Jeter, K. W.

Slave Ship (Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

The basic, well-writen Star Wars book
A few sparks of action amid reams of recapitulation .....
Weak Point of the Series
Slave Ship and the rest of the BH Wars
it's actually worse than the first book!

Slave Ship (Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars, Book 2)
K.W. Jeter
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Hard Merchandise (Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars, Book 3)
The Mandalorian Armor (Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars, Book 1)
Tales of the Bounty Hunters (Star Wars )
Tales from Jabba's Palace (Star Wars.)
The Truce at Bakura (Star Wars)

ASIN: 055357888X
Release Date: 1998-10-06

Amazon.com Audiobook Review

"How many times, wondered Boba Fett, could he die--and yet not die? Someday it would be all over for him..."

Fett fans take note: Star Wars: Slave Ship features the (in)famous bounty hunter as he chases after the largest bounty ever offered--by tracking down renegade stormtrooper Trhin Voss'on't. The story, book 2 in The Bounty Hunter Wars series, jumps back and forth between the time of Star Wars: New Hope and Return of the Jedi in a series of convoluted plot twists that involve everyone from Emperor Palatine and Darth Vader to Zuckuss and Bossk. Written by well-known SF writer K.W. Jeter (whose first novel, Dr. Adder, was praised by Philip K. Dick as "stunning"), Star Wars: Slave Ship is in many ways a perfect serial novel--it raises as many new questions for the next installment as it solves from the previous one. Neelah's identity is finally revealed, but how did she end up in Jabba the Hutt's palace? You'll have to wait and see. --C.B. Delaney

Amazon.com Audiobook Review

Prince Xizor, servant of the Emperor and leader of the mysterious Black Sun organization, has set a trap for Boba Fett--by dangling the largest bounty ever offered for the capture of renegade stormtrooper Trhin Voss'on't. How will Boba Fett escape? Book 2 in The Bounty Hunter Wars series, Star Wars: Slave Ship is a good story made even better thanks to Tony Award-nominee Anthony Heald's performance. Heald captures the drama of the story with his wide range of voices--from the sniveling tones of the arachnoid assembler Kud'ar Mub'at to the softer sounds of Neelah, the dancing girl rescued from Jabba the Hutt's palace. The abridgment allows you to follow the major threads of the story, but misses some of the more convoluted twists--a reasonable trade, considering that the audiobook is enhanced by sound effects and John Williams's music from the Star Wars trilogy films. (Running time: 3 hours, 2 cassettes) --C.B. Delaney

Book Description

He's both feared and admired, respected and despised.  Boba Fett is the galaxy's most successful bounty hunter.  Now he finds himself the hunted in the oldest game of all: survival of the fittest.

The once powerful Bounty Hunter's Guild has been shattered into warring factions.  Now the posting of an enormous bounty on a renegade Imperial stormtrooper is about to start a frenzy of murderous greed.

Hoping to fuel rumors of his death, Boba Fett abandons his ship, Slave I, and sets out to claim the prize.  Yet his every move leads him closer to a trap set by the cunning Prince Xizor.  Fett will die before becoming Xizor's pawn in the Emperor's war against the Rebels.  And he may have to.  For in order to gain his freedom he must outwit a sentient weapon that feeds on human spirits.  Then he must escape a galaxy of deadly enemies who want to make the rumors of his death a reality.

Customer Reviews:

The basic, well-writen Star Wars book.......2007-03-12

A classic. A lot of it references the previous Bounty Hunter Wars, Book 1. I suggest you read that first, but it is not necessary. Slave Ship is a well writen book with very few, if any inconsistencies. I recommend it for any Star Wars fan looking to find out more about the infamous Boba Fett.

A few sparks of action amid reams of recapitulation ............2006-11-26

The premise of the book is a lot more exciting than the execution -- in fact, when you find yourself using the words "quiet" and "contemplative" about a book that's supposed to deal with the adventures of a bunch of top-notch bounty-hunters, you know that the author has failed at some level....

Instead of being quick-moving and evoking a sense of danger and action, "Slave Ship" is a series of dense, repetitive internal monologues on the part of the characters, mostly carried out while they're sitting motionless.

For example, an entire chapter is used up by Boba Fett punching in one set of coordinates and telling Dengar that he isn't going to tell the other bounty hunter where they're going. Three pages of dense, monolithic paragraphs are expended in a bounty hunter asking the "arachnoid assembler" character -- "is this area really airtight?" and the assembler answering "yes." Literally, 3 pages are taken up with this one question and answer, because of the narrative following the assembler thinking 20 times over what a clown the bounty hunter is, in great detail.

