Review:: Stainless Steel Visions, by Harry Harrison

Title: Stainless Steel Visions

Author: Harry Harrison

Format: Hardcover

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

I picked this up because it contains a Stainless Steel Rat short story. What I ended up with was a mixed bag. I was definitely underimpressed with many of the stories, while a few were enjoyable. The Stainless Steel Rat story itself was nice, but couldn't make up for the volume.

Nostalgia Review:: The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted, by Harry Harrison

Title: The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted

Author: Harry Harrison

Series: Stainless Steel Rat, #7 (Publication Order)

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Still good?

I hardly remembered this one. But yes!

Previously:

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

This time, I actually felt like I got some of the charm of The Stainless Steel Rat, rather than being left with a book that only somewhat approximated the character. Maybe the problem is that these are prequels, and he's just not "himself" yet. Regardless, this time I actually enjoyed the book.

Nostalgia Review:: A Stainless Steel Rat is Born, by Harry Harrison

Title: A Stainless Steel Rat is Born

Author: Harry Harrison

Series: Stainless Steel Rat, #6 (Publication Order)

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Still good?
Eh.

Previously:
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

I have fond memories of realizing I could learn the origins of the Stainless Steel Rat. I have even fonder memories of meeting his mentor, The Bishop. And that's where my fond memories stop. Probably because the rest of the book is just repetitive. Up until now, I felt like Slippery Jim hadn't overstayed, but in this one... it was a bit tough.

Nostalgia Review:: The Stainless Steel Rat for President, by Harry Harrison

Title: The Stainless Steel Rat for President

Author: Harry Harrison

Series: Stainless Steel Rat, #5 (Publication Order)

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★★☆

Still good?

Hella!

Previously:

The Stainless Steel Rat

The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge

The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World
The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You!

Harry Harrison making fun of politics? Yes, please! The hijinks in this Stainless Steel Rat book poke at the way democracies end up not being so democratic. He probably could have used a less stereotypical backdrop than Space Latin America to show off his "democratic" dictator plot, but because the setting isn't the joke, it works better than the issues in the last book.

Nostalgia Review:: The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You!, by Harry Harrison

Title: The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You!

Author: Harry Harrison

Series: Stainless Steel Rat, #4 (Publication Order)

Format: Hardcover

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Still Good?

...yes?

Previously:

The Stainless Steel Rat

The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge

The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World

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.

Nostalgia Review:: The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World, by Harry Harrison

Title: The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World

Author: Harry Harrison

Series: The Stainless Steel Rat, #3 (Publication Order)

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★★☆

Still Good?

YES

Previously:

The Stainless Steel Rat

The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge

After frustration with other time travel books (think Blackout/All Clear) I'm reminded that time travel stories can be fun. Granted, The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World is pointing out how ridiculous time travel stories can be half the time... so maybe it's not the best example.

Nostalgia Review:: The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge, by Harry Harrison

Title: The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge

Author: Harry Harrison

Series: The Stainless Steel Rat, #2 (Publication Order)

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★★☆

Still Good?

YES

Previously:

The Stainless Steel Rat

This series is honestly my favorite skiffy series of all time. Our intrepid hero, Slippery Jim diGriz is at it again. He's hooked up with the beautiful Angelina who is due for twins and will stop at nothing to entwine him in nuptials. Unfortunately, said nuptials put him back on the grid and the Special Forces have a new assignment for him.

Nostalgia Review:: The Stainless Steel Rat, by Harry Harrison

Title: The Stainless Steel Rat

Author: Harry Harrison

Series: The Stainless Steel Rat, #1 (Publication Order)

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★★☆

Still Good?

YES

The Stainless Steel Rat series is often called one of the hidden gems of science fiction. Originally published in 1960, the original book managed to both be a tribute to the Golden Age and pulp, without taking itself seriously at all. If there's a gentleman thief I love, it's The Stainless Steel Rat.