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Stainless Steel Rat #7
The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You!
SAVE THE GALAXY FROM DESTRUCTION!
Slippery Jim di Griz-the Stainless Steel Rat-is still recovering from his efforts to save his beloved Angelina from the notorious Interstellar Internal & External Revenue when he's called upon to perform the impossible: Saving the galaxy. But can he pull it off? The galaxy is being attacked by every kind of alien race-untold billions of tentacled, slimy, green, clawed mutations-& time is running out. Aided & abetted by his wife Angelina & his teenage sons, James & Bolivar, Jim infiltrates the nerve centre of the enemy council chambers. But he hasn't reckoned on the grey men & their commitment to a 'holy crusade' to destroy humankind-permanently!
--Harry Harrison, 'the Monty Python of the spaceways.'--Daily Telegraph.
182 pages, Hardcover
First published September 4, 1978
22 people are currently reading
1090 people want to read
About the author
Harry Harrison
1,261 books1,041 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey) was an American science fiction author best known for his character the The Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! (1966), the basis for the film Soylent Green (1973). He was also (with Brian W. Aldiss) co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey) was an American science fiction author best known for his character the The Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! (1966), the basis for the film Soylent Green (1973). He was also (with Brian W. Aldiss) co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
October 10, 2020
Starship Troopers gets the Spaceballs treatment in this book, which is indubitably the silliest entry in the chronicles of Slippery Jim DiGriz (so far, anyway).
The eponymous Rat finds himself once more having to save the galaxy, this time from a rampaging horde of slimy, non-humanoid aliens... but is there more to their homicidal hatred of humanity than meets the eye? Of course there is... and Jim is just the guy to get to the bottom of it. Clad in a mechanical alien costume with his robotically disguised son by his side, Jim sets out to do just that.
Highly enjoyable if you don’t mind some silliness. Recommended for fans of Lone Starr and Barf.
The eponymous Rat finds himself once more having to save the galaxy, this time from a rampaging horde of slimy, non-humanoid aliens... but is there more to their homicidal hatred of humanity than meets the eye? Of course there is... and Jim is just the guy to get to the bottom of it. Clad in a mechanical alien costume with his robotically disguised son by his side, Jim sets out to do just that.
Highly enjoyable if you don’t mind some silliness. Recommended for fans of Lone Starr and Barf.
March 17, 2021
On my furious re-read of the Stainless Steel Rat, this particular entry happens to be my personal favorite -- so far.
Alien invasion!
It works much better when you're working with a master thief in a rubber suit. Believe me. And then there are the Morality people. And J. Hova. :)
I'm totally rolling my eyes throughout this light read and loving every second.
Why?
Because it's CHARMING. James's wife and two precocious children are so naughty. But James himself? Nothing can keep a good Stainless Steel Rat down.
Alien invasion!
It works much better when you're working with a master thief in a rubber suit. Believe me. And then there are the Morality people. And J. Hova. :)
I'm totally rolling my eyes throughout this light read and loving every second.
Why?
Because it's CHARMING. James's wife and two precocious children are so naughty. But James himself? Nothing can keep a good Stainless Steel Rat down.
June 1, 2020
This series was never the epitome of sanity and serious literature, but even then this one's several magnitudes more insane than those so far. Jim's kids are now grown-up - and Jim himself has a nice 'stache, according to the cover - and they all go out together to fight first taxmen and then aliens. Hideous, smelly, revelling-in-their-ugliness aliens. And then the greys, those assholes.
There's time travel and dimension hopping before we're through, several obstructive bureaucracies on both counts, as well as - the real crazy part - halfway profound notions on morality and goodness. And more still. It's good stuff as all of them are.
There's time travel and dimension hopping before we're through, several obstructive bureaucracies on both counts, as well as - the real crazy part - halfway profound notions on morality and goodness. And more still. It's good stuff as all of them are.
September 2, 2021
Човешката раса е нападната от съюз от извънземни и бързо започва да губи войната. Добре, че Хлъзгавия Джим, Анджелина и порастналите деца, наследили най-доброто и най-лошото от родителите си, са тук, за да спасят света!
Доста добро, тайнствените сиви престават да са енигма за човечеството, а макар и развръзката да е малко предобрена, книжката е по-добра от предипните 2-3.
