Yet another "what is this novel..." question!
April 3, 2012 7:49 PM Subscribe
Yet another "what is this novel..." question!
This one has literally been bugging me for perhaps 20+ years. I have a memory of wandering around the Centennial library in Toronto as a kid and picking up a random science fiction novel. I definitely read part of it in the library, but don't think I took it out. I am fairly sure the novel:
- was one of those pocket sized soft backs.
- I think the novel may have been to some degree a pastiche of noir detective fiction. There may have been a detective and/or murder.
- I definitely remember a the protagonist visiting an extremely hostile planet. Basically *everything* on this planet was lethal. Even the grass. To be allowed to wander around you first had to make it through a simulation of the super-lethal ecology.
- There is a scene where the protagonist is fitted for some kind of crazy, customized gun that can deal with the crazy lethality of the killer planet.
That's pretty much what I have to go on. Almost certainly published sometime before 1995, crazily lethal alien planet, possibly some sort of detective/noir element. Toronto public library system.
Any suggestions?
This one has literally been bugging me for perhaps 20+ years. I have a memory of wandering around the Centennial library in Toronto as a kid and picking up a random science fiction novel. I definitely read part of it in the library, but don't think I took it out. I am fairly sure the novel:
- was one of those pocket sized soft backs.
- I think the novel may have been to some degree a pastiche of noir detective fiction. There may have been a detective and/or murder.
- I definitely remember a the protagonist visiting an extremely hostile planet. Basically *everything* on this planet was lethal. Even the grass. To be allowed to wander around you first had to make it through a simulation of the super-lethal ecology.
- There is a scene where the protagonist is fitted for some kind of crazy, customized gun that can deal with the crazy lethality of the killer planet.
That's pretty much what I have to go on. Almost certainly published sometime before 1995, crazily lethal alien planet, possibly some sort of detective/noir element. Toronto public library system.
Any suggestions?
I had remembered that as a Harry Harrison book, so was tickled to click on jamjam's link and see that confirmed (and with a title).
posted by Forktine at 8:26 PM on April 3, 2012
posted by Forktine at 8:26 PM on April 3, 2012
Response by poster: "Deathworld."
Could be. Gotta get a copy and check it out. Thanks!
posted by slipperywhenwet at 9:26 PM on April 3, 2012
Could be. Gotta get a copy and check it out. Thanks!
posted by slipperywhenwet at 9:26 PM on April 3, 2012
I thought it might be Vance's City of the Chasch or sequels, but the crazy customized gun pretty much pegs it as Deathworld.
posted by hattifattener at 10:41 PM on April 3, 2012
posted by hattifattener at 10:41 PM on April 3, 2012
Deathworld is the first in a trilogy and if you like the first one it's well worth seeking out the others (I loved the hell out of these books as a teenager)
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 3:48 AM on April 4, 2012
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 3:48 AM on April 4, 2012
If it's not Deathworld, it might be The Dosadi Experiment by (author of Dune) Frank Herbert.
posted by gauche at 5:11 AM on April 4, 2012
posted by gauche at 5:11 AM on April 4, 2012
Sure sounds like Deathworld to me, too.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 5:54 AM on April 4, 2012
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 5:54 AM on April 4, 2012
Response by poster: Deathworld.
Heh. They don't name 'em like they used to.
posted by slipperywhenwet at 6:32 AM on April 4, 2012
Heh. They don't name 'em like they used to.
posted by slipperywhenwet at 6:32 AM on April 4, 2012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Deathlands_novels
Well, there is the 100+ deathlands novels... :)
posted by Jacen at 7:56 AM on April 4, 2012
Well, there is the 100+ deathlands novels... :)
posted by Jacen at 7:56 AM on April 4, 2012
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posted by jamjam at 8:13 PM on April 3, 2012 [3 favorites]