Jim and Angelina are on holiday on the paradise planet Lussuoso, where the very, very rich can avail themselves of rejuvenating treatments and become young again. Just when boredom seems about to set in, Jim learns that Angelina has disappeared, seemingly the victim of a religious scam.
Evil genius Justin Slakey has a machine that allows him to travel between universes. He uses it to prey on religious believers, tricking them out of their money and then using them as slaves in his coal mines. Aided by his twin sons, James and Bolivar, Slippery Jim descends to a planet that seems to be a real-life version of Hell - and when you can't take metal weapons between the universes, what do you arm yourselves with? Salami, of course.
New York: Tor, November 1996, 253pp., ISBN: 0-312-86063-3, hbk. Jacket: Walter Velez.
New York: Science Fiction Book Club, 253pp., hbk. Jacket: Walter Velez.
Kaunas: Eridanas (Vilnius: Spauda), 1996, 207pp., ISBN: 9986-486-36-X. Translated by Vida Brazauskienė. [Lithuanian]
London: Orion, March 1997, 245pp., ISBN: 1-85798-492-7. Jacket: Walter Velez.
as: Die Stahlratte Fährt zur Hölle. Munich: Heyne, 1997, 316pp., ISBN: 3-453-13303-X, pbk. Translated by Ronald M. Hahn. Cover: Karel Thole. [German]
as: Stalowy Szczur Idzie Do Piekla. Poland: Amber,1997, ISBN: 83-7169-380-X. Translated by Jaroslaw Kotarski. [Polish]
New York: Tor, January 1998, 256pp., ISBN: 0-812-55107-9, pbk. Cover: Walter Velez.
London: Orion, December 1998, 244pp., ISBN: 0-75281-719-1, pbk. Cover: Walter Velez.
Absolute Magnitude (15th
"Slippery Jim DiGriz is back and better than ever. It's been a while since
the last Stainless Steel Rat adventure, but
Harrison hasn't lost the light satirical touch that
makes this series such a joy to read... another grand adventure."
SFX, May 1997. Review by Anthony Brown.
"A lacklustre rehash of The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World ...
no plot development, and no swinging digs at organised religion."
Starburst #226, 1997. Review by Tony Lee.
"It's hard to believe that Harrison's slippery anti-hero has been around as
long as I have, but this ninth book in the Rat series is a testament to
the enduring popularity of diGriz and Co.
Although this novel lacks the sardonic bite and compelling vigour of
earlier adventures it boasts hyperactive if somewhat uncomplicated
entertainment and lots of shock-of-the-old witticisms targeting space
opera, delivered with bags of good humour, albeit all too often to the
point of self-indulgence. If you would like to know why space marines carry
salami into battle, then this is the book for you."
The Stainless Steel Rat Series