Deathstalker (series)
Encyclopedia
The Deathstalker series of science fiction
novels, by British author Simon R. Green, was written during the 1990s and early 2000s. Although referred to by a single name, the series consists of two major episodes (each dealing with a different member of the Deathstalker Clan), and other associated novels providing a backstory to the characters and events of the Deathstalker universe
.
The first episode, comprising five books, tells the story of how Owen Deathstalker, reluctant heir to the ancient Deathstalker name and minor historian, came to lead a galactic rebellion against the powerful and corrupt empire in which he lives. The second episode is set 200 years after the first, and follows Lewis Deathstalker, a distant relative to Owen. Three additional novels, eventually republished as an anthology, act as a prequel of sorts - although they contain no mention of the Deathstalker family they expand on other important characters and provide further insight into the workings of the empire.
. Each deals not only with its protagonist
but also develops a large cast of supporting characters, many of whom are given as much depth as the hero. Even minor characters often have significant portions of a novel devoted to them. The series as a whole spans over 200 years of Green's fictional universe, and is known for its flamboyant style of narrative. Partly a parody of the 1950s space-opera genre, the Deathstalker novels are also a satirical take on dictatorship, fascism, fashion, established religion and the media.
Under the justification of protecting the empire from external threats, the empress maintains the status quo
by playing off different groups against one another, preventing any organisation from becoming powerful enough to challenge her rule. Cloning
is commonplace, with clones being regarded as non-people for use as expendable slave labour. Some people, known generically as espers, have various psychic
powers including telekinesis, telepathy
and teleportation
- these, too, are carefully regulated and exploited by the empire.
The vast majority of imperial citizens, whilst denied many forms of political self-expression, appear to lead fairly normal lives under the fiefdoms of the different clans. The author draws a parallel to certain periods of the Roman Empire
, with the citizenry being kept compliant through the use of public holidays and spectacles such as gladiatorial games. Although a parliament
exists, its autonomy and influence are trivial - in large part due to the widespread corruption that permeates every facet of the empire's institutions. The empire's official religion, the Church of Christ the Warrior, acts as an arm of the imperial throne and maintains its own military forces to counterbalance those of the clans.
As the series begins, a number of threats have arisen to menace the empire: from within, rebels (including rogue computer hackers
known as cyberats), clones and espers have started to fight for their basic human rights, although until their disparate organisations are unified by Owen Deathstalker their efforts are largely ineffective. From without, the empire's current enemy of humanity (a title reserved for the greatest danger to the empire) is Shub - a gestalt of artificial intelligence
s created by the empire that, upon achieving sentience
, went rogue and escaped from imperial control.
An anthology of three novellas (originally published separately) which introduce the empire and set up several plot points that would be developed in later novels. A number of important characters are featured, including the loyalist starship commander Captain John Silence, the traitorous investigator Carrion
and Silence's daughter Diana Vertue.
The anthology comprises:
Mistworld (New York, Ace 1992)
The last refuge of fleeing rebels is attacked using an esper plague, in an attempt to bring down the planet's psychic shield - its only defence against the empire.
Ghostworld (New York, Ace 1993)
A crashed alien starship containing invaluable advanced technology is discovered on the dead world of Unseeli, and a team led by the man who originally wiped out the planet's native population is sent to recover it.
Hellworld (New York, Ace 1993)
An expendable expedition is sent to investigate a planet on the galactic rim to ascertain its suitablitiy for future settlement. They encounter a world where biological reality has run haywire.
Deathstalker
(London, Gollancz 1995; New York, Penguin/Roc 1995 simultaneous release)
Owen Deathstalker, the reluctant heir to a warrior name, is living quietly as a historian - until he is declared an outlaw by the whim of the empress and forced to flee his cosy and privileged existence. Discovering the dark reality of an empire that is far removed from his life of comfort and wealth, he finds unlikely allies and comes to the realization that the empire, and the throne, must be cleansed.
