biggle goes into great detail, amazing in such a short book, of a culture in which scent is the primary sense.
And this was so much more than a story or plot device. This was a fully realized world, full of interesting people, places, and smells. You really get an appreciation for how much we rely on sight and sound when you try to imagine the subconscious interaction and depth of detail possible through smell alone that we are unaware of due to reliance on our other senses.
And this was so much more than a story or plot device. This was a fully realized world, full of interesting people, places, and smells. You really get an appreciation for how much we rely on sight and sound when you try to imagine the subconscious interaction and depth of detail possible through smell alone that we are unaware of due to reliance on our other senses.
March 30, 2023
I’m surprised that Lloyd Biggle Jr. isn’t a better known author. His science fiction is excellent. Although I had read this book a couple of times before it had been a long time since I’d last read it. I was surprised at how poorly I remembered it. It’s a incredible adventure and a good detective story. It’s one of my favorite Lloyd Biggle Jr. books. There’s a deadly weapon discovered an undeveloped planet and they have to figure out what it is, and where it is, before the planet gets destroyed because of the weapon. The main character appears in a number of other books in this series, but I think this is one of his best.
January 7, 2015
An investigation of a world (where no life can hear) that apparently has a forbidden death ray.
Involves an alternative life form and society.
I liked the girl Sajjo as a character.
Nice readable story, but rather simple. Plus this alien world seemed much too human.
Involves an alternative life form and society.
I liked the girl Sajjo as a character.
Nice readable story, but rather simple. Plus this alien world seemed much too human.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews