Product Description
1967 - 1St Edition - TV Tie In Paperback - Pyramid - #R1664 - The Invaders - By Keith Laumer - First In thrilling new series from ABC-TV - Stars: Roy Thinnes - Created By Larry Cohen - TV Tie In Book - Very Popular Sci Fi Series - VG Condition - Collectible ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Crossing the Continua
Time Bender (1971) is the first humor SF novel in the Lafayette O'Leary series.It is an alternate universe romp in the style of The Incomplete Enchanter.

In this novel, Lafayette O'Leary is draftsman who lives in Mrs MacGlint's Clean Rooms.He has an inquiring mind, experimenting in plastic polymers, bacterial cultures and mesmerism.One day he is reading an old book by Herr Professor Doktor Hans Joseph Schimmerkopf and tries to induce a state of autohypnosis.

Red Bull is an infamous cutpurse and smuggler.At first he thinks Lafayette is some kind of Nance, a ribbon-counter Fancy-Dan.But then Lafayette pours him a tumbler of Chateau Lafitte-Rothscholde '29.After several more cups of the wine, they became bosom buddies.Red Bull offers several deals of an illicit sort, but Lafayette is more interested in pouring more wine out of the bottle.

King Goruble the First is the king of Artesia.He inherited the throne as a long lost cousin of the old king.Yet his reign is plagued by Lod the giant and his dragon.

Nicodaeus is the court magician.He talks the king out of executing Lafayette.Yet he seems to want something from Lafayette.

Yokabump is the court jester.He is a stout looking dwarf with a deep bass voice.He declares Lafayette as the long awaited hero who will kill Lod's dragon.

Princess Adoranne is the niece of the old king.The princess is very beautiful and Lafayette is literally breathless after seeing her.When someone tells him that she is at risk, Lafayette rushes off to save her.

Daphane is a chambermaid.Lafayette first meets her when her bathtub appears in his bathing chamber.Daphane is taking a bath in it at the time. She has a way with a well aimed chamberpot.

In this story, Lafayette finds himself in a different world after trying to put himself into an autohypnotic state.Surely he is dreaming.Yet everything seems so sharp and colorful.Even the stench is authentic.

After Lafayette returns to his own reality, he begins to understand that he is not truly dreaming.So he can imagine objects in hidden locations -- like wardrobes and saddlebags -- and have them appear.So the wine bottle was never empty.Still, his wounds do not disappear when he tries to heal himself. He decides to just go with the flow and treat it all as real.

Then someone abducts Adoranne and Lafayette is the chief suspect.But Lafayette believes the giant Lod is the most likely culprit.So he starts looking for Lod.

This tale has Lafayette being pursued by angry mobs, arrested by Royal musketeers, manhandled by court guards and undergoing other troubles.The poor man seems to do everything wrong.If it wasn't for Daphane and Dinny the iguanodon, he would have no friends at all.

The story is a totally fun read.The author must have thoroughly relished the writing of this book.Enjoy!

Highly recommended for Laumer fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of interdimensional travel, psychic manipulation and a bit of romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Overdone...
...and a lesser version of the Laumer formula. Seems he has at least two books for every plot...one that seems to be in outline form, and one that's fully flshed out...

Another goodie!!One of my favorites
This is one of my favorite fantasy books (you can maybe call it sci fi if you like).Another volume in the Lafayette O'Leary series, and a good one.(The only book in the series I don't love is "Galaxy Builder").If you like Laumer's humor, this is for you!If you like "World Shuffler" then this is a must.Like "World Shuffler", this is a book I've read several times and enjoyed each time. ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Fiction / Science Fiction / Adventure; Fiction / Science Fiction / High Tech; Fiction / Science Fiction / Space Opera; Fiction / Science Fiction / General; ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not particularly interesting
This book deals with mutiny within spaceship rather than space exploration, although some parts of mutiny are relatively attractive, this mutiny appears too simple. ... Read more

Product Description
The classic military dilemma--preventing those who defend you from turning on you--is seemingly solved with the implementation of the Bolos, mechanical servants with artificial intelligence and state-of-the-art high-tech weaponry. But when the implacable alien Deng invade Earth, the Bolos leap to the offensive with a war plan that doesn't take humanity into account. Reissue. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

dated writing
I remembered these from when I was a teenager as great stories. I've changed a lot. These stories are okay for a young reader but if you know good writing when you see it, it's weak, very weak. Bolos are really just noble buffoons, willing to die and kill for honor. When they are invented, they will make great Demopublican party members. Higher reasoning skills aside, they seem about as able to reason as an attack dog. Wisdom does not equal speed of computation. Ah well, young people might enjoy it.

