Rating: Summary: Galactic Bounty was originally titled War World. Review: Galactic Bounty, originally titled War World, was my first novel. It owes (as I do) a great debt of gratitude to all who went before. The story is about a wise cracking, cigar chomping, bounty hunter and his often questionable friends. The name of his spaceship is Pegaus (read horse.) Sound familiar? It should since there's plenty of horse opera in this space opera. My objective was (and is) to entertain. I love action, mystery and humor and the Sam McCade stories have all three. I've been in love with Science Fiction since my teens. (About the same time that my Middle School English teacher noticed I was reading a book by Robert Heinlein and ordered me to remove it from her room.) In any case, Heinlein had a tendency to write books that contained more fiction than science and were filled with wonderful adventures, interesting characters, and exotic locales. This book was inspired by not only him but the likes of Isaac Asimov, John Buchan, Daniel Defoe, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Alexander Dumas, C.S. Forester, Aldous Huxley, Franz Kafka, Rudyard Kipling, George Lucas, Andre Norton, Douglas Reeman, Robert Louis Stevenson and so many more. They are the reason I wanted to write. If you like Galactic Bounty there are three additional Sam McCade novels including Imperial Bounty, Alien Bounty, and McCade's Bounty to choose from. They were reissued in 1998 and are widely available
Rating: Summary: My all-time favorite Review: I first read this book thirteen years ago when it was originally published as "War World" and while I was still in grade school. I read it from cover to cover in one day (even using a flashlight hidden under a pillow to continue after bedtime). There has been no single author that has captured my imagination and paralyzed me with excitement as William C. Dietz. I highly recommend any of his novels, but this one holds a very dear place in my heart. I am so thankful to Ace Books for republishing this book and supporting such a magnificently gifted writer.
Rating: Summary: My all-time favorite Review: I first read this book thirteen years ago when it was originally published as "War World" and while I was still in grade school. I read it from cover to cover in one day (even using a flashlight hidden under a pillow to continue after bedtime). There has been no single author that has captured my imagination and paralyzed me with excitement as William C. Dietz. I highly recommend any of his novels, but this one holds a very dear place in my heart. I am so thankful to Ace Books for republishing this book and supporting such a magnificently gifted writer.
Rating: Summary: Fun science fantasy with a clever ending Review: I gave this book four stars rather than five only because I usually prefer hard science fiction (i.e., where the science is real, and space ships don't go zipping back and forth as if they're fighter jets in an atmosphere), but this book sounded interesting when I read its description and I really enjoyed it. Some of the characters could be a little more developed, but I'll assume they grow in the books that follow in the series. Also, it's hard to ignore the "Star Wars" feeling the novel has, with its Galactic Empire and Emperor, its large cast of alien creatures, space pirates and battles with lasers (though lasers can't be seen unless there's an atmosphere). Still, despite the B-movie conventions, it was an entertaining read. The plotting was excellent, and there were interesting and creative aliens (like the Treel) and interesting and creative humans (like Phil, the man-bear). I especially liked the little surprise at the end. Mr. Dietz is a good writer -- lean, effective prose with snappy dialogue -- and he knows how to keep you reading: a cliff-hanger at the end of every chapter. Sometimes, though, I felt like I was watching a scifi movie rather than reading a book...the characters, again, were a little too one dimensional and in some cases cliched. Still, that's a minor complaint compared to the overall enjoyment I got out of the novel. I look forward to the next McCade novel (Imperial Bounty).
Rating: Summary: Large Reward for GALACTIC BOUNTY Review: I have scoured many bookshelves and read much pulp, But I found a true treasure with this little gem. Dietz has created a larger than life life story that reads exceptionally well. It is very apparent that Dietz values the reader, and doesn't subject them to bunk. Pure Joy.
Rating: Summary: Captivating from the Start Review: I read this book when it was War World, and completely and utterly enjoyed it. Although, I've read well over 200 sci-fi books, Galactic Bounty (War World) has become and will remain one of my favorites. I highly recommend this book as well as the series. Long live McCade!
Rating: Summary: Captivating from the Start Review: I read this book when it was War World, and completely and utterly enjoyed it. Although, I've read well over 200 sci-fi books, Galactic Bounty (War World) has become and will remain one of my favorites. I highly recommend this book as well as the series. Long live McCade!
Rating: Summary: Fun science fantasy with a clever ending Review: Sam is on Earth for a short time, expecting to receive a well earned Bounty. Except the laws have changed and his payment now depends upon his completing a new assignment, for the Imperial Navy. A Navy Captain has disappeared and, unfortunately, after looking over his old records three conclusions have come to the surface. Somehow the Captain has discovered a new, and presumed deadly, weapon from an ancient 'artifact planet'. The second conclusion is that he's gone mad and plans to give the weapon to the Il Ronn. The last piece of irony, the Mad Captain is the same one that had Sam busted out of the Imperial Navy for disobedience of a direct order. Now Sam has been 'ordered' to catch him, or Kill him...
Rating: Summary: I always like Dietz's characters. Review: Sam is on Earth for a short time, expecting to receive a well earned Bounty. Except the laws have changed and his payment now depends upon his completing a new assignment, for the Imperial Navy. A Navy Captain has disappeared and, unfortunately, after looking over his old records three conclusions have come to the surface. Somehow the Captain has discovered a new, and presumed deadly, weapon from an ancient 'artifact planet'. The second conclusion is that he's gone mad and plans to give the weapon to the Il Ronn. The last piece of irony, the Mad Captain is the same one that had Sam busted out of the Imperial Navy for disobedience of a direct order. Now Sam has been 'ordered' to catch him, or Kill him...
Rating: Summary: Hard-boiled space opera at its best Review: The McCade series of 1. "Galactic Bounty" (earlier published as "War world"), 2. "Imperial bounty", 3. Alien bounty", and 4. "McCade's bounty"; presents a completely new kind of science fiction character in Sam McCade. McCade is the bounty hunter within the terran empire that finds himself in the center of intergalactic politics and conflicts where his past military career in the terran fleet catches up with him. Hard-boiled and impossible to corrupt; McCade is facing adventures, together with his two odd friends Rico and Phil, that could be described as a unique mix of a wild west novel set in a military science fiction world with a flavor of Jack Vance and Robert Henlein. You will not be disappointed. Try also his other novels in the "legion" series.
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