There are the seeds of a story in here, and the book is all right to read when you've got a spare moment to fill, but don't expect anything fast-paced .... the characters drone on for pages about the exact same idea, thinking about the same thing in 40 different ways, and the author seems to think it necessary to use 3 different sentences to describe the sound of Dengar's boots as he climbs down one short ladder after talking to Boba Fett. And on and on and on ....

Weak Point of the Series.......2006-05-23

Nothing much happens, they go after a stormtrooper or something. It's not the worst book ever, but not all that interesting. Also, rehashes too much of stuff from the first book.

Slave Ship and the rest of the BH Wars.......2005-06-08

The books are entertaining; I read them really quickly. I liked them a lot; as much as I liked the anthologies (Tales from Jabba's Palace, Mos Eisley Cantina, Bounty Hunters) and the Han Solo trilogy, but Jeter's writing style gets a little old after a while -- it seems like over and over again, everybody just keeps sucking up to Boba Fett. He just reiterates what a good bounty hunter Fett is and how everybody else sucks in comparison. I am a Fett fan, and I bought this book because of his involvement (along with numerous other novels which don't have much of the bounty hunter in it, as promised) so I enjoyed it anyway.

it's actually worse than the first book!.......2005-03-02

This is the second volume of the Bounty Hunter Wars trilogy. I read this book not too long ago and I'm already fuzzy on what exactly happened in it. The storylines began in "The Mandalorian Armor" have not been advanced much, except for what happened off screen. Boba Fett, having been rescued by Dengar, is trying to convince the galaxy that he is still dead, so he is hiding his true identity while going into business with Dengar. There is a lot of backstory going on (which I call the previous book). Then, in the other storyline occurring in the past we have found out that the Bounty Hunters Guild has splintered into two fragments. Xizor is still trying to destroy the Guild even farther so all that is left is individual, highly motivated, bounty hunters.

There is far too much backstory and characters explaining things and trying to find out how everything fits together. There is plenty of chapters with Kuat of Kuat and his shipbuilding yards and Kuat trying to hold onto the control he has over the Kuat Driveyards. "Slave Ship" is just a tedious book that takes far too long to accomplish far too little story and action. There were a couple of decent scenes (trying to capture the Imperial defector was very good), but overall this was just a fairly weak novel and was very, very disappointing.

Hopefully the concluding volume of this trilogy will be far better, because if I wasn't trying to read all of the Star Wars novels this would be a complete waste of my time.

-Joe Sherry

Hard Merchandise (Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

AMW
Pathetic Ending
A let down. (possible spoilers)
the final book in a rather horrid trilogy
The most satisfying of the Bounty Hunter books

Hard Merchandise (Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars, Book 3)
K.W. Jeter
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Slave Ship (Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars, Book 2)
The Mandalorian Armor (Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars, Book 1)
Tales of the Bounty Hunters (Star Wars )
Tales from Jabba's Palace (Star Wars.)
The Truce at Bakura (Star Wars)

ASIN: 055357891X
Release Date: 1999-07-06

Book Description

Boba Fett fears only one enemy--the one he cannot see....

Feared and admired, respected and despised, Boba Fett enjoys a dubious reputation as the galaxy's most successful bounty hunter. Yet even a man like Boba Fett can have one too many enemies....

When Boba Fett stumbles across evidence implicating Prince Xizor in the murder of Luke Skywalker's aunt and uncle, Fett makes himself an enemy even he fears: the unknown mastermind behind a monstrous deception, who will kill to hide his tracks. Fett also finds himself in possession of an amnesiac young woman named Neelah, who may be the key to the mystery--or a decoy leading Fett into a murderous ambush. Fett's last hope is to run through the list of Xizor's hidden enemies. And since Xizor's hidden enemies are almost as legion as Fett's, the chance of survival is slim--even for someone as skilled and relentless as Boba Fett.

© 1999 Lucasfilm Ltd. and TM. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.

Customer Reviews:

AMW.......2006-08-10

I was once again impressed with this book as I was in book 1. The reviews for book 1 were mostly negative. Many said that they were hungry for Boba Fett---here's an idea, buy a poster. If not, you could bake a cake in the shape of Boba's helmet. If not just read the book-relax, and everything will be alright.

Pathetic Ending.......2006-05-23

The first book started out so well, but when you get to the very end here, everything is wrapped up too perfectly. Don't even get me started about Dengar's happy ending even suspending disbelief about as far as I was able it was too hard to swollow. There are just too many coincidences, everybody's fates all just happen to go to the same place. Lazy.

That being said, it's not horrible. It's worth a good read if you like Boba Fett. I'd suggest just getting the first book and this one, you won't miss out on anything skipping the second.