Deathstalker Rebellion
(London, Gollancz/Vista 1996)
As the rebellion against Empress Lionstone, the "Iron Bitch", gathers pace, Owen is instrumental in uniting the disjointed efforts of the various underground groups. The Imperial Homeworld, Golgatha, is attacked by an unidentified alien starship after Owen and his companions inadvertently disable planetary defences as a side effect of a hacker strike against the banking centres of the empire.
Deathstalker War
(London, Gollancz/Vista 1997)
Invasions of the rebel planet Mistworld and Owen's former fiefdom Virimonde by the imperial fleet result in bloody victories and defeats for the rebels, but the growing resistance movement cannot be stopped. An apocalyptic struggle in the streets of Golgotha's main city, the Parade of the Endless, leads up to a final confrontation with the empress herself.
Deathstalker Honour
(London, Gollancz/Vista 1998)
In the aftermath of the rebellion, the old aristocracy is trying to find a place in the new order as the former heroes of the rebellion struggle to rebuild what they have destroyed. Taking advantage of humanity's weakness, old enemies such as the bio-mechanical Hadenmen and the AIs of Shub re-emerge, laying waste to entire star systems. Owen and his companions must not only cope with these, but also the even graver threat posed by a new adversary: the Recreated.
Deathstalker Destiny
(London, Orion/Millennium 1999)
Facing extinction, humankind has to rely once again on the heroes of the rebellion: Shub and the Hadenmen, destroying countless worlds, must be stopped, Owen must rescue his companion Hazel D'Ark from the Blood Runners, and the Recreated must be faced head on. Many plot threads are wrapped up, including the fates of most of the major characters.
Lewis Deathstalker, the latest in the family line, is a guardian of the new Golden Age ushered in by his long-dead ancestor Owen. However, betrayed by his love for the King's fiancée and finding enemies in unexpected places, it looks like he is destined to retrace his ancestor's footsteps as history begins to repeat itself.
Fleeing through the empire with imperial forces in hot pursuit, Lewis discovers legends from the past and in desperation sets out on an apparently impossible mission - the return of Owen Deathstalker.
Together the two Deathstalkers must fight to save the empire from its greatest threat: the Terror. Whilst Lewis leads rebel forces in the present, Owen travels back to the past to try to uncover the mysteries behind the current crisis. This is the final book in the Deathstalker saga, and wraps up the remaining loose ends left by the first series.
Locus
magazine states that Green "makes a virtue of taking everything to extremes",. The author himself hinted at the extent to which his work should be taken as parodying the genre, saying: "Just because I take some things seriously, it doesn't mean I have to take them too seriously. I firmly believe it does people and institutions good to have the piss taken out of them at regular intervals."
Other reviewers have condemned Green's work out of hand, as comprising "constant logical inconsistencies; character inconsistencies; repetitive redundancy; cardboard characters; "kitchen sink" disease..." John Berlyne, on the sfsite, despite a largely favourable review describes Deathstalker as "a kind of fast food science fiction", catering for mass-market appeal with more attention paid to "'edge of one's seat' thrills" than plotting.
and Star Wars
one evening: "It started me thinking; in Star Wars, all these rebel fleets and bases and so on, who's paying for them? What if there was just one man, with no backing, starting a rebellion on his own? And that's where Owen Deathstalker came from."
Green also cites veteran space opera
author Leigh Brackett
as a particular influence on the style of the Deathstalker series. Other writers he acknowledges include Robert E Howard, Michael Moorcock
, Roger Zelazny
, Joseph Delaney
, Harlan Ellison
and Norman Spinrad
.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novels, by British author Simon R. Green, was written during the 1990s and early 2000s. Although referred to by a single name, the series consists of two major episodes (each dealing with a different member of the Deathstalker Clan), and other associated novels providing a backstory to the characters and events of the Deathstalker universe
Deathstalker universe
The Deathstalker universe is the fictional setting for British author Simon R Green's series of Deathstalker science fiction novels.Green's universe is dominated by a vast and powerful human empire that has fallen from its ancient beginnings into cruelty, decadence and oppression...
.