Disappointing
Sorry, but these short stories didn't do anything for me.Maybe I just don't like Laumer's style.Call it Hammer's Slammers without the action.One of the stories ("Courier") isn't a Bolo story.It's a Retief story that I've seen elsewhere under at least two other titles.

For the Honor of the Regiment
This is one of my very favorite books. Just reading the chapter titles brings back a flood of emotions. And that's the special part, the emotions engendered by these stories. How can you feel a stab of pain when a tank dies? You'll find out!

Each of these tales depicts a Bolo that is either severely handicapped or hopelessly outnumbered. Most are sentient, although a few stories deal with earlier pre-sentient models. Each story stands on its own and can be read easily without need of prior Bolo knowledge.

At their hearts, they are tales of selflessness, loyalty, and duty. You'll have to keep reminding yourself that the main character is a tank.

NUCLEAR POWERED NOBILITY
My first Bolo story was "Rogue Bolo", which I read over 20yrs ago, and which got me hooked on Mr Laumer's admirable and self-aware Continental Siege Units.
Artificial intelligence, coupled with irresistable force . . . A noble, multi-PhD-level entity that is not a two-arms, two-legs "classical-style" robot is a suprisingly engaging idea. These beings have 4 sets of treads,2 megaton per second firepower,and armor that can withstand a nuclear explosion 50yds away.

Anyone who has an issue with "military scifi" has an issue with scifi in general. As long as humans are human, there will always be those who will stop at nothing to impose their ideas on everyone else by force, whether its a street thug or an Evil Interstellar Empire. Warp drive and colonization of other star systems is just going to export the same old crap out into a bigger playing field. The idea of the evil that men do taking place on such a vastly magnified scale is a hideous contemplation that has given any true scifi buff (military or otherwise) a shiver or two. The bad guys have the shortcuts and hyperfocus of evil on their side - the rest of us have the Bolos!

Combination of 1976 Bolo & 1986 Rogue Bolo
This is a combination of previously released works.The 1976 Bolo was a collection of short stories of the computer-controlled tanks called Bolo.Rogue Bolo is a novel from 1986.

1976 Bolo:
o A Short History of the Bolo Fighting Machines (intro)
o The Night of the Trolls
o Courier (aka The Frozen Planet)
o Field Test
o The Last Command
o A Relic of War
o Combat Unit

Combat Unit, written in 1960, was Laumer's first Bolo story.The Night of the Trolls is from 1968.The Last Command: 1971.A Relic of War: 1972.Field Test: Mar 1976.Don't let the 1990 date of Compleat Bolo fool you, these stories have been out for a while.However, that is not to say they are not worth reading if you haven't read them, They are considered classics and are the originals by Laumer.This is just to let those that follow the Bolo series that they may have already read some or all of these stories.

If you don't already know, the Bolo stories are of computer-controlled, extremely armored and weaponed tanks (think of the tanks in beginning of the movie `The Terminator') that typically act with a strong sense of integrity and honor.In a sense it is like mechanized human engineering since these tanks are programmed with these qualities, but nevertheless the Bolo's are at times, if not always, to be admired for their actions.To be fair to us human beings, it's easier to be a bad-ass when you're surrounded by several tons of steel and quite formidable fire power.

