E. C. Tubb (1919–2010)

I do love this series! It's such a winning mix of comic book sci-fi, camp swashbuckler, and bodice-ripper in which our indestructible hero screws and punches his way across the galaxy in a desperate search for that mythical planet called Earth. And along the way he's thwarted by a race of homo sapien computers and a supporting cast who encompasses every human foible ever invented. Although his characters are basically two-dimensional (the women swoon and scheme while the men are either show more treacherous cads or benevolent saints) they are colourful enough to keep you jeering or cheering as you flip the pages. In this instalment the irresistibly sexy Dumarest is coerced into a military mission against an "enemy" hiding in plain sight and gains a couple of vague clues as to the whereabouts of his ultimate goal. Yay! show less

One of the more engaging entries in the Dumarest of Terra saga. There are some interesting ideas at play here as our hero finds himself stranded on a planet run on hyper-capitalist lines in which a ruling clique hold power over others through a punitive system of life debt and escalating interest rates.

The book really picks up when Dumarest leads a team out into the desert to find a cash of rare stones deposited by a species of aggressive sand worms. The action in the tunnels is very show more effective and claustrophobic which contrasts well with their subsequent escape across a barren landscape and harsh sand storms.

The interaction with a wider cast of characters helps add some depth to Dumarest not seen in the previous stories I’ve read. show less

In this instalment of his famous series Tubb stretches the formula a bit too far with Earl Dumarest finding himself trapped in a remote city ruled by a homicidal AI. The action sequences are colourful but repetitive and by now the "near escapes" are becoming tiresome. And then there's the requisite gorgeous female antagonist with heaving bosoms who throws herself at his feet ten minutes after meeting him---although it will take almost 150 pages before he finally gets laid which is something show more of a record. But there is still an undeniable comic book appeal to the saga which already has me eyeing #13. show less

This novel is hardly polished and assembled to be more than three stars. In fact, I suspect, some folks might make good argument that it is maybe as low as 2.5. But I wanted to give it 3.5 stars - and here's why:

The lack of bogged down backstory makes this novel read freshly, quickly, and with purpose. I have gotten somewhat weary of the bloated and over-written novels. This one - at points jarringly sudden in its transitions from scene-to-scene - reads really well. It has a little vintage show more feel, it has a lot that feels like "Dune" and the espionage stories of the pulps in the 60s.

The characters and plot may seem a bit wooden or odd, but this is such a fun little novel regardless of all of its flaws that I am very glad I read it. Strangely satisfying and fun read. show less