This is book 3 according to the chronological order of the 11 book Stainless Steel Rat series. This sci-fi series is a humor series whose main character (Jim) is a master thief with a heart of gold. In this particular book, Jim is blackmailed into leading a team down to a prison planet in order to retrieve an alien artifact which was accidentally lost during transport. The team will be going in under cover, disguised as a band who was sentenced to the planet.

This series is definitely not one that everyone would enjoy, as the author's sense of humor doesn't appeal to all. I have generally enjoyed the books though. This one fits in well enough with the rest of the series, and takes place before the (chronologically) later books in which Jim is married and has children. To me, this is a good thing, since I've enjoyed the stories I've read more without the additional characters. As with most of these books, there is some type of twist on things, and this one works pretty well, leaving the book with a satisfying ending.

However, for some reason, this was probably one of my least favorite books in the series. I suspect that some of this is due to the fact that this is the 8th book in the series published, and the author style has shifted someone since the earlier books. I think I'm more fond of the earlier stuff. Still, if you are interested in humor sci-fi, this is worth taking a look at.

3.5 / 5 stars ( )

The underlying premise of this book is weak (a criminal forced into a band in order to find a stolen item), but like I've said in the past the Stainless Steel Rat books are fun, and not really intended to make you a better person. This one is along those lines too -- its an enjoyable light read, with a much better plot twist than the other Stainless Steel Rat books I've read. I liked it, even with the weak premise.

http://www.stillhq.com/book/Harry_Har... ( )

The Rat gets busted robbing a mint, and gets put on trial for his life. His only problem is that the trail comes after the execution.

However, the League has a job for him, and used the Life Model Decoy gambit to get him out of it, and promptly poisons him.

He has to track down an alien artifact on a prison planet. So, as a cover for being a prisoner type, he forms a rock band, the Stainless Steel Rats, natch.

An extensive send-up of Iron whassisname in the woods guy in the latter part of the book, as well.

Amusing as usual.

http://superprose.blogspot.com/2007/0... ( )