A let down. (possible spoilers).......2006-03-17

I had enjoyed the previous two books in the series, but was disapointed in this. The whole back story of the split of the guilds was worthless to the overall plot. The story moved slowly. This series could would have been better and shorter if the back story was not included. Boba Fett was just a little two big of a genius to be believable.

the final book in a rather horrid trilogy.......2005-04-22

K.W. Jeter's "Hard Merchandise" is the concluding volume of the "Bounty Hunters Wars" trilogy. This novel continues telling the story, the history of Boba Fett, the galaxy's most feared bounty hunter. As in the first two books, "Hard Merchandise" begins with the dual tale of Boba Fett after the events of "The Return of the Jedi" which begins right where "Slave Ship" left off, and Boba Fett's actions between Episodes Five and Six and before he ends up at Jabba's palace where he will end up in the Sarlacc. Having been forced to abandon his ship, Fett had taken control of the ship of one of his enemies, the bounty hunter Bossk. Bossk hates Fett and intends on taking revenge on Fett for personal affronts as well as for being the pivot which brought down the Bounty Hunter's Guild. Fett is, as always, closed mouth about his intentions, which is frustrating for his temporary partners. In the storyline which is in the past, Fett is seeking to learn who is going to great lengths to set up a trap and kill him.

But this book and this trilogy is not completely about Boba Fett. There is a continuing storyline about the Kuat Drive Yards, the company which builds most of the ships of the Empire and potentially the Rebel Alliance if the Alliance could afford to pay. There is internal intrigue on Kuat, and the leader of Kuat, Kuat of Kuat, is trying to keep his company out of the hands of those he deems untrustworthy. That would be everyone.

Honestly, while I have read all three Bounty Hunters books I still have no idea what the books were supposed to be about. Sure there were additional details about Boba Fett's past revealed, but nothing was terribly important or revealing that would warrant one book, let alone three. Other Star Wars books have been able to advance a storyline that ties into the galaxy we know from the movies as well as build upon the movies. The X-Wing series is an excellent example of this. This book, which really concludes nothing, and this series does none of this. For such an intriguing character as Boba Fett, this was a very boring book and a dull trilogy. I can see no reason to recommend these books to anyone. Had I never read this book (and if you haven't made it through the first two, don't start here), I would have missed nothing in the Star Wars Universe. I know exactly why people might be interested in these books: to have a trilogy based around Boba Fett. This book (all three, really) is just not worth the time spent reading. Other books, Star Wars or otherwise, are waiting. Choose another.

-Joe Sherry

The most satisfying of the Bounty Hunter books.......2004-06-01

Hard Merchandise : Star Wars: Book 3 of The Bounty Hunter Wars
by K.W. Jeter continues the story of Boba Fett, Neelah and Dengar after the battle on Tatooine. This book had the most surprises and was really unique in both the style and tone. I really enjoyed reading it. Overall the only problem I really had with the series was the characterization of Dengar as a not so brutal bounty hunter, something that takes away a little from the character. Other than that I have to give Jeter high marks for effort. He took the most mysterious and one of the most cherished characters in the Star Wars universe and crafted a well-written tale that did not totally destroy the perception of that character. Well done Mr. Jeter.

The Mandalorian Armor (Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

review
Best read in one sitting
AMW
Disgusted
A Really Bad Idea

The Mandalorian Armor (Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars, Book 1)
K.W. Jeter
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Slave Ship (Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars, Book 2)
Hard Merchandise (Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars, Book 3)
Tales of the Bounty Hunters (Star Wars )
Tales from Jabba's Palace (Star Wars.)
The Paradise Snare (Star Wars: The Han Solo Trilogy, Volume 1)

ASIN: 0553578855
Release Date: 1998-06-01

Amazon.com

This story, book 1 of the Bounty Hunter Wars trilogy, intercuts between the time just after Star Wars and events that take place during Return of the Jedi. It's an intricate tapestry of deceit and backstabbing villainy among those scum of the galaxy, the bounty hunters. Principal scum include: Prince Xizor, a Darth Vader wannabe and leader of the ultrasecret crime syndicate Black Sun; reptilian Cradossk, leader of the Bounty Hunters Guild; his son, Bossk, who makes Oedipus look like an underachiever; and finally Boba Fett--faceless, ruthless, and impossible to kill. Thought the Sarlacc consumed him in Return of the Jedi? Guess again.

This first novel only kicks off the trilogy's story, so while there is some action, there's also much talking and scheming, and the overall plot is only beginning to become clear by the book's end. Curiously, since everyone is so wretchedly evil, there's really no hero to root for--a marked contrast to the usually quite romantic Star Wars tales. This explains, perhaps, why K.W. Jeter was chosen to author the trilogy. Jeter, once Philip K. Dick's protégé, tends to avoid anything upbeat or uplifting.

