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Killer
Rom vor etwa 2000 Jahren: Ein Außerirdischer soll gegen Gladiatoren kämpfen.
Lycron hatte Tiger in Indien, Löwen in den Hügeln von Mazedonien und Elefanten am Fuße des Atlasgebirges gefangen … Er war der größte aller Jäger, die den gierigen Schlund des Kolosseums mit Bestien fütterten.
Woher sollte Lycron wissen, dass die Kreatur, die er diesmal jagte, nicht von der Erde stammte? Dass sie das einzige überlebende Wesen eines abgestürzten Raumschiffs war?
Während er der Spur zerfetzter Leichen folgt, erkennt Lycron zwei Dinge: Dieses verdammte Vieh ist genauso intelligent wie er. Und überleben wird dieses Duell nur einer von ihnen.
Band 10 der Buchreihe "Pulp Legends". Privatdruck, keine ISBN.
Lycron hatte Tiger in Indien, Löwen in den Hügeln von Mazedonien und Elefanten am Fuße des Atlasgebirges gefangen … Er war der größte aller Jäger, die den gierigen Schlund des Kolosseums mit Bestien fütterten.
Woher sollte Lycron wissen, dass die Kreatur, die er diesmal jagte, nicht von der Erde stammte? Dass sie das einzige überlebende Wesen eines abgestürzten Raumschiffs war?
Während er der Spur zerfetzter Leichen folgt, erkennt Lycron zwei Dinge: Dieses verdammte Vieh ist genauso intelligent wie er. Und überleben wird dieses Duell nur einer von ihnen.
Band 10 der Buchreihe "Pulp Legends". Privatdruck, keine ISBN.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1985
2 people are currently reading
343 people want to read
About the author
David Drake
306 books886 followersDavid Drake is an American author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran who has worked as a lawyer, he is now one of the major authors of the military science fiction genre.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 29, 2024
Basically Alien and Predator in Ancient Rome!
Killer by David Drake and Karl Edward Wagner was originally published in two much shorter novelette forms titled "Killer" and "Dragon's Teeth" in "Midnight Sun Magazine" issues 1 and 2 in the year 1975. This full novel was released in 1985 by BAEN. I've looked everywhere and can't seem to find the cover artist for this edition, but the search continues!
Basically these guys who capture alien creatures for a living end up getting an oddly sealed cage with a human/lizard-like creature being held within and they ask themselves why the heck whoever sent it to them went through all the trouble to seal it so tight.
Anyway, the creature breaks free, carves into a few fellas the same way Garfield eats a lasagna, and the beastcatchers set out to find the creature before it wreaks anymore havoc. I can't say how the Alien aspect comes into play, as that's a bit of a spoiler, but the human/lizard creature gives off strong Predator vibes.
Not as cheesy as I was expecting, but still a pretty fun 80s scifi. Recommended.
Killer by David Drake and Karl Edward Wagner was originally published in two much shorter novelette forms titled "Killer" and "Dragon's Teeth" in "Midnight Sun Magazine" issues 1 and 2 in the year 1975. This full novel was released in 1985 by BAEN. I've looked everywhere and can't seem to find the cover artist for this edition, but the search continues!
Basically these guys who capture alien creatures for a living end up getting an oddly sealed cage with a human/lizard-like creature being held within and they ask themselves why the heck whoever sent it to them went through all the trouble to seal it so tight.
Anyway, the creature breaks free, carves into a few fellas the same way Garfield eats a lasagna, and the beastcatchers set out to find the creature before it wreaks anymore havoc. I can't say how the Alien aspect comes into play, as that's a bit of a spoiler, but the human/lizard creature gives off strong Predator vibes.
Not as cheesy as I was expecting, but still a pretty fun 80s scifi. Recommended.
June 29, 2022
Neat collaboration between Drake and Karl Edward Wagner that is a genre bender for sure, although its roots are in 'Sword and Planet'. Largely set in ancient Rome at its peak under the emperor Domitian (circa 80 C.E.), the main protagonist, Lycon, is a 'beastcatcher' returning to Rome after bagging several beasties for the arena. When he meets an old friend at the docks, a dealer in beasts, he is shown a very strange beast that also just arrived, dubbed the lizard man. Very mild spoiler-- the lizard man is actually an alien that survived a crash on Earth. Turns out, there is a galactic empire out there and it does not really like arena fights. Yet, many species in the empire like to watch them, so a thriving black market exists for truly nasty beasties. Just about the nastiest are the phile, which breed like rabbits on crack and have been known to take over entire planets.