I suppose the Bolo series would fall under the category of Military science fiction, which is considered a contentious issue in the present day Speculative Fiction `cutting-edge' world.These stories are classics though and came out before I even heard the term Military SF, and are some of the originals of that entire subgenre.Not being familiar with Military SF, I cannot say how these stories compare to more modern works.To me, I found the stories just OK.The concept behind them was a lot more appealing than stories themselves.You can consider the stories to be a glorification of war as the speculative fiction writers would say or you can consider them to be the best representation of human emotions in extreme conditions. ... Read more

Product Description
Mal was heading across an America ravaged by worldwide earthquakes when he ran into a dying stranger who babbled of men who weren't really men, and had an unusual gold coin which no expert could identify. Soon, someone who wanted the coin back was on his trail - and they weren't human...The commander of the fleet that just annihilated the alien enemy has decided to become world dictator unless his second in command can stop him...A national test condemns a man to a life of unskilled labour, unless he can find a way around the system... ... Read more

Product Description
Two complete novels, and a host of novelettes fill a large volume by the master of science fiction adventure. In the first novel, A Trace of Memory, a drifter named Legion is hired by a millionaire who claims to be centuries old, but has nearly complete amnesia. He can only remember that something is hunting for him, and Legion's job is to protect him. The job turns out to be more than Legion bargained for when he finds himself and his employer on a prehistoric starship hurtling into the unknown. In Planet Run, Laumer joins forces with SF legend Gordon R. Dickson in a novel of two ancient heroes who are going to trade the rest of their lives for one sweet year, and the chance to solve the secret of the last unexplored planet in this sector of the galaxy. Plus four short novels of exciting interstellar action and adventure. With an introduction by Joel Rosenberg, author of the best-selling "Guardians of the Flame" series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

First Laumer, but not the last
This is the first book (well, technically, set of stories) I have read by Keith Laumer, but it won't be the last.Written from the late 60s into the early 70s, many of these stories still seem fresh today.Space exploration, coming of age, alien invasions - all of these and more are covered in the stories in this excellent book.Although sometimes the writing jumps between scenes without warning, it is for the most part crisp and clean and very enjoyable.Eric Flint did the editing honors and there is a foreword by Joel Rosenbaum that helps to set things into perspective.All-in-all, highly recommended by this reviewer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Contents of Book 10, Retief Unbound
Retief Unbound which is sold as "Book 10" includes five of six stories from Book One: Protocol, Sealed Orders, Aide Memoire, Policy, Palace Revolution; it does not include Cultural Exchange.It also includes the entire Book Seven, Retief's Ransom [pages 147-343.]

Retief is Back contains all six of the Book One stories.

The Pangalactic book also contains Retief's Ransom and a book Laumer wrote after suffering a stroke.

So you have to watch out for buying duplicates if you buy these three books. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Possibly Laumer's best work
I've been a fan of Keith Laumer since the 1960s.Most of his novels are considered "light" science fiction, but that doesn't begin to describe the strength of the writing.He usually seems not to take his own stories very seriously, but that's just his writing style.I guarantee he labored hard over them.Dinosaur Beach is one of his more serious efforts, and in my opinion his best work.The main character is a time traveler, on a mission to undo a lot of damage done to the timestream by previous time-travelers.The book starts, in typical Laumer fashion, with the main character being warned that he's about to he murdered.He's not impressed with the news, and asks what business the guy has telling someone they were going to die, even if it's true.Things get crazier and crazier, and in the end, make perfect sense.Laumer is a master at creating situations where things get so screwed up that one starts to think no author could make sense out of it, and then he proceeds to make such perfect sense of it that the reader asks himself how he didn't see it coming.And in the meantime, as one tries to unravel the plot, the writing style keeps the reader marvelously entertained, never letting up on the pace and keeping us guessing at every turn.I've read this book several times, and lent it to friends so often that I had to buy it again twice.This is a science fiction classic, and a masterpiece.

Poignant
This book can be read on many levels. At once it is a love story, a book about time travel, war, the future of mankind and above all, consciousness itself.
Perhaps I am reading too much into this little novel, but it struck me on a very deep level. The last 3 chapters of the book have a poignancy for me which I will never forget, which, upon reading it again, still brings a tear to my eye. It speaks to me of the nature of consciousness itself, which is not destructive, but loving.
To me this is a superbly written classic, a beautiful novel that can be read as just good SF, or as a description of the universal nature of consciousness.
I rank this little book at the very top echelon of the greatest SF of all time; indeed as one of the best works of fiction I've ever read.