Tony Award nominee Anthony Heald doesn't just read the book, he performs it, using countless different voices. He's backed up by music and sound effects that make The Mandalorian Armor into a full-fledged audio drama. Fans of Star Wars fiction and Boba Fett in particular will be pleased with this further exploration of Lucas's rich universe. Newcomers, though, might want to start with something more traditional. --Brooks Peck

Book Description

He's the most feared and successful bounty hunter in the galaxy. He is Boba Fett, and even the most hardened criminals tremble at his name. Now he faces the deadliest challenge of his infamous career--an all-out war against his most dangerous enemies.

As the Rebellion gathers force, Prince Xizor proposes a cunning plan to the Emperor and Darth Vader: smash the power of the Bounty Hunters Guild by turning its members against each other. Only the strongest and most ruthless will survive, and they can be used against the Rebellion. It's a job for the fiercely independent Boba Fett, who jumps at the chance to destroy his rivals. But Fett soon realizes the game is rigged, as he finds himself the target of murderous factions, criminal conspiracies, and the evil at the Empire's dark heart. Boba Fett has always finished first. And in this game, anything less is death.

Customer Reviews:

review.......2007-05-31

I get the impression that a lot of the people who read this were expecting something different. While I haven't read any of Jeter's other work, I was clued in to his intentions due to the fact that he'd previously written a novel called Noir. Put simply, this is hard-boiled crime fiction set in the Star Wars universe. (I get the impression that Jeter was looking to authors like Richard Stark for his inspiration.) While it may not work 100% of the time, I feel there is definitely enough to recommend to those who enjoy those two elements. I was also impressed by the fact that Jeter managed to make Xizor an interesting character. True, he doesn't have much more than a cameo here, but he made more of an impact in those few pages than he did in the entirety of Shadows of the Empire. As a first entry, it has me interested in checking out the rest.

Best read in one sitting.......2007-05-20

For the most part this book is excellent, and it features the return of the greatest bounty hunter Boba Fett. There is one drawback that includes not this book but the entire series and that's the flashbacks. At times they can be confusing especially if you'r elike most of us and have to put the book down every so often.

AMW.......2006-08-10

I disagree with V.M. Vagglio. I think the book is very well written. A great plot, very good characterization, and as always with Star Wars very creative. I'd strongly recommend this as well as Star Wars' Shadows Of the Empire--no disrespect just disagreement Mr. Vagglio

Disgusted.......2006-08-02

I had just read Tales of the Bounty Hunters and was thirsty for more about Boba Fett. From the title of the book, you can tell there will be some background info about Fett's infamous Mandalorian Armor, right? Wrong. In fact, the author seems to be writing about another character entirely as Fett is constantly talking. The blurb on the back cover hints that we'll see Xizor, Vader, the emperor and more. In fact, the inside of the book is really just a rehash of the back cover, only longer since the author feels obligated to recreate every character's personality. I read this book all the way through waiting for something significant to happen. Save yourself some time and just read the blurb. Nothing else happens in this book. In fact, Xizor, Vader, Kuat, and the Emperor only have passing roles taking up maybe two chapters!!! What a rip!!! It's like telling people to go see the movie Scream because Drew Berrymore is in it even though she's only in the first 10 minutes. I feel so ripped off. Do not buy this book, especially if you're a hardcore Star Wars fan. You will be disappointed.

A Really Bad Idea.......2006-07-26

I have no idea why George Lucas would allow this book to be published, and my only possible explanation was that he didn't read it. This trilogy was meant to be a story about the infamous bounty hunter Boba Fett, and his adventures after the events of Return of the Jedi. The attempt might have succeeded except that the author makes Fett out to be some sort of super-human reminiscent of a Marvel superhero with a much darker personality. This has the effect of reducing everyone else to a level of total obscurity. All of the other characters are dull and almost identical in that none of them are as good as Fett. The only redeeming quality of the series is the occasional flashback to Fett's hunting career prior to the original trilogy. If you want to read a good bounty hunter book, get Tales of the Bounty Hunters, but don't waste your money on this one.

Average customer rating:

Death Arms
K. W. Jeter
Manufacturer: St Martins Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Glass Hammer

ASIN: 0312033214

Average customer rating:

Not Jeter's Best, but Surely Worth Reading
A gripping hard SF thriller
If you only read one...
Absolutley brilliant sci fi romp.