The smuggler behind the phile is summoned by the Cora ('first among equals' in the empire) and tasked with hunting the thing down before Earth becomes a blood bath. Now, the empire does not know the smuggler was actually behind the ship that crashed and he is actually quite content to let Earth die, as the planet would then yield more phile for intergalactic games. After some trials and tribulations, Lycon is tasked by Domitian himself to track down the phile (lizard man) as he wants it in his arena. The intergalactic smuggler qua hunter arrives on the scene and at the bequest also of Domitian, takes over the hunt...
Drake and Wagner give us Rome in its glory and squalor here; I think ancient Rome was the setting of several Drake novels and he has done his homework. Neat story with some fun twists and turns and one that holds up well after nearly 4 decades. 3.5 stars, rounding up for the killer ending!
The smuggler behind the phile is summoned by the Cora ('first among equals' in the empire) and tasked with hunting the thing down before Earth becomes a blood bath. Now, the empire does not know the smuggler was actually behind the ship that crashed and he is actually quite content to let Earth die, as the planet would then yield more phile for intergalactic games. After some trials and tribulations, Lycon is tasked by Domitian himself to track down the phile (lizard man) as he wants it in his arena. The intergalactic smuggler qua hunter arrives on the scene and at the bequest also of Domitian, takes over the hunt...
Drake and Wagner give us Rome in its glory and squalor here; I think ancient Rome was the setting of several Drake novels and he has done his homework. Neat story with some fun twists and turns and one that holds up well after nearly 4 decades. 3.5 stars, rounding up for the killer ending!
May 7, 2015
Killer is an excellent and rare blend of science fiction, horror, and fantasy, all brought together and seasoned with Drake's expert knowledge of ancient Rome. I believe that the two authors' styles and strengths complemented one another quite well. A second edition of the novel appeared with a truly ghastly and silly cover, which I believe served to force it into obscurity, which is a shame. It's a really exciting and enjoyable story, well worth reading.
October 23, 2014
This was certainly a book that was difficult to put down. Non stop action, a blend of SF & almost Sword & Sorcery as only Wagner & Drake could do. It will never o down as a great classic, but it's certainly one of the most enjoyable reads I've ever had.
Most of all, it was well written. The characters were well developed, the scenes vivid & story's progression logical. I was a bit put off that one character's motives were revealed too early & bluntly, IMO. I think the book would have been better if that had developed through the story's progress. There was certainly opportunity for it. Still, it wasn't a major shortcoming & the only flaw in an otherwise wonderful work.
Most of all, it was well written. The characters were well developed, the scenes vivid & story's progression logical. I was a bit put off that one character's motives were revealed too early & bluntly, IMO. I think the book would have been better if that had developed through the story's progress. There was certainly opportunity for it. Still, it wasn't a major shortcoming & the only flaw in an otherwise wonderful work.
April 9, 2020
I had no idea David Drake and the late Karl Edward Wagner had ever collaborated, so I was delighted to find a copy of Killer recently. I am not sure what the source of Drake's obsession with ancient Rome is but I'm glad it exists as it has been the wellspring for a number of enjoyable stories. In Killer a beast from another world has been released on Earth-it is a ruthless and highly adaptable killer that makes the creature in Predator look like Gary Shandling. Opposing it: Lycon, former Roman gladiator who now employs himself capturing beasts for the Arena. Complications ensue. This book is essentially cover to cover action and it was a lot of fun to devour.
January 24, 2014
Very enjoyable read. Being a huge Wagner fan, there is no way I could pass up this book -- and you can tell when Wagner's pen is on the page with regards to sheer graphic brutality -- nonetheless a fantastic collaboration of two great writers.
The book is set in an alternative history of ancient Rome, paralleled with advanced alien worlds. The plot is quite fast-paced which compliments the brutal action, resulting in a hard-to-put-down novel. I loved it. Think Predator meets Gladiator. Awesome.
The book is set in an alternative history of ancient Rome, paralleled with advanced alien worlds. The plot is quite fast-paced which compliments the brutal action, resulting in a hard-to-put-down novel. I loved it. Think Predator meets Gladiator. Awesome.
July 21, 2008
This book is actually part SF and part fantasy. It combined the talents of David Drake and Karl Edward Wagner, and is an excellent work. It's a bit like Predator 2 but set in ancient Rome. However, it came out in 1985, well before the movie. I've always wondered if the book didn't influence the movie.
March 30, 2017
Alien vs. Predator, but set in ancient Rome with hunters trying to capture the alien for the colosseum and another disguised alien (predator) trying to stop an outbreak. Nothing amazing and a bit forgettable, but fun for a few hours!
October 14, 2017
Picture HBO's Rome combined with Predator (with a smidge of The Ghost and the Darkness and a hint of The Hidden) and you're on the right track. It is a great read, despite three not-so-good covers it has been stuck with. It'd make a superb mini-series on HBO or AMC.