You won't find a better time travel book
This one is pretty much definitive. It will keep your attention. Tersely and well written. Pretty amazing considering how early in Keith Laumer's career this was - a pretty diverse guy in style.

A Time War Classic
Put this on the shelf next to The Big Time-- together these books say everything interesting there is to say about time travel based warfare. This is one of Laumer's best, with a nice balance between his silly and hisserious sides. Highly recommended-- hope it's back in print soon.

Dinosaur Beach; Revisited
I read Dinosaur Beach years ago; the delightful imagination and use of the time travel angle coupled with a love story made an interesting and wide ranging yarn. One of my Laumer favorites.I actually met with Keith Laumerin 1986 at his island house in Florida, and among other interesting topics,he stated that the book was even being considered for a movie at one time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Retief - Two Fisted Diplomat
Retief - The James T. Kirk of diplomacy.Retief tends to deal from a position of strength and knowledge.A diplomat that deals with other cultures on their terms, whether the situation calls for holding yourbreath for an astonishing 2 minutes, or grabbing a double dealing Groaci byall 5 eye stalks to get his attention, Battle Commander Reservist, JameRetief, Cousin to Her Highness Princess Fianna Glorian Deliciosa HermoineArianne de Retief et du Lille, Will do what's necessary to protect theinnocent and save your world whether the ambassador he works for likes itor not! ... Read more

Product Description
A collection of stories about the indomitable Bolos, gigantic and indestructible robot tanks programmed to protect the human race, includes contributions by such authors as David Weber, S. M. Stirling, William R. Forstchen, and Linda Evans. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Bolo short stories that must be read
The Last stand is a compilation of short stories written in the world developed by Keith laumer. I enjoyed them all. You will not want to put this book down. You see Bolo's as they were meant to be seen; in battle. One even turns on its regiment and is pursued by another bolo. Must read.

Lancelots of the future IV
Though not as potent as the previous installment, Book 4 consists of a more balanced mix of the two themes of Bolodom:Guns and Glory.Book Three obviously is the emotional peice of this anthology, Book 4 deliverssome touchy-feely stuff as well.The terror one feels in The Traitor asthe reliable Bolo succumbs to damage is a shade away from compelling, butstill a darn good read.The most technically engrossing as well astouching (and, I believe, the best) account of this book was the yarn ofteam Shiva.All in all, a good book.

This book was action packed and seat binding from page one!
This book was a giant step forward in the evolution in the great story line of the bolo series.This book is action packed but still lets you unfold a relationship with the characters and even the Bolo itself!Iwould reccomend this book to anyone that has every picked up a Sci-Fi book!

Another excellent collection of well written tails.
Once again a perfect read. If you enjoy heroism, honor, and characters you miss when done with a book, this is one for you. The Bolo series is one of the best for any genre, and THE best in military sci-fi. If you liked Hammer's Slammers you will love the bolos. This series has an addictive quality, don't start it before final exams, or tax return time!! Mechanized warriors with traits we should all strive towards. I wish I were a Bolo.

Bolo Smash
Bolo's are basicly what tanks will become if they are not skiped over by other technologys in the future. They are fortresses on treads that in their later desighns are self aware and massivly powerfull. In this book you learn alot about bolos over a wide span of time and will see the absoulute power and rage of a bolo. though the books are obviously fiction you will find you self memorizing all the detales of their weapons, personalities and variose designes and you will no doubt find you self comparing bolos to every thing thinking "Yea thats cool but it couldn't stand up to a mark XXV!" ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Loose Nation World
Reward for Retief (1989) is the fifteenth SF novel in the Retief series, following Retief in the Ruins.In the previous volume, Retief foiled Groaci schemes on three worlds.On Popu-Ri, a blowout cleared land for tall grass.On Slub, a tidal bulge displaced the planetary satellite.On Snotch Too, the revolution faded away.

In this novel, Jaime Retief is an officer within the Foreign Service of the Corps Diplomatique Terrestrienne.He is somewhat impatient with typical CDT behavior.