Това е и последната преведена на майчин език книга, 100% това няма да се промени, така че четирите останали ще трябва да се четат на ингилизки :)
Разбира се, читателят получава това, което очаква - неангажираща и забавна фантастика.
4,5*
Доста добро, тайнствените сиви престават да са енигма за човечеството, а макар и развръзката да е малко предобрена, книжката е по-добра от предипните 2-3.
Това е и последната преведена на майчин език книга, 100% това няма да се промени, така че четирите останали ще трябва да се четат на ингилизки :)
Разбира се, читателят получава това, което очаква - неангажираща и забавна фантастика.
4,5*
January 12, 2015
I started this book this week because I had the post-Xmas-vacation blues really badly and needed something to make me smile. There was more than enough silliness in this book to achieve my aim.
Just like in War of the Worlds, Earth is being menaced by cephalopods of all shapes, sizes and degrees of sliminess. James Bolivar DiGriz (Slippery Jim, the Stainless Steel Rat) is called upon by the Special Corps once again to save the universe! First he has to break his sons out of jail, rescue his wife from the taxman and build himself his own slimy disguise to become "Sleepery Jeem."
There are LOTS of bad jokes, like aliens named Sess-pul. The aliens, it turns out, speak many different languages, but have settled on Esperanto to communicate amongst themselves and Jim of course knows Esperanto. Things get complicated when the Moralty Corps shows up and put the kibosh on several of Jim's slippery plans. Some very irreverent antics ensue!
I probably read this too soon after The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World, and I think Harrison was running out of good ideas at this point, so I didn't find it quite as much fun as previous books. But it still helped me lift a very grumpy mood,
Just like in War of the Worlds, Earth is being menaced by cephalopods of all shapes, sizes and degrees of sliminess. James Bolivar DiGriz (Slippery Jim, the Stainless Steel Rat) is called upon by the Special Corps once again to save the universe! First he has to break his sons out of jail, rescue his wife from the taxman and build himself his own slimy disguise to become "Sleepery Jeem."
There are LOTS of bad jokes, like aliens named Sess-pul. The aliens, it turns out, speak many different languages, but have settled on Esperanto to communicate amongst themselves and Jim of course knows Esperanto. Things get complicated when the Moralty Corps shows up and put the kibosh on several of Jim's slippery plans. Some very irreverent antics ensue!
I probably read this too soon after The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World, and I think Harrison was running out of good ideas at this point, so I didn't find it quite as much fun as previous books. But it still helped me lift a very grumpy mood,
May 11, 2017
The fourth book originally published in the Stainless Steel Rat series, this one has plenty of humor and a plot that bounces around a bit.
Angela is kidnapped by the galactic IRS, then rescued by the Rat and their sons, James and Bolivar. Then Slippery Jim is waylaid into finding out why a satellite full of admirals disappeared, and uses time travel (again) to help. This takes our heroes across the galaxy and eventually to the home world of the evil Gray Men, Kekkonshiki. Whew!
In this tale we consider Moral Philosophy, male chauvinism, parallel dimensions and three overarching control groups (the IRS, the Morality Police and the Time Cops). Most characters are fairly flat, and while the story isn't predictable, it is pretty quick. The time travel gimmick is now officially overused, and I hope that the sole responsible scientist manages to escape for a long vacation. I prefer my capers to stay local and current.
Did Harrison have an agenda with the Japanese connections in this book? If so, it wasn't obvious to me.
Worth reading, but not quite as good as the previous book. 3½ stars.
Angela is kidnapped by the galactic IRS, then rescued by the Rat and their sons, James and Bolivar. Then Slippery Jim is waylaid into finding out why a satellite full of admirals disappeared, and uses time travel (again) to help. This takes our heroes across the galaxy and eventually to the home world of the evil Gray Men, Kekkonshiki. Whew!
In this tale we consider Moral Philosophy, male chauvinism, parallel dimensions and three overarching control groups (the IRS, the Morality Police and the Time Cops). Most characters are fairly flat, and while the story isn't predictable, it is pretty quick. The time travel gimmick is now officially overused, and I hope that the sole responsible scientist manages to escape for a long vacation. I prefer my capers to stay local and current.
Did Harrison have an agenda with the Japanese connections in this book? If so, it wasn't obvious to me.
Worth reading, but not quite as good as the previous book. 3½ stars.