May 25, 2021
Killer tells the story of Lycon, a beastcatcher and former gladiator, who captures and hauls exotic animals back to Rome for his associate Vonones to sell to the emperor for arena combat. Only on his latest return, Vonones has acquired a lizard-ape creature that drives all the other animals mad. Unbeknownst to the men, this creature is a phile, an extremely dangerous alien that can breed multiple times without a mate. Soon after, one of the universe's more advanced civilizations sends an emissary of its own to eliminate the threat posed by the phile and, thus, begins the competition of all the parties involved and a race for survival.
From here, it doesn't take long for Drake and Wagner to ratchet up the tension. Not only are there passages of fighting and bravery and the recognition that the female phile can quickly spread her brood all over the earth, the Cora, who watch over the universe, plan on decimating the planet if the violence gets too out of hand, lending a backdrop of menace to the whole proceedings.
The two authors manage to balance all the disparate elements very well: the world building, the adventure, the monsters, the alien involvement. Only occasionally does the language sound too modern and betray the otherwise solid feeling of antiquity. And the book doesn't shy away from the horror of it all either. The world is a cruel one where characters are quick to move on from another's death, even a loved one's, and the phile, with its lightning quick movements and razor sharp claws eviscerates men and other animals, women and children alike.
The biggest problem is with some of the subplots. Lycon's family life never develops into anything at all believable, so when tragedy strikes later on, it seems superfluous. Lycon's son's teacher is also a pedophile and figures into the climax of the story. Even if there is some accuracy here in terms of how ancient Rome functioned, this reeks more of 1980s homophobia than it does historical accuracy and could have easily been discarded.
From here, it doesn't take long for Drake and Wagner to ratchet up the tension. Not only are there passages of fighting and bravery and the recognition that the female phile can quickly spread her brood all over the earth, the Cora, who watch over the universe, plan on decimating the planet if the violence gets too out of hand, lending a backdrop of menace to the whole proceedings.
The two authors manage to balance all the disparate elements very well: the world building, the adventure, the monsters, the alien involvement. Only occasionally does the language sound too modern and betray the otherwise solid feeling of antiquity. And the book doesn't shy away from the horror of it all either. The world is a cruel one where characters are quick to move on from another's death, even a loved one's, and the phile, with its lightning quick movements and razor sharp claws eviscerates men and other animals, women and children alike.
The biggest problem is with some of the subplots. Lycon's family life never develops into anything at all believable, so when tragedy strikes later on, it seems superfluous. Lycon's son's teacher is also a pedophile and figures into the climax of the story. Even if there is some accuracy here in terms of how ancient Rome functioned, this reeks more of 1980s homophobia than it does historical accuracy and could have easily been discarded.
December 31, 2009
This book was an interesting read. It's set in ancient Rome during the reign of Domitian. A dangerous lifeform crashes onto the Earth and is captured by a beast hunter to be taken to the arenas of Rome, and the alien sent to recover it has ulterior motives. The main human characters are somewhat interesting, and the main alien character (outside of the phile) is mostly just a jerk. To me, the phile was actually one of the more interesting characters in the book, as were the mysterious galactic ruling aliens who sent the main alien character to Earth.
I'd rate this book as a "popcorn book": it was fun to read, but not deep or really involved. It's an alternate history novel with a twist. I can see this book being made into a movie which does reasonably well.
I'd rate this book as a "popcorn book": it was fun to read, but not deep or really involved. It's an alternate history novel with a twist. I can see this book being made into a movie which does reasonably well.
January 28, 2021
The arena of Emperor Domitian is always hungry for a new bloodsport, so when an unheard-of strangely-scaled and vaguely simian animal appears in the wake of a fiery explosion, the enterprising men who capture it think it will be no more than a new toy for their Roman "lord and god." But the "lizard-ape" as they call it has other ideas. Displaying intelligence and ferocity beyond anything its would-be captors have seen before, the creature escapes. Can gladiator-turned-beastcatcher Lycon track down this new game in time, or will the streets of Rome run red with blood?
A collaboration of renowned science fiction and fantasy authors Karl Edward Wagner and David Drake, "Killer" is a fast-paced mix of military history, unfettered action, and doomsday thriller. For the lizard-ape is in fact a particularly diabolic alien, one which if not brought to earth before it's too late will contaminate the whole world with its evil progeny, a contagion for which the only cure is thermonuclear fire.
A fast, potent read enlivened with likeable protagonists and villains you love to hate and realistic non-stop action, "Killer" is a light and engaging white-knuckler that for those who like sci-fi, fantasy or thrillers, is great literary excitement.