Farewell Horizontal
K. W. Jeter
Manufacturer: St Martins Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312025742

Customer Reviews:

Not Jeter's Best, but Surely Worth Reading.......2002-05-18

It deserves to be read. It is an ambitious experiment: can a novel reproduce a videogame? Jeter succeeded in doing that. The novel is a videogame. But it is a videogame on paper, peopled by characters with a soul and a (sometime) questioning mind (one of these is Sai). The apparent plot is a frantic adventure in a surrealistic virtual world whose shape is a scandal for reason. But here and there Jeter suggested that things aren't exactly what they seem (he was a friend of Philip K. Dick, after all), and there's more in this novel than the breathless quest of Ny Axxter in a grotesque cyberworld (maybe the ultimate cyberworld). Basically it is a satire of many aspects of the videogame imagery/subculture, and a discussion of its covert ideology. Not as food as other novels by the same author, Dr. Adder and The Glass Hammer, but a novel worth reading. And subtly funny most of the time. 'Tis a pity it's out of print!

A gripping hard SF thriller.......2000-06-07

Jeter invented a truely wonderful world for this novel. The setting is a huge, cylindrical building that towers above the earth. Most of society exists inside the building but those who are outside society, on the edge, live on the outside of the building, on the "Vertical".

The novel's protagonist, Ny Axxter lives on this wall and tries to make a living as a freelance artist working with video and graffex. One day, he has what appears to be a stroke of good fortune and he thinks that he is on the verge of making it into the big time as a major artist.

At this point, his world starts to fall to pieces and he discovers that reality is not what he, and everyone else thought and that the major players in his world now want him out of the way.

While many parts of the world are unexplained, Jeter throws in enough in the way of technical details to make this hard SF and not fantasy. The writing style is very sharp.

Jeter is regarded by many as an heir to the mantle of the great P.K.Dick and this book is worthy of that regard. I always think that a sign of good writing is the quality of the pictures inside my head as I read and, on the measure, this was very good indeed.

Farewell Horizontal is a gripping read and I highly recommended it.

If you only read one..........2000-04-11

If you only read one K.W. Jeter book then you are missing out on some of the most significant science fiction of the last twenty five years. Still, this is the one to read if one is your ambition. Astounding ideas, breathless surgical execution and the very best gusto an amateur can bring to the field, here wrapped in one pocket-sized package by a true professional. How many authors could pull off a motorcycle chase up the side of a building and still make you want to read more? Simply marvellous.

Absolutley brilliant sci fi romp........1999-09-19

See the other description for what this is about. This is one of my favourite books. The idea is totally origional and all my friends say the same. Gives a breath of fresh air to sci-fi.

The Edge of Human (Blade Runner, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

I would give this book less than 1 star if I could
Decent sci-fi, but not a good BR sequel
A Sequel Too Hard To Swallow
Good for what it is
Not too bad for a sequel to the movie

The Edge of Human (Blade Runner, Book 2)
K.W. Jeter
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Replicant Night (Blade Runner, Book 3)
Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner

ASIN: 0553762672
Release Date: 2000-10-10

Book Description

K.W. Jeter picks up the tale of Rick Deckard, the `blade runner' created by Phillip K. Dick and popularized by Ridley Scott's cult classic film. Consistent with the sordid vision of 21st century Los Angeles crafted by Dick and Scott, Jeter creates a stylish piece of thrilling, futuristic suspense that finds Deckard not only in the role of hunter, but also hunted. Again, Deckard is on the trail of an replicant, not knowing that it may be the most elusive and dangerous android of all.

From the Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

I would give this book less than 1 star if I could.......2004-12-11

I tend to be open about all forms of literature and most writers, even if there books are simple or immature you usually can get some interesting insights or at least superficial visceral entertainment from most stories. Sadly this writer gave me the first experience with the word HACK that I have ever truly encountered. Never before have I slammed face first into a pile of words that would actually be better described as excrement.

I did not find anything wrong with P.K. Dick's book, loved Ridley Scott's interpretation of the film, Blade Runner. But this was so bad I wondered if it was originally written on toilet paper, lost in the woods, and then found by some Hollywood type who hoped to sell it as a "property" to a B-Movie studio.

I have my own interpretation of the nuances in the original novel and the movie, as most do, but this clown seems to not understand any of the basic story premises as well as having the blackest mental cesspool for a view of the world I have seen since Mein Kampf. Early in the book we find that the basic premise is that, we (All humans) want our slaves to be as human as possible so we can "enjoy" there suffering. If your basic outlook of humanity is this low, I don't understand how he had time to write this book. I would expect Jeter would be in a cave somewhere and living off roots or shackled to a wall with a 200lbs Dom leaving red marks across his ass.

I kept reading this book thinking that all the stupid mistakes and idiotic premises thrown like feces from a monkey cage, would be exposed in the end, and we would return to somewhere near the original Dick/Scott galaxy. He has no additional insight in to any of the caricatures he reused from better writers, and I suspects, he needs to spend more time in the real world getting to know humans that are not drawn on his hand, to gain some wisdom about how real people operate and why.