February 2, 2019
This is my first of the this serial and it's okay. It has some humor and it retains a roguish charm even though it's kinda missing a rogue. Love the bad guys tho. Super emotionless with hearts as cold as the planet they were abandoned on.
February 1, 2019
Another in the stainless steel rat books. They are all quick reads with alot of humor in them. The stories remain fresh and new. Very recommended, especially to teen readers or someone new to SiFi
January 19, 2023
After ‘Slippery’ Jim diGriz’s beautiful and dangerous wife Angelina is kidnapped by the Interstellar Revenue people (the taxmen), he is forced to seek aid from Inskipp, head of Special Corps. Once there Jim finds that the Universe has bigger problems than unpaid taxes, as a shipload of admirals has vanished, and after using Professor Coypu’s time-helix, the SSR (Stainless Steel Rat) uncovers an imminent invasion by a conglomerate of the galaxy’s most loathsome, icky, slimy and tentacled intelligent species. Disguised as one of them, Jim infiltrates the cabal and finds to his dismay that it is being run by other disguised humans, the dour and evil gray men. Captured and transported to the freezing home planet of the gray men, it is up to Jim to once again save the galaxy and perhaps cure the gray men of their plans for conquest once and for all. Ok…you know the drill here. Jim wins after some farcical romps from Harry Harrison. Good for an afternoon’s light entertainment. :)
July 12, 2015
Originally posted on SpecFic Junkie.
If you've read any of my other Stainless Steel Rat reviews, you'll know the drill: this is larger-than-life, over-the-top pure skiffy goodness that's a self-aware parody of Golden Age Science Fiction. Needless to say, though, they have their problems. This one is one of the more problematic books in the series due to the way it's handled, however, it didn't ruin the enjoyment... at least for me.
When I say it's over-the-top, I'm talking dialogue that's way too witty and always sets up the next line. I'm talking how no one gets in a jam unless they've got some amazing way to get themselves out of it. The protag isn't pure, but he's a gentleman who's really just a criminal because he's bored and it's good for the economy.
But Harry Harrison seems perfectly aware of what he's doing. It's more of a parody of the books written like this that take themselves oh so seriously. No, he doesn't attempt to justify anything with impressive sciency sounding technobabble. Everything's named something completely ridiculous and has no explanation whatsoever.
I mean, they all speak Esperanto, for god's sake.
The problematic issues of Golden Age SciFi come up too, but for the most part, Harry Harrison seems to recognize this. Frex, with sexism, which comes up the most, he at least attempts to subvert it or cross the line twice. He's trying to show how ridiculous these tropes are. Now he doesn't always succeed, but it at least feels like he tried.
However, he really, really misses the mark in this one. And to explain, I'll need to spoil a bit, so if you want to read this without spoilers, just know that there's some weird racism in it. Otherwise, read on:
The premise of The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You! is that terribly ugly, gross, disgusting aliens have discovered humans... and they think we're just as nausea inducing, without dry skin and lack of eye-stalks. And the natural response here is, of course, to try and destroy us.
Although, no, that's not really what's happening. The Grey Men that we've run into before are really the masterminds behind this operation. This time, we get to learn a lot more about them.
Now, I really didn't pick up on the weird racism involved with the Grey Men as a kid, probably because well, it's subtle. But it's not addressed at all. We find out that their race have, as a survival method on a bleak and barren planet, eliminated emotion for the most part. They have a code of "moral philosophy" that teaches them that this makes them superior. Hence, they are trying to destroy all other human civilizations because they are weak and unfit.
Basically, they're Daleks.
But what makes this problematic? All of them have Japanese names. Because, you know, the Japanese are cold, authority-driven, and have a huge superiority complex.
Now, I think Harry Harrison might have attempted to subvert this a little because the grey men end up being the key to the human race's salvation (but of course they are the ones who set up said destruction) but it ends up being a white savior plot. They themselves are too unimaginative to see what they could do to fix it. The Stainless Steel Rat (actually, his wife) has to point it out.
And it just felt icky because it was sitting there without Harry Harrison poking fun at it.
At least there's a lot of fun with shadowy groups that are even higher up the food chain than the Special Corps who show up and do some really silly, lovely things that made me laugh aloud.
So, even though the book was honestly enjoyable on the surface and it was a hella fun ride, it's really only three stars instead of four. And if I'm going to be entirely honest with myself, it's probably the nostalgia glasses bumping it up from two.