A collaboration of renowned science fiction and fantasy authors Karl Edward Wagner and David Drake, "Killer" is a fast-paced mix of military history, unfettered action, and doomsday thriller. For the lizard-ape is in fact a particularly diabolic alien, one which if not brought to earth before it's too late will contaminate the whole world with its evil progeny, a contagion for which the only cure is thermonuclear fire.
A fast, potent read enlivened with likeable protagonists and villains you love to hate and realistic non-stop action, "Killer" is a light and engaging white-knuckler that for those who like sci-fi, fantasy or thrillers, is great literary excitement.
January 24, 2016
A great mix of both science fiction and horror,an unknown creature is captured and destined for the coliseum of Rome, soon after capture the beast escapes and is hunted down by an ex Gladiator and his companions.
The action is fast paced and often gore filled, the Authors do a fine job blending the two genres, the characters are well thought out, and Ancient Rome in all it's decadence and splendor is well addressed.
Full of exciting twists and turns this book will appeal to lovers of both horror and sci-fi.
The action is fast paced and often gore filled, the Authors do a fine job blending the two genres, the characters are well thought out, and Ancient Rome in all it's decadence and splendor is well addressed.
Full of exciting twists and turns this book will appeal to lovers of both horror and sci-fi.
February 27, 2011
I enjoy stories about ancient Rome.
I enjoy sci-fi stories.
Take two top-class authors and mix the two genres an you have a great story.
Some nice twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.
Those of you who have put this on their 'to read' list - PUT DOWN your current book and read this one.
I enjoy sci-fi stories.
Take two top-class authors and mix the two genres an you have a great story.
Some nice twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.
Those of you who have put this on their 'to read' list - PUT DOWN your current book and read this one.
June 14, 2015
I wouldn't call this book fantasy at all. It's hard SF. Just because it's set in historical ancient Rome and the heroes carry swords instead of rayguns doesn't make it fantasy. There's no magic, no time travel, and no violations of known physics.
February 15, 2025
I really enjoyed this mix of sci/fi, horror and historical adventure in novel form. This was the first thing I have read by either author, and I will definitely check out more by them, as I was impressed.
The horror is horrific, the action kicks butt and the sci fi aspects are cool, original and interesting. It really hits on everything it sets out to do and does it all very well. It also has a spaghetti western feel to it, especially towards the end. It was easy to imagine the protagonists Lycon and Vonones as Clint Eastwood as the Man With No Name and Silvanito the innkeeper from "A Fistful of Dollars".
If I had any criticism at all, it would be that the ending was pretty abrupt. That said, this was a great, one of a kind read that I really enjoyed.
The horror is horrific, the action kicks butt and the sci fi aspects are cool, original and interesting. It really hits on everything it sets out to do and does it all very well. It also has a spaghetti western feel to it, especially towards the end. It was easy to imagine the protagonists Lycon and Vonones as Clint Eastwood as the Man With No Name and Silvanito the innkeeper from "A Fistful of Dollars".
If I had any criticism at all, it would be that the ending was pretty abrupt. That said, this was a great, one of a kind read that I really enjoyed.
January 2, 2024
A fun monster book, similar to a Predator or Aliens movie. This was a suspenseful and thrilling ride, and a great quick read.
Though co-authored by Karl Edward Wagner, it felt like it was mainly authored by David Drake, who is very competent horror and fantasy writer himself. But Wagner fans may feel a little disappointed. Recommend.
Though co-authored by Karl Edward Wagner, it felt like it was mainly authored by David Drake, who is very competent horror and fantasy writer himself. But Wagner fans may feel a little disappointed. Recommend.
November 2, 2024
It's a solid 3.5. Pretty standard fare for a Baen scifi creature book. Picked up a copy to read because I read half of it when I was younger, and certain scenes stuck with me. So, I decided to finally read it all the way through. If you're looking for a quick, fun read about an alien monster set in ancient Rome, this is the book for you.
abandoned
September 8, 2019Why I didn't finish this: I just wasn't feeling it with this one.
January 22, 2020
I liked the idea of the story but the story was too slow for me.
November 4, 2020
Very good sci-fi/horror. Wasn't ready for it to end.
March 17, 2025
Romans dealing with a mysterious creature. It could have worked even without the space/scifi element.
January 31, 2016
The premise of this book is an alien killing machine is unleashed on 1st century Rome and a retired gladiator is out to capture it on the orders of the emperor. I really wanted to like this book but I just found it too dark. There were a couple of moments while reading this book where I thought "No. They wouldn't do that. They wouldn't go there." and guess what: The authors of the book DID go there and they DID do that.
August 4, 2008
Gladiator meets Predator. Does it get any better?
July 19, 2012
In ancient Rome there are humans and aliens, hunters and the hunted. Reminds you of the Predator movies, fast and brutal.
May 3, 2015
Space aliens and Romans. Enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews