The Deathstalker series by Simon R. Green is a bombastic space opera filled with a corrupt empire, rebellious psychic slaves, eldritch aliens, rogue AI, and more. The plot is described as over the top, with characters like Owen standing out while the storyline is repeated in each book. The writing style is likened to Flash Gordon, with a tone that reads like Star Wars on steroids, offering a mix of ray guns, swords, psychic powers, and dry humor.

Characters:

The characters are quirky and often dysfunctional, contributing to the overall entertainment of the story despite some criticisms of their depth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is humorous and campy, often embracing the ridiculousness of space opera tropes while providing an entertaining read.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Owen Deathstalker, who gets embroiled in a rebellion against a corrupt empire while navigating a universe filled with intrigue and conflict.

Setting:

The setting features a sprawling future universe marked by corruption, rebel factions, and a unique blend of technology and fantasy elements.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally fast, with alternating viewpoints and action, although some moments may feel slower due to unnecessary details.

It gets dark out on the Rim. Strange planets and stranger people can be found on the edge of Empire, where habitable worlds are few and civilization grows thin. Beyond the Rim lies uncharted darkness,...

Notes:

The Deathstalker series is written by Simon R. Green.

The first book, Deathstalker, features Owen Deathstalker, the last of his line.

The setting is a corrupt human empire with themes of rebellion and psychics.

It's a mix of space opera and fantasy elements, complete with swordfights and lasers.

The book was originally published in 1995 and has over 500 pages.

The narrative includes many minor characters, which some readers found distracting.

The writing style was described as humorous and campy, with over-the-top action.

The series has been compared to Star Wars, but with a tongue-in-cheek twist.

There are elements of parody, borrowing tropes from other sci-fi works.

Readers noted the book's fast pacing and engaging ideas, although some found it lengthy.

The series includes rogue AI, feuding noble houses, and eldritch aliens.

It has been referred to as reminiscent of Dune but takes its own unique direction.

Despite its absurdity, it remains entertaining and enjoyable for its action and humor.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains themes of violence, corruption, and potential body horror, warranting a medium level of content warnings.

From The Publisher:

Owen Deathstalker, last of the infamous warrior Clan, always considered himself more of a writer than a fighter, preferring his history books to making any actual history with a sword. But books won't protect him from Her Imperial Majesty Lionstone XIV, who just Outlawed and condemned Owen to death, without any explanation, reason, or warning. No wonder she's called the Iron Bitch. Now, on the run from Imperial starcruisers, shady mercenaries, and just about everyone else in the Empire, Owen's options are limited. Though the name Deathstalker still commands respect in certain quarters, out on the Rim, Owen is lucky he can cobble together a makeshift team of castoffs, including an ex-pirate, a cyborg, and a bounty hunter. But allies won't be enough to save him. If he's to live, Owen can either run forever...or take down the corrupt Empire. To do that, he'll need the fabled Darkvoid Device-an artifact dating back to the first Deathstalker and perhaps the only weapon powerful enough to help this ragtag rebellion win. The time has come for Owen to finally embrace his Deathstalker heritage...and all the blood and death that go along with it. Deathstalker is the first book in New York Times bestselling author Simon R. Green's beloved space opera series.

Ratings (8)

Incredible (4)
Loved It (1)
Liked It (2)
It Was OK (1)

Reader Stats (12):

Read It (8)
Want To Read (3)
Not Interested (1)

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Deathstalker?

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About the Author:

Simon R. Green is a New York Times bestselling author whose works include Drinking Midnight Wine, Beyond the Blue Moon, Blue Moon Rising, The Adventures of Hawk & Fisher, and the Deathstalker series. A resident of Bradford-on-Avon in England, he is currently working on the next Deathstalker novel.

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Deathstalker

Simon R. Green

Book 1 in the series:Deathstalker