However, next is The Stainless Steel Rat for President, which is already waiting for me at the library...
If you've read any of my other Stainless Steel Rat reviews, you'll know the drill: this is larger-than-life, over-the-top pure skiffy goodness that's a self-aware parody of Golden Age Science Fiction. Needless to say, though, they have their problems. This one is one of the more problematic books in the series due to the way it's handled, however, it didn't ruin the enjoyment... at least for me.
When I say it's over-the-top, I'm talking dialogue that's way too witty and always sets up the next line. I'm talking how no one gets in a jam unless they've got some amazing way to get themselves out of it. The protag isn't pure, but he's a gentleman who's really just a criminal because he's bored and it's good for the economy.
But Harry Harrison seems perfectly aware of what he's doing. It's more of a parody of the books written like this that take themselves oh so seriously. No, he doesn't attempt to justify anything with impressive sciency sounding technobabble. Everything's named something completely ridiculous and has no explanation whatsoever.
I mean, they all speak Esperanto, for god's sake.
The problematic issues of Golden Age SciFi come up too, but for the most part, Harry Harrison seems to recognize this. Frex, with sexism, which comes up the most, he at least attempts to subvert it or cross the line twice. He's trying to show how ridiculous these tropes are. Now he doesn't always succeed, but it at least feels like he tried.
However, he really, really misses the mark in this one. And to explain, I'll need to spoil a bit, so if you want to read this without spoilers, just know that there's some weird racism in it. Otherwise, read on:
The premise of The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You! is that terribly ugly, gross, disgusting aliens have discovered humans... and they think we're just as nausea inducing, without dry skin and lack of eye-stalks. And the natural response here is, of course, to try and destroy us.
Although, no, that's not really what's happening. The Grey Men that we've run into before are really the masterminds behind this operation. This time, we get to learn a lot more about them.
Now, I really didn't pick up on the weird racism involved with the Grey Men as a kid, probably because well, it's subtle. But it's not addressed at all. We find out that their race have, as a survival method on a bleak and barren planet, eliminated emotion for the most part. They have a code of "moral philosophy" that teaches them that this makes them superior. Hence, they are trying to destroy all other human civilizations because they are weak and unfit.
Basically, they're Daleks.
But what makes this problematic? All of them have Japanese names. Because, you know, the Japanese are cold, authority-driven, and have a huge superiority complex.
Now, I think Harry Harrison might have attempted to subvert this a little because the grey men end up being the key to the human race's salvation (but of course they are the ones who set up said destruction) but it ends up being a white savior plot. They themselves are too unimaginative to see what they could do to fix it. The Stainless Steel Rat (actually, his wife) has to point it out.
And it just felt icky because it was sitting there without Harry Harrison poking fun at it.
At least there's a lot of fun with shadowy groups that are even higher up the food chain than the Special Corps who show up and do some really silly, lovely things that made me laugh aloud.
So, even though the book was honestly enjoyable on the surface and it was a hella fun ride, it's really only three stars instead of four. And if I'm going to be entirely honest with myself, it's probably the nostalgia glasses bumping it up from two.
However, next is The Stainless Steel Rat for President, which is already waiting for me at the library...
January 6, 2011
ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.
I’ve been enjoying Harry Harrison’s Stainless Steel Rat series, especially the superb audio versions produced by Brilliance Audio. Slippery Jim DiGriz is a con artist who’s been forced to work undercover for the Special Corps, an intergalactic investigating agency. Each of these short novels starts with him (and now his family, too) hiding out from the Special Corps and living it up on other taxpayers’ money. Each time, the Special Corps traps him and sends him off on a fast-paced, dangerous mission that usually involves saving the galaxy in some way.
This time aliens are invading, so Slippery Jim, with the help of his beautiful and deadly wife and their delinquent teenage twins, infiltrates their lair by disguising himself as an alien who wants to join their army. How could he possibly know that his alien costume is so sexy that he’ll have to fight off male suitors while he’s trying to save the galaxy?
The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You is another entertaining offering from Harry Harrison and narrator Phil Gigante. It was fun to see Jim and Angelina’s twins grown up and following the family traditions. Unfortunately, this story relies on some of the same plot elements that we’ve seen before — it seems fairly simple to save the world when your enemies are all brainwashed by outdated moral philosophies, you’ve got a time machine on hand, and the laws of physics bend at your will.