Do not give this guy even the 1% royalty by purchasing this book anywhere(Sorry Amazon), except to support your local used book store to clear shelf space for ANYTHING else.

Decent sci-fi, but not a good BR sequel.......2003-09-11

I was able to finish this book, but I wish I hadn't. If you love the film, be forewarned: you will never look at it the same way after reading this book. There are too many inconsistencies, particulalry with characters who died in the film, but have been resurrected for this story. I thought the Roy Batty clone template was interesting, but it seems this and other plot points were done simply to have access to popular and recognizable characters from the film. It might have been more affective to just have all new characters. As it is, this sequel just doesn't feel right, and as the successor to a film that evokes such strong emotional appeal from its fans, feeling is important.

Oh, and Pris not a replicant? Yeaaah, right! Removing her hand from boiling water unscathed, performing super-human acrobatic stunts while beating the crap out of Deckard, and taking three point blank gunshots (two in the Dir. Cut) before going down?? I guess her nails were black because she painted them, not because she was expiring like Roy. ;) "Pris hasn't got long to live, I can't accept that." I can't accept that she was a human all along.

Jeter was supposedly an understudy of Dick, but he should have left his mentor's masterpiece alone, not to mention Ridley Scott's beautiful interpretation (which this sequel is actually based on). I think this is a decent sci-fi book, but a horrible BR sequel. Read Dick's original "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" and stick with the classic film.

A Sequel Too Hard To Swallow.......2002-10-18

Let me begin with the admission that I was unable to finish this book. I made it to about page 90 and just had to put it down. So, my review will be based on that fact. Also, there are probably what would be considered to be some plot spoilers here, so please skip this review if you don't want to know information that might reveal some plot twists too soon.

I am a Bladerunner fan. I love the original, and I love the director's cut. I own them both. I have watched them so many times, I have lost count. I thought it was awesome that somebody wrote a sequel. I was reluctant to buy it, because I am not a fan of Mr. Jeter's other works. However, I finally picked it up one day.

I was determined to finish this book. Even when I saw that J. F. Sebastian, to me a person who was irrefutably killed in the movie, was still alive. And then, Pris is still alive. I thought at first Mr. Jeter did a fair job with the characterization of Deckard, and then that began to disappoint me, too. Then finally, the thing that made me put the book down. Mr. Jeter would have us believe that Pris was not truly a replicant.

I ask any fan of the movie if this is even conceivable? To me it was not, and was the final nail in the coffin for the book for me. I just couldn't go on any further. The book became an insult to it's source material in my opinion. I honestly don't see how any one who is a true fan of the movie could enjoy this novel.

Like many sequels, this one would have been best left unmade. Most sequels are more stillborns than vibrant offsprings. The best sequels are the ones we create in our own minds. I applaud Mr. Jeter for his effort to create a sequel to such a bastion of sci-fi history, but I question his outcome. Like any author, he deserves praise for his talent, and his creation, but it is not for me, and I would imagine, not for many Blade Runner fans as well.

Based on the merit of reading the first 90 pages or so of this book, I do not reccomend it. I'll stick to the movie, but this book is not Blade Runner canon to me.

Good for what it is.......2000-07-11

A movie-nerds' ... dream, what they'd all wished had been done with Highlander. A continuation of the movie's story in the style of Dick's book, with multiple scenes which are reporductions or reflections from the original (another Deckard/Batty fight in the rain on decaying city infrastructure). Pretty good for the Geekbook mindcandy category.

Not too bad for a sequel to the movie.......1999-09-05

Jeter does a so-so job in this book at picking up where the movie left off. However, this book is in no way related to DADoES? (which the book claims to "tie-in" with the movie) except for the character J.R. Isidore. My biggest grudge (which is even MORE apparent in the 3rd book!) is the fact that Jeter basically "re-runs" the movie so many times. IE) Many events in this book already happened in the movie, and are just re-written a little differently. However, the plot is okay and you are left with an unexpected twist at the end, which is good.

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Warped (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
K.W. Jeter
Manufacturer: Star Trek
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 0671856847

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Blade Runner II: the Edge of Human
K.W. Jeter
Manufacturer: Orion Publishing Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Bloodletter (Star Trek Deep Space Nine, No 3)

Average customer rating:

DS9 #3 Bloodletter - Good premise but poor execution!
Nice try.
Suspense & Intrigue
An uninteresting read
Somewhat entertaining, but mostly flat.

Bloodletter (Star Trek Deep Space Nine, No 3)
K.W. Jeter
Manufacturer: Star Trek
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0671872753

Book Description

Before Major Kira can deliver the new base, a fanatic from her violent past appears. Kira must engage in a life and death struggle with an enemy who will stop at nothing to destroy her, as the fate of Bajor, the wormhole, and possibly the entire Federation hangs in the balance.