The first episode, comprising five books, tells the story of how Owen Deathstalker, reluctant heir to the ancient Deathstalker name and minor historian, came to lead a galactic rebellion against the powerful and corrupt empire in which he lives. The second episode is set 200 years after the first, and follows Lewis Deathstalker, a distant relative to Owen. Three additional novels, eventually republished as an anthology, act as a prequel of sorts - although they contain no mention of the Deathstalker family they expand on other important characters and provide further insight into the workings of the empire.
Books
Both major Deathstalker episodes are classic examples of an epic form of space operaSpace opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
. Each deals not only with its protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
but also develops a large cast of supporting characters, many of whom are given as much depth as the hero. Even minor characters often have significant portions of a novel devoted to them. The series as a whole spans over 200 years of Green's fictional universe, and is known for its flamboyant style of narrative. Partly a parody of the 1950s space-opera genre, the Deathstalker novels are also a satirical take on dictatorship, fascism, fashion, established religion and the media.
Setting
The series is set in a far-future, fictional universe, dominated by a vast and powerful human empire that has fallen from its ancient beginnings into cruelty, decadence and oppression. Alien species when encountered are subjugated or exterminated; internal dissent is ruthlessly put down, and power is concentrated in the hands of a psychotic empress (known as the "Iron Bitch") and a number of aristoctratic families, or clans.Under the justification of protecting the empire from external threats, the empress maintains the status quo
Status quo
Statu quo, a commonly used form of the original Latin "statu quo" – literally "the state in which" – is a Latin term meaning the current or existing state of affairs. To maintain the status quo is to keep the things the way they presently are...
by playing off different groups against one another, preventing any organisation from becoming powerful enough to challenge her rule. Cloning
Cloning
Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or...
is commonplace, with clones being regarded as non-people for use as expendable slave labour. Some people, known generically as espers, have various psychic
Psychic
A psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception , or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot...
powers including telekinesis, telepathy
Telepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
and teleportation
Teleportation
Teleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
- these, too, are carefully regulated and exploited by the empire.
The vast majority of imperial citizens, whilst denied many forms of political self-expression, appear to lead fairly normal lives under the fiefdoms of the different clans. The author draws a parallel to certain periods of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
, with the citizenry being kept compliant through the use of public holidays and spectacles such as gladiatorial games. Although a parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
exists, its autonomy and influence are trivial - in large part due to the widespread corruption that permeates every facet of the empire's institutions. The empire's official religion, the Church of Christ the Warrior, acts as an arm of the imperial throne and maintains its own military forces to counterbalance those of the clans.
As the series begins, a number of threats have arisen to menace the empire: from within, rebels (including rogue computer hackers
Hacker (computer security)
In computer security and everyday language, a hacker is someone who breaks into computers and computer networks. Hackers may be motivated by a multitude of reasons, including profit, protest, or because of the challenge...
known as cyberats), clones and espers have started to fight for their basic human rights, although until their disparate organisations are unified by Owen Deathstalker their efforts are largely ineffective. From without, the empire's current enemy of humanity (a title reserved for the greatest danger to the empire) is Shub - a gestalt of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
s created by the empire that, upon achieving sentience
Sentience
Sentience is the ability to feel, perceive or be conscious, or to have subjective experiences. Eighteenth century philosophers used the concept to distinguish the ability to think from the ability to feel . In modern western philosophy, sentience is the ability to have sensations or experiences...
, went rogue and escaped from imperial control.
Deathstalker Prelude
(London, Gollancz/Vista 1998; published in the United States as Twilight of the Empire)An anthology of three novellas (originally published separately) which introduce the empire and set up several plot points that would be developed in later novels. A number of important characters are featured, including the loyalist starship commander Captain John Silence, the traitorous investigator Carrion
Carrion
Carrion refers to the carcass of a dead animal. Carrion is an important food source for large carnivores and omnivores in most ecosystems. Examples of carrion-eaters include vultures, hawks, eagles, hyenas, Virginia Opossum, Tasmanian Devils, coyotes, Komodo dragons, and burying beetles...
and Silence's daughter Diana Vertue.