Still, if you’re willing to overlook all that, then these stories are definitely entertaining, especially with Phil Gigante reading them.
I’ve been enjoying Harry Harrison’s Stainless Steel Rat series, especially the superb audio versions produced by Brilliance Audio. Slippery Jim DiGriz is a con artist who’s been forced to work undercover for the Special Corps, an intergalactic investigating agency. Each of these short novels starts with him (and now his family, too) hiding out from the Special Corps and living it up on other taxpayers’ money. Each time, the Special Corps traps him and sends him off on a fast-paced, dangerous mission that usually involves saving the galaxy in some way.
This time aliens are invading, so Slippery Jim, with the help of his beautiful and deadly wife and their delinquent teenage twins, infiltrates their lair by disguising himself as an alien who wants to join their army. How could he possibly know that his alien costume is so sexy that he’ll have to fight off male suitors while he’s trying to save the galaxy?
The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You is another entertaining offering from Harry Harrison and narrator Phil Gigante. It was fun to see Jim and Angelina’s twins grown up and following the family traditions. Unfortunately, this story relies on some of the same plot elements that we’ve seen before — it seems fairly simple to save the world when your enemies are all brainwashed by outdated moral philosophies, you’ve got a time machine on hand, and the laws of physics bend at your will.
Still, if you’re willing to overlook all that, then these stories are definitely entertaining, especially with Phil Gigante reading them.
January 4, 2015
James Bolivar diGriz, alias “Slippery Jim” is no longer a stainless steel rat in the wainscoting of society…well, at least he is no longer solely a stainless steel rat. Though his thieving ways are not yet behind him, Jim diGriz is firmly entrenched as the top agent in the Special Corps, that feared branch of the law headed by the most notorious criminal of all time, Harold P. Inskipp.
When his wife is kidnapped by the revenue service out of their current home on the planet Blodgett, Slippery Jim leaps into action, gathering up his two teenage sons from their military boarding school (and penitentiary) to spring mom and wreak havoc on the tax bureau at the same time. As is often the case with his adventures, personal conflict often leads to bigger problems, and Jim diGriz soon finds himself commandeered to save humanity from galaxy-wide destruction.
Sounds simple, eh? It is for the Stainless Steel Rat…at least until his most feared enemy comes on the scene–the infamous gray men.
For my thoughts on this book, please visit me here:
http://www.stainlesssteeldroppings.co...
When his wife is kidnapped by the revenue service out of their current home on the planet Blodgett, Slippery Jim leaps into action, gathering up his two teenage sons from their military boarding school (and penitentiary) to spring mom and wreak havoc on the tax bureau at the same time. As is often the case with his adventures, personal conflict often leads to bigger problems, and Jim diGriz soon finds himself commandeered to save humanity from galaxy-wide destruction.
Sounds simple, eh? It is for the Stainless Steel Rat…at least until his most feared enemy comes on the scene–the infamous gray men.
For my thoughts on this book, please visit me here:
http://www.stainlesssteeldroppings.co...
April 23, 2011
Slippery Jim DiGriz is off on another interstellar adventure. This time, the Special Corps needs him to save the human galaxy from invading aliens. With the help of his now adult twin sons and his beautiful, and cunning, wife Angelina, Slippery Jim is able to infiltrate the alien ranks and undermine their masterminds. Unfortunately, success is not quite in reach when the Morality Corps, a super secret group that, apparently, has more authority than the Special Corps, continuously disapproves of all Jim's schemes to rid the galaxy of these pestilential aliens. In the end, a compromise is sought (in the do-first-and-ask-for-forgiveness-later spirit). As always, hilarious, witty, and downright fun. If you've already read the book, you must listen to the audio version. The narrator, Phil Gigante, brings Jim and gang to life like no one else can.
