A Day for Damnation

The War Against the Chtorr #2

by David Gerrold

McCarthy was drafted from his college biology studies and became a member of the Special Forces. Then he is given the opportunity to contact the Chtorr, but when a helicopter crash leaves him and his companions stranded in enemy territory, he must decide whether to communicate with the Chtorr--or kill them!

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Military Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Audiobook, Speculative Fiction, Military Fiction

448 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Ubiquitousbastard · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's pretty rare for me to read a series where the first and second books are both amazing. This is a perfect follow up to the first book in the series. Everything I loved about the first book is still present, and in addition there is a significant advancement in world building and setting up for future books. Many authors seems to have trouble balancing setting up long-term plot threads while making a book interesting and well-paced.

Then there is Gerrold's ability to throw in psychology and philosophy and somehow NOT make the book feel like it's being bogged down in pointless side discussions. Even though I've now read this book multiple times, every time I read it, I really appreciate how Gerrold puts so much effort into understanding people and behavior and life. I've been having trouble finding a book I actually want to read lately; nothing seems to interest me. But I went through this book just as into it as I was my first time.

I think I'm starting to get why he hasn't written the fifth book yet: it has to be just as fantastic as the first four and I don't think that's an easy task if Gerrold isn't extremely inspired to write it. Unlike many other books, this seems like it was written with purpose, not just to throw out a story or make money.

Also, apparently, there is an abridged form of this book since it's the copy I read most recently. And yes, the parts that are taken out are the sexually ambiguous/homosexual content parts and yes, they are important for subsequent books. The third books makes much less sense without the parts that were excised from the first and second books.

[Tim]

Better than A Matter for Men--Gerrold remembers that the function of an entertainment is to entertain, and even when things slow to allow a character to tell without showing some concept Gerrold's trying to get across, it's almost excusable--two books into a series and you're allowed some pauses for expository breathing room. The homosexual struggles are here mostly replaced with madness-of-crowds themes, in keeping with the title's reference to religion. This time around the book's characters try to communicate with the invading aliens, with red-herring results. And by the way, Gerrold loves to use a spoken "Huh?" as a prompt for more dialogue that reveals everything he wants to say--"Huh?" must appear a few dozen times throughout the book's 423 pages--it's not graceful. On to book three.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really glad I stuck with this after the first book. Whereas "A Matter for Men" got a little tedious with its Socratic monologuing, "A Day For Damnation" gives more payoff in the way of heightening the sense of dread (the gross Chtorran jokes ala "dead baby jokes" at the end of each chapter are surprisingly effective at kicking it up a notch, regardless of what's happening in the plot), and claustrophobia (trapped in a helicopter with not only one, but several types of aliens surrounding the main character). You're left with just as many questions as answers, but that's exactly how you should feel at book 2 out of 7. Can't wait to see where this goes.

[Christopher Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best (albeit, unfinished) alien invasion series I know. Trying to be patient in waiting for him to close the loop on this one. I balk at recommending it to others only because I don't want them to experience the same 21+ year wait that the rest of us have had to deal with since he published the "latest" book in the series, A Season for Slaughter. However, to be fair, I have no idea how the hell he is going to tie this all together, and I admire the man's ambition for taking on such a project that was supposed to be a trilogy.

[Shanon Sanderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would say this book was an upgrade from the first in the series. Once again, I don't feel super invested in the characters, but more so than the previous book. There were parts where I had to push through, but it had enough to keep me captivated. There are two more books in the series, and I think I will continue. I wouldn't say I am excited about it though.

[Jim N · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Day for Damnation is my favorite book in David Gerrold's excellent-but-unfinished War Against the Chtorr series. Gerrold ramps up the story in this second book, delving more deeply into the nature and diversity of the alien ecology that's invading the planet and into the impact living in a post-apocalypse world is having on the human race. The book features an extended sequence in which the main characters are trapped in something akin to an alien "blizzard" that is among the most memorable sequences I've encountered in decades of reading and listening to science fiction.

Highly recommended.

[Juniper · Rating 3 out of 5]

More interpersonal and sexual than the first but it's easy and engaging. Will continue reading the series.

[Michael J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edge of your seat great! Love this series!

[Tex-49 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non male, ma niente di eccezionale, poco credibile l'invasione di tutta una serie di nuove forme di vita, da quelle microscopiche ai vermi giganteschi.

[Kevin Phyland · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Chtorr are giant worm-like invaders and at the opening of this - the second book of David Gerrold’s Chtorr series - they have killed over five billion humans and entrenched themselves in nests in most arable areas. They eat humans, and practically anything else, and Lt. Jim McCarthy and Dr. Fletcher have come up with a meet-and-greet plan in the hopes of communicating with the invaders instead of slaughtering them. Because humanity is losing a straight out military conflict. The influence of the Chtorr has manifested itself in strange herds of zombie-like humans, something which Jim thinks may be a domestication program for humanity. In Northern California they encounter a red tide of Chtorran ecosystems and after a perilous and terrifying confrontation they return to base disheartened. The book is really about communication - what forms it takes and what forms an alien type might take and this is explicated in the final mission led by McCarthy and the comely pilot Colonel ‘Lizard’ Tirelli. With the cuteness of the bunnydogs as a distraction they make a number of critical errors on their way to a humbling revelation. Thay had got some things terrifyingly wrong. Fairly entertaining and worth persevering with. (The ebook has a sub-thread about Jim’s mother removed - and probably for the better.)