The anthology comprises:
Mistworld (New York, Ace 1992)
The last refuge of fleeing rebels is attacked using an esper plague, in an attempt to bring down the planet's psychic shield - its only defence against the empire.
Ghostworld (New York, Ace 1993)
A crashed alien starship containing invaluable advanced technology is discovered on the dead world of Unseeli, and a team led by the man who originally wiped out the planet's native population is sent to recover it.
Hellworld (New York, Ace 1993)
An expendable expedition is sent to investigate a planet on the galactic rim to ascertain its suitablitiy for future settlement. They encounter a world where biological reality has run haywire.
DeathstalkerDeathstalker (novel)Deathstalker is a science fiction novel by British author Simon R. Green.The second in a series of nine novels, Deathstalker is part homage to - and part parody of - the classic space operas of the 1950s, and deals with the timeless themes of honour, love, courage and betrayal.-Plot...
(London, Gollancz 1995; New York, Penguin/Roc 1995 simultaneous release)Owen Deathstalker, the reluctant heir to a warrior name, is living quietly as a historian - until he is declared an outlaw by the whim of the empress and forced to flee his cosy and privileged existence. Discovering the dark reality of an empire that is far removed from his life of comfort and wealth, he finds unlikely allies and comes to the realization that the empire, and the throne, must be cleansed.
Deathstalker RebellionDeathstalker RebellionDeathstalker Rebellion is a science fiction novel by British author Simon R Green.The third in a series of nine novels, Deathstalker Rebellion is part homage to - and part parody of - the classic space operas of the 1950s, and deals with the timeless themes of honour, love, courage and...
(London, Gollancz/Vista 1996)As the rebellion against Empress Lionstone, the "Iron Bitch", gathers pace, Owen is instrumental in uniting the disjointed efforts of the various underground groups. The Imperial Homeworld, Golgatha, is attacked by an unidentified alien starship after Owen and his companions inadvertently disable planetary defences as a side effect of a hacker strike against the banking centres of the empire.
Deathstalker WarDeathstalker WarDeathstalker War is a science fiction novel by British author Simon R Green.The fourth in a series of nine novels, Deathstalker War is part homage to - and part parody of - the classic space operas of the 1950s, and deals with the timeless themes of honour, love, courage and betrayal.-Plot...
(London, Gollancz/Vista 1997)Invasions of the rebel planet Mistworld and Owen's former fiefdom Virimonde by the imperial fleet result in bloody victories and defeats for the rebels, but the growing resistance movement cannot be stopped. An apocalyptic struggle in the streets of Golgotha's main city, the Parade of the Endless, leads up to a final confrontation with the empress herself.
Deathstalker HonourDeathstalker HonourDeathstalker Honour is a science fiction novel by British author Simon R Green.The fifth in a series of nine novels, Deathstalker Honour is part homage to - and part parody of - the classic space operas of the 1950s, and deals with the timeless themes of honour, love, courage and betrayal.-Plot...
(London, Gollancz/Vista 1998)In the aftermath of the rebellion, the old aristocracy is trying to find a place in the new order as the former heroes of the rebellion struggle to rebuild what they have destroyed. Taking advantage of humanity's weakness, old enemies such as the bio-mechanical Hadenmen and the AIs of Shub re-emerge, laying waste to entire star systems. Owen and his companions must not only cope with these, but also the even graver threat posed by a new adversary: the Recreated.
Deathstalker DestinyDeathstalker DestinyDeathstalker Destiny is a science fiction novel by British author Simon R Green.The sixth in a series of nine novels, Deathstalker Destiny is part homage to - and part parody of - the classic space operas of the 1950s, and deals with the themes of honour, love, courage and betrayal.-Plot...
(London, Orion/Millennium 1999)Facing extinction, humankind has to rely once again on the heroes of the rebellion: Shub and the Hadenmen, destroying countless worlds, must be stopped, Owen must rescue his companion Hazel D'Ark from the Blood Runners, and the Recreated must be faced head on. Many plot threads are wrapped up, including the fates of most of the major characters.