June 9, 2011
SciFi humor. I quite enjoyed the first five books or so, but in the end the laughter starts wearing thin. I gave up after “The Stainless Steel Rat Goes to Hell”. Those I have read are:
The Stainless Steel Rat
The Stainless Steel Rat’s Revenge
The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World
The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You
The Stainless Steel Rat for President
A Stainless Steel Rat is Born
The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted
The Stainless Steel Rat Goes to Hell
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=817
The Stainless Steel Rat
The Stainless Steel Rat’s Revenge
The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World
The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You
The Stainless Steel Rat for President
A Stainless Steel Rat is Born
The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted
The Stainless Steel Rat Goes to Hell
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=817
February 9, 2011
I absolutely fell in love with the Stainless Steel Rat series. They are goofy, fast paced, and humorous sci-fi books. It was my first introduction to Harry Harrison and also my first time ever reading a comedic sci-fi book. I loved both of them immediately.
May 31, 2025
I guess you could call this book the perfect easy, summer read. Oddly, I hadn't heard of Harry Harrison before even though I do read a fair amount of science fiction. I probably shouldn't have started in the middle of a series, but I don't think it mattered much. Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat series is light-hearted and has a bit of the feel of the Bob-verse (if you're familiar with that).
Anyway, our main protagonist in the Rat series is Slippery Jim di Griz - as described in Wikipedia "He is a futuristic con man, thief, and all-round rascal. He is charming and quick-witted. He is also a master of disguise and martial arts, an accomplished bank robber, a criminal mastermind, an expert on breaking and entering, and (perhaps most usefully) a skilled liar."
Well, Slippery Jim has been pulled into an intergalactic war - not by his own choosing since his beautiful and brilliant criminal genius wife has been taken by the Interstellar Internal & External Revenue Service (hmmm.....sound familiar in 2025????) and bribed into saving the galaxy from alien invaders. Jim (apparently "as usual"), infiltrates the aliens only to find another party (the gray men) also trying to eradicate humans part of the invasion. Jim sneaks, slips, slides and stealths his way into the heart of the problem only to discover more parties trying to manipulate the galaxy.
I have to say it was good fun overall, but I was very disappointed in the aliens - Harrison made them so absurd that it took away some of the enjoyment. This could have been a much better book but I guess that's not really the point. It does have some of the 1970s politically incorrect themes - but it was written in 1978. Nevertheless, the second half really kicks in and makes for fun reading. 3.5 stars (could have been 4+). I will definitely read another in the series (I believe 11 novels and 1 short).
Anyway, our main protagonist in the Rat series is Slippery Jim di Griz - as described in Wikipedia "He is a futuristic con man, thief, and all-round rascal. He is charming and quick-witted. He is also a master of disguise and martial arts, an accomplished bank robber, a criminal mastermind, an expert on breaking and entering, and (perhaps most usefully) a skilled liar."
Well, Slippery Jim has been pulled into an intergalactic war - not by his own choosing since his beautiful and brilliant criminal genius wife has been taken by the Interstellar Internal & External Revenue Service (hmmm.....sound familiar in 2025????) and bribed into saving the galaxy from alien invaders. Jim (apparently "as usual"), infiltrates the aliens only to find another party (the gray men) also trying to eradicate humans part of the invasion. Jim sneaks, slips, slides and stealths his way into the heart of the problem only to discover more parties trying to manipulate the galaxy.
I have to say it was good fun overall, but I was very disappointed in the aliens - Harrison made them so absurd that it took away some of the enjoyment. This could have been a much better book but I guess that's not really the point. It does have some of the 1970s politically incorrect themes - but it was written in 1978. Nevertheless, the second half really kicks in and makes for fun reading. 3.5 stars (could have been 4+). I will definitely read another in the series (I believe 11 novels and 1 short).
May 3, 2024
Slippery Jim diGriz is an extraordinary thief and con man operating in an advanced society where interstellar travel is common along with the ability to travel in time. He was given his alias of the “Stainless Steel Rat” for his criminal operations in a modern, highly technical society. In this story, he is ably assisted by his wife Angelina and his twin sons James and Bolivar as he tries to save the human population from being defeated by a reptilian species.
In a somewhat silly plot device, diGriz dons a suit that allows him to pass as one of the reptiles so that he can infiltrate their society in hopes of serving as a mole and rescue humans that they have captured. There is also involvement of the gray men, a society of humans that are utterly emotionless in their dealings with each other and other species.
While the dialog and storyline are unique to this tale, they closely follow what appears in the other Stainless Steel Rat stories. Harrison’s style in the diGriz stories is very distinctive and the experienced reader can identify it after only a few paragraphs. It is a fun story without a great deal of depth, the plot is simple and much of the action is predictable. The very definition of light, enjoyable reading.