[Stefan · Rating 2 out of 5]

What an incredibly boring and drawn-out book.

In essence, this story consists of two brief encounters with the Chtorr. One at the start of the book, and one at the end. The rest? Well, that's boring blah-blah that's completely irrelevant to the story and is just annoying to have to dig your way through.

That's one way to make an eight-part series I guess. Twenty pages of actual story and two hundred fifty pages of useless padding.

[Rod · Rating 3 out of 5]

Came highly recommended from a friend and, though I had my doubts about halfway through this volume (seemed like sort of a classic "alien invasion" saga, with the focus being on fighting the aliens, and too much cringe-worthy sexual innuendo dialogue worthy of Asimov), in the latter half, it took a turn toward a very interesting novel of ideas and a look at the complexity of assumptions about alien life based on human preconceptions.

[James]

McCarthy was drafted from his college biology studies and became a member of the Special Forces. Then he is given the opportunity to contact the Chtorr, but when a helicopter crash leaves him and his companions stranded in enemy territory, he must decide whether to communicate with the Chtorr--or kill them!

[Scott S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The Chtorr jokes got old in a hurry.

The mom says something about Jim being in a dress and makeup at their dinner. I can't tell if the mom is talking about his dress uniform and metals or if he is actually wearing a dress... Aside from some things in book 1 there hasn't been anything to indicate that the character is messed up in the head.

Okay, so much queer stuff. Bleh. It's really too bad because the writing and story are great.

[Dale Rosso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting addition to the series, sometimes parts of this series can be a bit drawn out but overall it is a good story.

[Onsyam · Rating 2 out of 5]

First book were super, 2nd one i DNF it, around 65%. Cant stand .... Wtf with bunnydog???

[Michael Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second novel in the War against the Chtorr series is superb. As the alien infestation advances, it is intriguing, terrifying, ludicrous, thrilling, inspiring, and plentiful shades of pink all at the same time. However, as enthralling as all the action and concepts are, they all serve as a reflection back on very human realities masterfully told by David Gerrold on an epic and personal level.

[Fred D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fascinating book with a unique spin on the alien invasion story. Prior to invasion, the aliens attempt to 'reverse terraform' the Earth by introducing plant and animal life from their home planet that wipe out Earth's native flora & fauna to make the envirnment more suitable to them. Earthlife easily gets out-competed. First, alien microbes are introduced that wipe out 90% of the human population. Civilization collapses, and the survivors are left to try and desperately hang on as wave after wave of deadly alien flora and fauna are introduced. Very violent book, very dark. I never finished the series, so I don't know what happens at the end of the last book. I only made it through the first 3 books.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of the Chtorrian invasion continues. The Chtorrian ecology is developed in more detail, which is good. The main character matures a little, which is good. There is some semi-mystic crap, like, human beings being so overwhelmed by angst than they turn into simple herd animals. Not so good. Or like the naked dancing with the alien creatures to attempt communication. Also not so good.

I think there is a conflict in this book between the "science" writing of describing the aliens and the "philosophy" writing of talking about man versus nature or whatever he is trying to do with that. Or maybe I just don't get it.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

...a locked room story, for the most part, but which deepens the understanding of Chtorran ecology. Far more more philosophical discussions, discussions of identity and self, fluidity of self, and of gender really. Increased sexiness. On one hand, the way the story shows people losing themselves, either to the Herd, or to Chtorran's, infection, or to a cult, the story was headier - but I kept my momentum. Reading this was enjoyable, and after reading it, I feel less inclined to say it has it's era's homophobic culture (not 100% there yet), though feel like women aren't robust enough - not agents for themselves, but sexy NPCS. On to the third book...

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rereading The War Against the Chtorr so I can finally read book 4. Of the three I've read previously, this one strikes me as the weakest... somehow it just doesn't hold together as well as the others in the series. Nevertheless a fascinating, one-of-a-kind, terrific book with a terrifically human main character.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am actually re-reading this series - I had read it about 10 years ago. From a psychological perspective, the bits Gerrold worked in regarding telepathy, a collective mourning response, and the herd are thought-provoking.

[Adrian Hunter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this many years after reading the abridged version of A Matter For Men, and was nearly bored to tears by it; all the action, scientific discovery, and world building of the Chtorran ecology was lost and i had to try twice to get though it.

[Robyn]

A former boyfriend introduced me to the series, which at the time we thought would be rounded out by a fifth book within a couple of years. How naive we were! Don't know how the War Against the Chtorr books were never added to my GoodReads account.

[NumberLord · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the Chtorr invasion continues. We find out more about the alien biology--although there's much to be figured out.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second volume in Gerrold's massive series about alien invasion.

[Mary-Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

2nd Chtorr book. Really, truly hooks you into the story.

[Doug Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

One he corrected the ending in later editions it became a classic

[David Buchholz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two, great unfinished series.

[John V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story.