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Berserker Fury

Berserker Fury

List Price: $5.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Uncredited Rewrite of the Battle of Midway in SF Form
Review: I was very disapointed with this book as I have enjoyed previous titles in the Berserker series. However, the whole plot was a direct rip-off of the events surrounding the WWII battle between the US and Japanese fleets. No originality detected.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: A serious disappointment from a writer who knows better.
Review: I've read many of Saberhagen's books over the years, including his Berserker and Swords series, but "Berserker Fury" has to be his poorest effort ever. The Battle of Midway in space with poorly disguised names of the actual commanders involved. If it weren't an historical event involved, this would be outright plagiarism. Much of the actual writing was poor, as well. Shame on you, Fred! Could this have been one of those contractual obligation kind of things?

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Man vs. machine in the never ending struggle.
Review: It is amazing that this theme has not been completely played out by now. Saberhagen actually has some new twists and turns on a plot and scenario that is one of the classics of fiction. If you never have read one of the "Berserker" series -- this would be a good one to start with, but be aware of the long tradition of the series that has stretched over the decades

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: A disappointing and confusing book.
Review: Mr Saberhagen must have been put on a short time table for the completion of this book. The book is just a shallow rewrite of the WWII Battle of Midway (and or the movie by the same name) and put in space. Most of the details, tactics and personal events of the actual battle off Midway Island have been retained and only slightly altered so they would relate to space. The supersecret decryption of berserker codes just like the U.S.Navy did to the Japanese. The number of carriers involved is the same. Individual ship histories just prior to and during the battle are the same. The actual U.S. Navy Task Force numbers 16 and 17 remain the same in Berserker Fury and perform the same role as they did at Midway. I don't remember if "Void" fighters have always been in the Berserker series of books but its amazing how similar the name and performace compare to the Japanese "Zeros" used at Midway. If blatantly copying history wasn't distracting enough this book was just not put together very well. I get the distinct impression of a lack of review. Time lines were confusing and often appeared to be out of sequence. Details were repeated unnessessarly and I found myself asking "why is he repeating this stuff here?" I have enjoyed Mr Saberhagen's books in the past and expect to in the future but Berserker Fury gave me the impression that his publisher told him to produce a book in 3 weeks and he did.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: unbelievably turgid, slow, and weak.
Review: Not vintage Sagerhagen. I read half, could not force myself to continue, and actually threw the book away! Kierkegaard is more readable and interesting.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: A big "Zero" for originality
Review: Proving that history repeats itself is one thing, saying that it repeats EXACTLY is quite another. This latest installment was a bitter disappointment. If you are not familiar with the Beserker series, do not start with this one. Heck, even if you are familiar with the series, avoid this book.

I found myself groaning at the plot that mimicked the battle of Midway. The threads started unraveling at the end and the resolution resembled little more then a pile of overcooked oatmeal. After identifying the "close historical parallel" that this book ripped off, I was expecting the author to put more into the resolution of the conflict. Nothing doing. There isn't a resolution and no sense of satisfaction due to the foreknowledge that the reader has. The subplot ends weakly and the whole thing wraps up in a hurried manner.

If the author hadn't already established a name for himself, this book would never have been published. Frankly, I'll think twice before picking up the next installment. His short stories about Beserkers are much better and I can only wonder if he's tired of his creation.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Without a Thought
Review: Relax, pitiful humans. You're a long way from a universe dominated by planet-sized killer robots raging for your blood. Humanity has a lot going for it; we robots can't wipe you out as long as you write such interesting books. Even though Saberhagen seemed to drag a bit in this outing, his Berserkers are still a fresh and original concept in the cluttered field of SF. Relax for now, humans...but keep your guard up.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: A big "Zero" for originality
Review: Saberhaen has developed in "Berserker Fury" a complete, yet bland parody of the famous WWII Battle of Midway. Although the setting takes place far in humanity's future, the novel makes parallels so blatant that anyone who has read or seen the movie "Midway" has no difficulty in the associations. The principal battle location is a space island 'atoll' called Fifty-Fifty -- another moniker for Midway? The combat space vehicles are called 'carriers', 'battleships' and 'cruisers'. Beserker fighters are called 'Voids' - a moniker for 'Zeros'. The pricipal human commander is Admiral Nuguance, while at Midway he was Admiral Spruance. The battle for Fifty-Fifty is set up through the breaking of the Beserker combat codes. And the parallels go on and on. Saberhagen even goes so far as to strand a shot down human pilot in the middle of the Beserker fleet who is able to watch the entire battle unfold, much like the original scenario. The parallels are so obvious that this novel cannot be taken as a serious work by the talented Saberhagen. Let us hope that any future Beserker stories, to which we have all come to love, are not of like ilk.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: A Parody of Midway
Review: Saberhaen has developed in "Berserker Fury" a complete, yet bland parody of the famous WWII Battle of Midway. Although the setting takes place far in humanity's future, the novel makes parallels so blatant that anyone who has read or seen the movie "Midway" has no difficulty in the associations. The principal battle location is a space island 'atoll' called Fifty-Fifty -- another moniker for Midway? The combat space vehicles are called 'carriers', 'battleships' and 'cruisers'. Beserker fighters are called 'Voids' - a moniker for 'Zeros'. The pricipal human commander is Admiral Nuguance, while at Midway he was Admiral Spruance. The battle for Fifty-Fifty is set up through the breaking of the Beserker combat codes. And the parallels go on and on. Saberhagen even goes so far as to strand a shot down human pilot in the middle of the Beserker fleet who is able to watch the entire battle unfold, much like the original scenario. The parallels are so obvious that this novel cannot be taken as a serious work by the talented Saberhagen. Let us hope that any future Beserker stories, to which we have all come to love, are not of like ilk.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The rwwrite of the Battle ofMidway WWII
Review: The original was much better and to not acknowledge those who fought and died for this story to be written is sad. Doug H.


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