In a somewhat silly plot device, diGriz dons a suit that allows him to pass as one of the reptiles so that he can infiltrate their society in hopes of serving as a mole and rescue humans that they have captured. There is also involvement of the gray men, a society of humans that are utterly emotionless in their dealings with each other and other species.
While the dialog and storyline are unique to this tale, they closely follow what appears in the other Stainless Steel Rat stories. Harrison’s style in the diGriz stories is very distinctive and the experienced reader can identify it after only a few paragraphs. It is a fun story without a great deal of depth, the plot is simple and much of the action is predictable. The very definition of light, enjoyable reading.
June 23, 2017
The diGriz Family Turned Loose -- God Save the Galaxy!
"Slippery" Jim Bolivar diGriz, his lethal wife Angelina, and his twin sons James and Bolivar (following in their parent's less-than-legal footsteps) are off to save the universe (and enrich their own coffers when possible). It's the usual tongue-in-cheek fun that starts with Angelina being kidnapped and ends on a very cold planet where every hand is turned against our intrepid hero.
But a stainless steel rat can never be counted out until he's dead (and then don't count him out then).
I enjoyed the story as much as the other Stainless Steel Rat stories. I wish they'd republish the series or publish them in eBook format so more people can enjoy these timeless tales today. Mine sit in my library so I can take them out periodically and enjoy them over and over.
"Slippery" Jim Bolivar diGriz, his lethal wife Angelina, and his twin sons James and Bolivar (following in their parent's less-than-legal footsteps) are off to save the universe (and enrich their own coffers when possible). It's the usual tongue-in-cheek fun that starts with Angelina being kidnapped and ends on a very cold planet where every hand is turned against our intrepid hero.
But a stainless steel rat can never be counted out until he's dead (and then don't count him out then).
I enjoyed the story as much as the other Stainless Steel Rat stories. I wish they'd republish the series or publish them in eBook format so more people can enjoy these timeless tales today. Mine sit in my library so I can take them out periodically and enjoy them over and over.
June 23, 2022
A reluctant DNF, as I really did want to finish this book, but I just found the high sci-fi qualities just a little too tough for me to read.
I did enjoy parts of it, though. I liked how tongue-in-cheek aspects of the satire were, and despite being written in the 70s, the genderqueer, LGBT-leaning aliens were written in such a casual light. Hell, I'd expect some modern writers to be more homophobic in their responses. I also liked that Jim, our Stainless Steel Rat, adores his wife, and despite being a bit of a known flirt, still remains faithful and committed to his wife.
But while I liked these parts of the book, I just don't have a head for hard sci-fi. And yeah, this may not be classified as 'hard sci-fi', but it's a little beyond what I typically read.
While I tend to rate DNF books a one star, I liked this enough to give it two.
I did enjoy parts of it, though. I liked how tongue-in-cheek aspects of the satire were, and despite being written in the 70s, the genderqueer, LGBT-leaning aliens were written in such a casual light. Hell, I'd expect some modern writers to be more homophobic in their responses. I also liked that Jim, our Stainless Steel Rat, adores his wife, and despite being a bit of a known flirt, still remains faithful and committed to his wife.
But while I liked these parts of the book, I just don't have a head for hard sci-fi. And yeah, this may not be classified as 'hard sci-fi', but it's a little beyond what I typically read.
While I tend to rate DNF books a one star, I liked this enough to give it two.
March 6, 2021
(same write-up exactly as I did for the first book in the series)
I could understand someone giving a 5 rating for this and I could understand a 1 rating too. It's not a deep book in any way but it neither wants to be nor does it pretend to be. It's a great comedy sci-fi romp, completely intended to make you giggle your way through a summer holiday on the beach. Its real selling point (to me) is that I think it's a pretty unique writing style and I don't know whether it was intended for a teen audience in the 60s but I think that's the likely audience now. You're unlikely to remember the story a couple of years from now but you'll enjoy reading it and have fond memories of having read it too.
I could understand someone giving a 5 rating for this and I could understand a 1 rating too. It's not a deep book in any way but it neither wants to be nor does it pretend to be. It's a great comedy sci-fi romp, completely intended to make you giggle your way through a summer holiday on the beach. Its real selling point (to me) is that I think it's a pretty unique writing style and I don't know whether it was intended for a teen audience in the 60s but I think that's the likely audience now. You're unlikely to remember the story a couple of years from now but you'll enjoy reading it and have fond memories of having read it too.