Deathstalker Legacy
(London, Orion/Gollancz 2002)Lewis Deathstalker, the latest in the family line, is a guardian of the new Golden Age ushered in by his long-dead ancestor Owen. However, betrayed by his love for the King's fiancée and finding enemies in unexpected places, it looks like he is destined to retrace his ancestor's footsteps as history begins to repeat itself.
Deathstalker Return
(New York, Roc 2004)Fleeing through the empire with imperial forces in hot pursuit, Lewis discovers legends from the past and in desperation sets out on an apparently impossible mission - the return of Owen Deathstalker.
Deathstalker Coda
(New York, Orion 2005)Together the two Deathstalkers must fight to save the empire from its greatest threat: the Terror. Whilst Lewis leads rebel forces in the present, Owen travels back to the past to try to uncover the mysteries behind the current crisis. This is the final book in the Deathstalker saga, and wraps up the remaining loose ends left by the first series.
Reaction
The Deathstalker series has had a mixed reception from reviewers, with Simeon Shoul of the science fiction, fantasy and horror website infinity plus describing the novels as "some of the most schlock space opera in the genre", before going on to say: "But, who gives a damn? It works. At times it works magnificently."Locus
Locus (magazine)
Locus, subtitled "The Magazine Of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Field", is published monthly in Oakland, California. It reports on the science fiction and fantasy publishing field, including comprehensive listings of all new books published in the genre. It is considered the news organ and trade...
magazine states that Green "makes a virtue of taking everything to extremes",. The author himself hinted at the extent to which his work should be taken as parodying the genre, saying: "Just because I take some things seriously, it doesn't mean I have to take them too seriously. I firmly believe it does people and institutions good to have the piss taken out of them at regular intervals."
Other reviewers have condemned Green's work out of hand, as comprising "constant logical inconsistencies; character inconsistencies; repetitive redundancy; cardboard characters; "kitchen sink" disease..." John Berlyne, on the sfsite, despite a largely favourable review describes Deathstalker as "a kind of fast food science fiction", catering for mass-market appeal with more attention paid to "'edge of one's seat' thrills" than plotting.
Influences
According to its author, the Deathstalker concept - and specifically the character of Owen Deathstalker - was conceived after watching CasablancaCasablanca (film)
Casablanca is a 1942 American romantic drama film directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid, and featuring Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre and Dooley Wilson. Set during World War II, it focuses on a man torn between, in...
and Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
one evening: "It started me thinking; in Star Wars, all these rebel fleets and bases and so on, who's paying for them? What if there was just one man, with no backing, starting a rebellion on his own? And that's where Owen Deathstalker came from."
Green also cites veteran space opera
Space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
author Leigh Brackett
Leigh Brackett
Leigh Douglass Brackett was an American author, particularly of science fiction. She was also a screenwriter, known for her work on famous films such as The Big Sleep , Rio Bravo , The Long Goodbye and The Empire Strikes Back .-Life:Leigh Brackett was born and grew up in Los Angeles, California...
as a particular influence on the style of the Deathstalker series. Other writers he acknowledges include Robert E Howard, Michael Moorcock
Michael Moorcock
Michael John Moorcock is an English writer, primarily of science fiction and fantasy, who has also published a number of literary novels....
, Roger Zelazny
Roger Zelazny
Roger Joseph Zelazny was an American writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels, best known for his The Chronicles of Amber series...
, Joseph Delaney
Joseph Delaney
Joseph Henry Delaney is a British former educator and currently an author of science fiction and fantasy books.-Life and career:On first leaving school, Delaney started work as an apprentice engineer. Upon the completion of his schooling, he went on to become an English instructor, with his initial...
, Harlan Ellison
Harlan Ellison
Harlan Jay Ellison is an American writer. His principal genre is speculative fiction.His published works include over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, teleplays, essays, a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media...
and Norman Spinrad
Norman Spinrad
Norman Richard Spinrad is an American science fiction author.Born in New York City, Spinrad is a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science. In 1957 he entered City College of New York and graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree as a pre-law major. In 1966 he moved to San Francisco,...
.