Deathworld 2

By: Harry Harrison

Narrated by: Christian Rummel

On the planet Pyrrus, human colonists have fought a centuries-old war with the native life forms. These life forms adapt to human tactics and technology, evolving new species so rapidly that natives returning from even brief trips off planet must be carried in protective armor canisters from their ship to the safe buildings, where they will learn of the latest deadly threats. The Ethical Engineer is the second volume in the Deathworld series. It was originally published as a two-part serial in Analog magazine in 1963.

©1964 Harry Harrison (P)2014 Audible Inc.

A Surprisingly Superb Sequel

This was...surprisingly good. I was not expecting a follow-up of this caliber, which I found to be much better than the original (admittedly not Harry Harrison’s best work).

If you listened to Deathworld, DEFINITELY give this one a shot. Our boy Jason is as competent and irreverent as ever. And while I enjoyed how he handled the first Deathworld, he takes this second one on with the swashbuckling swagger of a young Stainless Steel Rat. Hopefully the third one is as good as this.

One thing after another

Harry Harrison's Deathworld 2 is the latest adventure for Jason, the hero from the original Deathworld. Jason is kidnapped by the self-righteous (and somewhat pompous), Mikah who wants Jason to 'pay' for former crimes. Jason succeeds in crashing their ship on an unknown (or at least forgotten world). The planet has a human population that has devolved into a Hobbesian nightmare. Science and technology have been mostly lost with remnants converted to religious dictates and split up across various factions each jealously guarding their secrets. Jason pops from group to group each time using his scientific and engineering skills to move up until he can finally get a message to his girlfriend for a pickup.

Harrison deftly crafts a deprecated world where religion has replaced the underlying basis for science. Jason skillfully navigates the overwhelming greed and brutality to work his way up the food chain to place himself in a position for rescue. His nemesis throughout, Mikah becomes quite annoying as his maniacal focus on Jason continually creates situations where no matter what happens to both him and Jason, Jason is also see as the immoral provocateur.

The narration is reasonable with decent character distinction, good pacing, and appropriate mood. This is one story for cheering for underdog.

Micah was beyond annoying

Jason is kidnapped by Michah, a sanctimonious idiot. Their spaceship crashes into a primitive world. Jason has numerous misadventures that Michah continuously finds nefarious. For some reason, Jason keeps helping Michah even though he keeps causing trouble. Christian Rummel's narration was the only thing that kept me going.

Nothing like the first

Might as well be a different MC from the first novel. The narrative is interesting, even some of the existentialism, but the token hyper-religious zealot from a intergalactic space with the mentality of an 11th century priest is story breaking. This author hates religion and goes through obnoxious, redundant, and nonsensical lengths to show it.

The story is really good otherwise and an interesting investigation of relativism.

A quality story

This story focus on survival versus morality. Jason is stranded on an uncivilized world where he must. survive.