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Starfleet Command has learned that the Cardassians are planning to construct a base on the other side of the wormhole to establish a presence and claim the rich unexplored territory. Now, it falls to Commander Sisko, Major Kira, and the crew of Deep Space NineTM to set up a Federation station there immediately. Before Major Kira can deliver the new base, a fanatic from her violent past appears. Kira must engage in a life and death struggle with an enemy who will stop at nothing to destroy her, as the fate of Bajor, the wormhole, and possibly the entire Federation hangs in the balance.

Customer Reviews:

DS9 #3 Bloodletter - Good premise but poor execution!.......2003-09-22

I found this author's writing style to be fairly good and the premise of this early Deep Space Nine story to be a sound one, however, the overall execution of the story more or less falls flat. Despite the fact that this is but the third in the Star Trek Deep Space Nine fiction series and the author probably had but one season or less of episodes to base his characterizations on, his characterization for Major Kira Nerys just doesn't wash. One would definitely think that if an author were going to set out to write a story in these series that they'd take an interest in learning the characters and failing that, the editor would catch these things and make corrections. This just doesn't seem to be the case with this novel though.

The cover art for "Bloodletter" can be counted among the standard fare of Star Trek novels of the time where minimal effort was involved.

The premise:

As stated above, the premise is a fairly interesting one in which Starfleet Command has learned that the Cardassians are planning to construct a base on the other side of the wormhole in order to have a presence there and claim as much of the unexplored territory as possible. Obviously this is well before the Dominion became a known factor! The Federation has opted to preempt the Cardassians by having the command crew of Deep Space Nine build a station there first. Coming from Major Kira's past though is a fanatic who will stop at nothing to destroy her, the fate of Bajor, the wormhole and possibly even the fate of the Federation.

While this novel is certainly not among the best of the Star Trek novels in print, it isn't the worst either. I would recommend it to help complete your Star Trek Deep Space Nine collection and as a somewhat viable read. {ssintrepid}

Nice try........2003-01-09

But the plot and characterization have holes you could drive a starship through. And I mean a big one, a galaxy-class ship.

The writing is pretty good, actually, so it's a shame to have to rate the book so low. The dialogue is better than fair, and the plot moves well until the end, when it completely falls apart.

I don't want to say TOO much about that, because it would give away too much. All I can really say is that the day that Major Kira can't handle one lone psychopath with a broken arm who's armed only with a knife one-on-one (to say nothing of with assistance from Dr. Bashir) without having to destroy an expensive and important piece of equipment, is the day that the author truly doesn't understand the characters s/he's writing about. Granted, this was an early book, but STILL...

Most of the second half of this book reads like a cheap slasher movie, with Major Kira playing the part of the terrified potential victim of the near-unbeatable slasher. Problem is, we've seen absolutely nothing to indicate that he really has the kind of semi-mystical invulnerability enjoyed by Freddie and Jason; Kira should have made mincemeat of him, without so much as mussing her hair.

Suspense & Intrigue.......2001-08-15

"Bloodletter" is in what some people call the "horror" sub-genre of Star Trek, but don't worry, it's not a horror novel. I'd call it "suspense". It is very tense, nerve-wracking, and spooky and there are gruesome and freaky descriptions in some places. The chase in "Part 2" of the book is rather scary but very good. The plot has solid elements, and the characterization is great for an early book. I found the story to be inventive, suspenseful and very interesting. There were some neat twists and surprises, and another visit from the wormhole aliens (the Prophets). I liked seeing Kira and Bashir working together - that was well done. Overall, 8.5 out of 10. This novel is definitely recommended!

An uninteresting read.......2000-02-29

The characterizations are flat, and the novel is mostly just confrontation after confrontation with nothing to hold your interest. It was boring.

Somewhat entertaining, but mostly flat........1998-07-26

I thought Bloodletter was more interesting in the beginning, with the evil villian's planning, but when Bashir and Kira go into space, it just turns into one endless confrontation after another, with fairly boring characterizations.

Average customer rating:

you can tell it's a first novel
Brilliant darkness
Disturbingly brilliant
pre-cyberpunk
demented phildickian sex&drugs cyberpunk before the fact.

Dr. Adder
K. W. Jeter
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Glass Hammer
Death Arms

ASIN: 0451151976

Customer Reviews:

you can tell it's a first novel.......2003-01-06

K.W. Jeter's "Infernal Devices" was a very good book, and I therefore presumed that "Dr. Adder" would be, too. I was very much mistaken.