Ben Magnan is Retief's superior within the CDT.Magnan is from Kansas and has been thoroughly indoctrinated with CDT behavior patterns.

In this story, the CDT is establishing diplomatic relations with a planet that has been neglected for two hundred years.Captain Sol Goldblatt had discovered and reported the world back then, but his discovery report was promptly misfiled and forgotten.Now the CDT is about to land on U-784-a, variously called Goldblatt's Other World, Sardon, Zanny-du and Spookworld.

Magnan is busily gushing about the upcoming landing when a telepathic voice inserts a comment.Ben thinks that Retief had spoken and sheer confusion results.This will happen again.

After the landing, the Terran diplomats are confronted by an angry group of caterpillars.Retief urges them to set up a barrier of custom booths and other kiosks.They eventually clear a path to the vehicles and escape.

The Terran diplomatic mission is transported to the capitol in several worn trucks.Magnan and Retief are dropped off at a building made of mud dabbed wattle and find their room to be a bit primitive.They wash up and prepare for a conference at the temporary embassy.

The path to the embassy is limited to narrow bridges. Magnan discovers that he is acrophobic.When they arrive at the embassy, a mob of pillars is attacking the gate.Retief clears the way by leaping on the mob leader.

The gate guard is a Terran marine sergeant.Bill soon recognizes the expertise of Retief and discovers that the diplomat is a former Battle Commander from Northroyal.They rout the pillars and clear a path for Magnan to get to the conference room.

The Ambassador refuses to use the word mob to refer to the agitated pillars.He calls them a throng.He also sends Magnan and Retief out to learn what they want.

The pillar throng chases Retief and Magnan and catches Retief.Magnanflees back to the conference room.Magnan is sent out again to discover what had happened to Retief.

Retief and Bill have fled the throng and inadvertently discover the Cloud-Cuckoo Club.After Retief removes a blocking bar, they find themselves in a bar.Other Terrans are there, drinking alcoholic beverages and discussing the situation.

Some Terrans seem familiar, particularly the one called Will.Most of the others are spacemen stranded on the planet.They tell Retief about the loose nations that pervade the planet.

Then Magnan appears and joins the festivities.But the pillars are right behind him and a Terran shows them the back exit.They find themselves in a sylvan scene and meet Nudine the undine.

This tale takes Magnan and Retief through various adventures.Magnan finds a woman who is determined to marry him.Retief finds two princes from his homeworld.

BTW, Jaime is misspelled as Jame within this version of the novel.This typo is quite consistent throughout the volume.

This novel is filled with confusion and hallucinations.It is much like the author's Night of Delusions, but with more humor.It also has various Terrans on the make.

This seems to be the last Retief novel by the original author.Yet there are other novels and series, including A Trace of Memory.Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Laumer fans and anyone else who enjoys tales of faraway planets, alien creatures, and competent humans.If anyone is unfamiliar with this series, the initial volume is Envoy to New Worlds.

-Arthur W. Jordin ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A classic of interdimensional travel.
The other review by "A Reader" is definately NOT about this book. Imperial Intelligence Agent Brion Bayard (formerly of the dimension/timeline we inhabit) finds himself in an mostly unexplored and unknown region of space and time after accidentially encountering beings from another dimension line setting up an invasion from a "dead" dimension line very close to the "prime" Zero Zero Stockholm line to which he was abducted in an earlier book. The whole Brion Bayard series is excellent and requires wrapping your brain around some seriously weird stuff.

great review of the ground war in WW II from a doctor
This is a very good book that dispells the notion that World War II was a "good war". It was a horror that was almost unspeakable.This is an autobiographical account of the european conflict from a batallion surgeon attatched to an infantry batallion.This is a very realistic portrayal of the hardships endured by the citizen soldier from the US. There is no false sentimentality here. This work is along the line of the work done by Paul Fussell. Both of these authors were there in combat and both deride the empty way in which our society has degraded the fighting man by making him look like "John Wayne". As everyone in the US Army knows the biggest insult that drill instructors give is to call someone "John Wayne". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Well Received.
Received the book well wrapped and preserved.
Write up should have had a comment about back cover of book being waterlogged.
Book was in decent enough shape overall. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Nearly Forgotten Work
The book deals with the concept of parallel universes.The concept is relatively well thought out by Laumer and given to us in more detail then I expected he would do in such short novels.The story deals with the conflicts played out between the worlds of these parallel universes and how they impact each other both knowingly and unknowingly.