March 22, 2018
So, in this chunk of Stainless Steel Rattery, Slippery Jim must battle hordes of aliens bent on eradicating mankind. Leaving to one side whether or not mankind actually deserves it, this is a very humorous romp through space in much the same way as Jim's earlier adventures. This hit my funny bone a lot more when I read it as a teenager, but it's still highly enjoyable. HH tells his story in a light hearted, irreverent way, supported by his wife, Angelina, and now adult sons.
Now re-reading the entire series start to finish, this one is the best of the older novels, and much better than the newer prequels.
Now re-reading the entire series start to finish, this one is the best of the older novels, and much better than the newer prequels.
December 25, 2025
This was a lot of fun with some creative ideas and a cartoonish sense of humor.
Aliens have invaded. Which ones? All of them! The entire galaxy put their tentacles together and decided the human race is out!
Jim must infiltrate their ranks and gather intel, bugs bunny style!
Unlike previous installments that work as a stand alone this one actually builds on previously established lore and tech which was nice to see.
I am removing a star because of the finale. Literally a Deus ex Machina. Also the accidental misogyny at the end was rather painful and dated.
Aliens have invaded. Which ones? All of them! The entire galaxy put their tentacles together and decided the human race is out!
Jim must infiltrate their ranks and gather intel, bugs bunny style!
Unlike previous installments that work as a stand alone this one actually builds on previously established lore and tech which was nice to see.
I am removing a star because of the finale. Literally a Deus ex Machina. Also the accidental misogyny at the end was rather painful and dated.
November 24, 2018
Great fun adventure with the rat and his family as they try to stop an alien invasion. Some standard rat shenanigans with the added loop being that he's now working with his family and has the to look out for which adds some wrinkles to his escapades, although he circumvents this for a large chunk of the book by going off and having solo adventures. Some great parodic elements of Golden Age SF with some more modern elements thrown in.
September 13, 2021
The Stainless Steel Rat meets alien invaders, and the series becomes slapstick comedy. Unfortunately, not a very good one. "Slipper Jim" diGriz is still the same cool loveable rascal (he'd tell you so himself), but he works best when he's doing capers, not Independence Day. Granted, his methods are unchanged, but I ultimately couldn't muster much interest in the story. It was OK (2/5 stars) but that's it.
November 23, 2025
I’m rereading this series out of nostalgia. The writing is fine. The plots are good for what they are in terms of genre. On these points alone I’d rate the book 4 stars. It’s the values that haven’t aged well. The skepticism of hierarchical authority is good, but the emphasis on selfish goals strikes me as juvenile. If your worldview and life stance are anything like mine, these relics of a less enlightened era will limit your overall enjoyment of the book.
August 23, 2021
I often want light, fun fantasy/sci-fi, but I don't often find it.
The fourth star is really for succeeding in that genre more than its inherent, ahem, literary merit, but although I spaced out my reading of this slim book I never tired of Slippery Jim's schtick, which kept rolling along with the interesting and occasionally clever plot.
Would definitely try another of Harrison's SSR books.
The fourth star is really for succeeding in that genre more than its inherent, ahem, literary merit, but although I spaced out my reading of this slim book I never tired of Slippery Jim's schtick, which kept rolling along with the interesting and occasionally clever plot.
Would definitely try another of Harrison's SSR books.
January 18, 2022
I am slowly working my way through this light weight series of comedy scifi. I read a couple of these 40 years ago, and was more impressed then than I am now. Nevertheless, these breezy reads require no deep thinking, unlike the more biting satire of the Discworld series, so they are good bedtime reading.
May 22, 2018
Meh. I felt like Harrison was really phoning it in on this one. Basic SSR storyline - humorous science fiction with the usual plug for Esperanto. Also, the additional layers of secret organizations seemed played only as a plot device/comic relief.
May 6, 2021
Another typical escapade, but I still enjoy them. My 4 star rating is probably more nostalgia than any real literary merit. Interestingly, I have a great desire to read the President story but can't remember too much about the later books.
February 9, 2023
Another comic romp in the Stainless Steel Rat universe, fun but very much by the numbers. The introduction of Jim's children seems irrelevant to the plot and other characters but it has some good fun moments.
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