I'm aware that "Dr. Adder" is regarded as some sort of alternative classic, but I really can't imagine why; it's one of the most "so what?" books I've ever read. We're not given any reason to particularly care about the two-dimensional title character (who comes across as a misogynist, a homophobe, and an overall bigot against anyone who doesn't want to live the way he does, all traits that are customarily associated with the very "moral forces" that oppose him), we almost never see the ONE-dimensional villain (in the end it's revealed the villain is an A.I., but since we knew almost nothing about him in the first place, the revelation falls flat and his "defeat" flatter yet), and we get only a surface view of the futuristic society and no clue as to what motivates its citizens. Extraneous concepts are introduced and then abandoned, taking up space that could have better been used to make the main setting more real.

I also really have to say that the book's depiction of women is contemptible. Almost every female character is either a prostitute or a drugged drone, and that's only part of the general flatness of the future depicted here. There's little explanation for why Dr. Adder would be a "hero figure" for surgically altering prostitutes to better please their clientele because, frankly, the book doesn't depict prostitution in a positive light (perhaps this isn't supposed to matter since we get almost no serious look at the people who oppose it), and the notion that women should re-make themselves in order to better service men isn't a good one. Even a half-hearted attempt to explain why, in this future, prostitution is now something that young women would actually ASPIRE to (instead of the last resort that it usually is) would've helped tremendously.

In addition, while I don't have a problem with "foul language" per se, I felt the author was overusing it for no real reason but shock value, and IMHO overuse of such language isn't "mature," it's entirely the opposite. It doesn't matter what sort of language or images are used if nothing ever gets SAID.

Maybe my failure to get much out of the book stems from a misunderstanding of what "cyberpunk" is supposed to be; maybe I looked at it from the wrong perspective. Maybe I wasn't SUPPOSED to get anything out of it but a few vague concepts connected by profanity. If that was the point, then mission accomplished.

As noted, I am aware that K.W. Jeter has written at least one good book; however, I'd have to say this one wasn't it. But very few writers succeed every time, and judging by the other reviews, it obviously appeals to others. Okay.

Brilliant darkness.......2002-11-19

I highly recommend this book to any fan of Philip K. Dick. (At times Jeter's fiercely ironic style made me wonder if I was in fact reading a "lost" Phil Dick novel!) Jeter's perverse, dark vision of the L.A.of the future envelops your senses with a mixture of revulsion and fascination as the story unfolds. Other reviewers here have already summarized the plot and setting, so let me just add that the book is disturbing and brilliant, and if you can stomach the sexual perversions and gore, you will come away astonished that somehow "Dr. Adder" (written pre-1972, anticipating cyberpunk by at least 12 years) has escaped your attention until now. The afterword by Dick is noteworthy too. One of the characters in the novel is based on Dick, although Phil mis-identifies that character in his afterword, in my opinion.

Disturbingly brilliant.......2001-05-18

Dr. Adder is one of those books that gets better the longer you read it. The story starts off thrusting the reader into the disturbing streets of a future L.A. where the title character is a specialist in transforming prostitutes into mankinds most twisted desires. Tempting to put down (as I did, regrettably, the first time I started to read it), the story begins to take on a live of its own.

The story focuses not on Dr. Adder, but instead on E. Allen Limmit and his discovery of life outside the corporate home he spent much of his life. As his life becomes inevitably intermixed with Adder and Adder's arch-nemesis, he learns he is a pawn in a much larger story, one he was, literally, born to be. Writen 12 years before it was published, the book is brilliant, one of those incredible first novels that shows the author knows more about writing than some long-established authors. The ending had me laughing for minutes, and though I had once told a friend that I would never read it again (while still in the disturbing subject matter of the first fifty pages) I look forward to additional readings of this classic in the years to come.

pre-cyberpunk.......1997-07-28

_Dr. Adder_ by K.W. Jeter is about a dark and violent Los Angeles of the future in which terrorists can be heroes to a disaffected youth.

One of society's idols, Dr. Adder, can, for price, plunge into a client's subconscious and dig up his or her deepest sexual desires, then provide the necessary surgical modifications to fulfill those desires. Hoping to wreak vengeance upon Dr. Adder and break his stranglehold upon society, his equally dark foe stages a violent end for Dr. Adder which is ultimately fought in a cyberspace-like melding of minds and television networks.

Action-filled and a quick read, this book is recommended for fans of a sort of dark, pre-cyberpunk in the style of Philip K. Dick.

demented phildickian sex&drugs cyberpunk before the fact........1997-06-13

weeeeeird, man. prostitutes deform themselves to corner speciality markets, as in vagina dentata, which brings them to the dr., drug-addled psychopath. the first of jeter's la trilogy (the glass hammer and death arms follow), definitely a must for phil dick fans (he wrote the intro)

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