Overall I thought this was a really good read.The pace of the story was fast and what one would expect of a tightly written story.It always amazes me how much thicker today's science fiction novels tend to be versus those of 30 or 40 years ago.Could it be as simple as the art of tight writing and a strong editor are lost today?

The characters are not that strongly developed and this seems to be the sacrifice Laumer makes to keep the stories to the point.The characters are developed only as absolutely necessary to the story so of course the only character we are attuned to is the single main character.

I recommended and if you enjoy the genre at all I think you will enjoy the novel as well.

Nearly Forgotten Work
The book deals with the concept of parallel universes.The concept is relatively well thought out by Laumer and given to us in more detail then I expected he would do in such short novels.The story deals with the conflicts played out between the worlds of these parallel universes and how they impact each other both knowingly and unknowingly.

Overall I thought this was a really good read.The pace of the story was fast and what one would expect of a tightly written story.It always amazes me how much thicker today's science fiction novels tend to be versus those of 30 or 40 years ago.Could it be as simple as the art of tight writing and a strong editor are lost today?

The characters are not that strongly developed and this seems to be the sacrifice Laumer makes to keep the stories to the point.The characters are developed only as absolutely necessary to the story so of course the only character we are attuned to is the single main character.

I recommended and if you enjoy the genre at all I think you will enjoy the novel as well.

Nearly Forgotten Work
The book deals with the concept of parallel universes.The concept is relatively well thought out by Laumer and given to us in more detail then I expected he would do in such short novels.The story deals with the conflicts played out between the worlds of these parallel universes and how they impact each other both knowingly and unknowingly.

Overall I thought this was a really good read.The pace of the story was fast and what one would expect of a tightly written story.It always amazes me how much thicker today's science fiction novels tend to be versus those of 30 or 40 years ago.Could it be as simple as the art of tight writing and a strong editor are lost today?

The characters are not that strongly developed and this seems to be the sacrifice Laumer makes to keep the stories to the point.The characters are developed only as absolutely necessary to the story so of course the only character we are attuned to is the single main character.

I recommended and if you enjoy the genre at all I think you will enjoy the novel as well.

Nearly Forgotten Work
The book deals with the concept of parallel universes.The concept is relatively well thought out by Laumer and given to us in more detail then I expected he would do in such short novels.The story deals with the conflicts played out between the worlds of these parallel universes and how they impact each other both knowingly and unknowingly.

Overall I thought this was a really good read.The pace of the story was fast and what one would expect of a tightly written story.It always amazes me how much thicker today's science fiction novels tend to be versus those of 30 or 40 years ago.Could it be as simple as the art of tight writing and a strong editor are lost today?

The characters are not that strongly developed and this seems to be the sacrifice Laumer makes to keep the stories to the point.The characters are developed only as absolutely necessary to the story so of course the only character we are attuned to is the single main character.

I recommended and if you enjoy the genre at all I think you will enjoy the novel as well.

Nearly Forgotten Work
The book deals with the concept of parallel universes.The concept is relatively well thought out by Laumer and given to us in more detail then I expected he would do in such short novels.The story deals with the conflicts played out between the worlds of these parallel universes and how they impact each other both knowingly and unknowingly.

Overall I thought this was a really good read.The pace of the story was fast and what one would expect of a tightly written story.It always amazes me how much thicker today's science fiction novels tend to be versus those of 30 or 40 years ago.Could it be as simple as the art of tight writing and a strong editor are lost today?

The characters are not that strongly developed and this seems to be the sacrifice Laumer makes to keep the stories to the point.The characters are developed only as absolutely necessary to the story so of course the only character we are attuned to is the single main character.

I recommended and if you enjoy the genre at all I think you will enjoy the novel as well. ... Read more