What do you think?
Rate this book
Simon Rack #3
Simon Rack Backflash
His mind torn apart by a madman's gun, past and present flow together through the brain of Commander Simon Rack. And both bear the taint of death.
On the frontier planet of Zayin, young Midman Rack makes love to his first woman... and kills his first man.
He meets two men: Eugene Bogart, who is to become his closest friend in the most lethally effective team in the Galactic Security Service, and Haley Corman, his fiercest enemy.
The prize in the desert fortress of Xoachtl is the treasure of a civilization. The loser is a world edging close to the grey desolation of extinction.
On the frontier planet of Zayin, young Midman Rack makes love to his first woman... and kills his first man.
He meets two men: Eugene Bogart, who is to become his closest friend in the most lethally effective team in the Galactic Security Service, and Haley Corman, his fiercest enemy.
The prize in the desert fortress of Xoachtl is the treasure of a civilization. The loser is a world edging close to the grey desolation of extinction.
- GenresScience Fiction
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1975
25 people want to read
About the author
Laurence James
45 books3 followersAka James Axler, L.J. Coburn (with John Harvey), James Darke, Arthur Frazier (with Kenneth Bulmer), Charles C Garrett (with Angus Wells), Richard Haigh, William M. James (with Terry Harknett and John Harvey), Neil Langholm (with Kenneth Bulmer), John J. McLaglen (with John Harvey), James McPhee, James W Marvin, Jonathan May, Klaus Netzen, Mick Norman, Andrew Quiller (with Kenneth Bulmer and Angus Wells)
Laurence James was a British Science Fiction writer, especially known for his involvement with the "Deathlands" series.
James originally worked in publishing other people's books. In 1972 he embarked on the career of "a full-time freelance author and journalist". For several years thereafter he published short science fiction stories in both Britain and the U.S.
In 1974 he published his first full-length novel, "Earth Lies Sleeping" - the first in a series focused on the exploits of a galactic secret agent named Simon Rack. At the time he was living with his wife and their three children at an east Herefordshire village.
Also in 1974 James' publisher at the time, Sphere Books, provided the reading public with a list of "what Laurence James likes" - including Alf Tupper, Wilson and Beraddock, old films, old comics, and Rock 'n' roll. Among what he disliked were suits, gherkins and earwigs.
Thereafter, James embarked on a highly prolific career, publishing dozens of novels under his own name as well as the pen names James Darke, James McPhee, and James Axler. His writings included books for the series "Dark Future," "Earth Blood," "Galactic Security Service" and "Survival 2000," as well as a number of independent novels and short stories.
His biggest success was the Post apocalyptic "Deathlands" series. "Pilgrimage to Hell" which launched the series was started in 1986 by Christopher Lowder, completed by James and published under the name James Axler.
James then went on to write solely no less than 32 novels in this series, attracting a significant fandom, up to and including Eclipse at Noon' in 1995.
Due to failing health, James was on that year forced to leave the series. He wrote one last novel, Crucible of Time that appeared in 1998.
He died in February, 2000. After his death, "James Axler" remained a "House name" which continued to be used by others. In general, "Deathlands" fans consider his books to be the best of the series.
Laurence James was a British Science Fiction writer, especially known for his involvement with the "Deathlands" series.
James originally worked in publishing other people's books. In 1972 he embarked on the career of "a full-time freelance author and journalist". For several years thereafter he published short science fiction stories in both Britain and the U.S.
In 1974 he published his first full-length novel, "Earth Lies Sleeping" - the first in a series focused on the exploits of a galactic secret agent named Simon Rack. At the time he was living with his wife and their three children at an east Herefordshire village.
Also in 1974 James' publisher at the time, Sphere Books, provided the reading public with a list of "what Laurence James likes" - including Alf Tupper, Wilson and Beraddock, old films, old comics, and Rock 'n' roll. Among what he disliked were suits, gherkins and earwigs.
Thereafter, James embarked on a highly prolific career, publishing dozens of novels under his own name as well as the pen names James Darke, James McPhee, and James Axler. His writings included books for the series "Dark Future," "Earth Blood," "Galactic Security Service" and "Survival 2000," as well as a number of independent novels and short stories.
His biggest success was the Post apocalyptic "Deathlands" series. "Pilgrimage to Hell" which launched the series was started in 1986 by Christopher Lowder, completed by James and published under the name James Axler.
James then went on to write solely no less than 32 novels in this series, attracting a significant fandom, up to and including Eclipse at Noon' in 1995.
Due to failing health, James was on that year forced to leave the series. He wrote one last novel, Crucible of Time that appeared in 1998.
He died in February, 2000. After his death, "James Axler" remained a "House name" which continued to be used by others. In general, "Deathlands" fans consider his books to be the best of the series.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 22, 2024
This was a fun little read. A classic fiction that was fast paced, enjoyable and undemanding to read, with a satisfying ending.
This is a lot of fun for a classic sci-fi, we start in the 'now' when Commander Simon Rack is battling a scientist gone mad. This bad-guy has killed all the others in his research facility and has taken control of an experimental weapon and no one is willing to tell Commander Rack what it is because it is classified.
Instead of telling them to rack off (SORRY, I could not resist) Simon pursues the bad-dude into a canyon where he gets shot. Turns out what the experimental weapon does is scramble the brain, so Simon goes back in time to when he was an Ensign and her and his work-partner Eugene Bogart were marooned on a planet called Zayin. Simon is tempted into a back alley by and a girl operating a scam. The interesting thing about the world building is the two different factions within the world; a 'science' faction and an 'art' faction who are at odds with each other. This is the book where Simon and Bogart's long term enemy Corman is introduced.
The story could be a very superficial one, but because it alternates episodes of Commander Simon Rack in the 'now' falling over a cliff into a poison lake with the flashbacks, a sense of urgency is established in a way that is often not possible in a flashback scenario.
There is a huge amazing battle at the end and the whole thing is a pretty fast paced adventure style novel, very much of it's era but very fun for what it is and it delivers on it's promises.
Good ending.
And, btw, you cannot judge a book by it's cover, sure BUT how good it that cover with it's classic sci-fi artwork, just in it's own right? Also, the cover art is relatable to the story.
This is a lot of fun for a classic sci-fi, we start in the 'now' when Commander Simon Rack is battling a scientist gone mad. This bad-guy has killed all the others in his research facility and has taken control of an experimental weapon and no one is willing to tell Commander Rack what it is because it is classified.
Instead of telling them to rack off (SORRY, I could not resist) Simon pursues the bad-dude into a canyon where he gets shot. Turns out what the experimental weapon does is scramble the brain, so Simon goes back in time to when he was an Ensign and her and his work-partner Eugene Bogart were marooned on a planet called Zayin. Simon is tempted into a back alley by and a girl operating a scam. The interesting thing about the world building is the two different factions within the world; a 'science' faction and an 'art' faction who are at odds with each other. This is the book where Simon and Bogart's long term enemy Corman is introduced.
The story could be a very superficial one, but because it alternates episodes of Commander Simon Rack in the 'now' falling over a cliff into a poison lake with the flashbacks, a sense of urgency is established in a way that is often not possible in a flashback scenario.
There is a huge amazing battle at the end and the whole thing is a pretty fast paced adventure style novel, very much of it's era but very fun for what it is and it delivers on it's promises.
Good ending.
And, btw, you cannot judge a book by it's cover, sure BUT how good it that cover with it's classic sci-fi artwork, just in it's own right? Also, the cover art is relatable to the story.
June 2, 2012
Enjoyable series
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews