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Deathstalker Returns by Simon R. Green
01/03/2007 . Source: Tomas L. Martin 
pub: Gollancz. 390 page hardback. Price: £18.99 (UK). ISBN: 0-575-07508-2 - 390 page enlarged paperback. Price: £10.99 (UK). ISBN: 0-575-07507-4. Buy Deathstalker Returns in the USA - or Buy Deathstalker Returns in the UK  check out website: www.orionbooks.co.uk www.orionbooks.co.uk
Simon R. Green's 'Deathstalker' books have picked up rather a cult following as a humorous space opera action series. The nine book cycle follows various generations of the Deathstalker family, great warriors amid a number of periods of galactic strife.
In 'Deathstalker Returns', the focus is on Lewis Deathstalker, previously friend to the King but now exiled as a traitor with all of the Empire against him. With a few eclectic companions, he sets off in an attempt to find out what happened to his ancestor, Owen.
Via a number of side-plots on a myriad of strange worlds, Lewis recreates a picture of what happens in the past. In the process, fighting a number of battles mirroring Owen's and in turn becoming another great warrior.
When the Terror appears, a phenomenon of unrivalled power that sweeps across the galaxy eating whole worlds and star systems, Lewis realises that only by finding Owen and reviving him can the galaxy be saved.
Whilst this goes on, King Duncan is having trouble of his own, with the evil Finn Durandal plotting treason. Having already driven Lewis away, he now wants the throne for himself and produces the brother of the king, long thought dead, in an attempt to overthrow Duncan.
Green writes with a lot of humour, with many of Lewis' companions including cowardly conman Brett Random, psychopathic giantess Rose and weird reptile Saturday producing many wry moments. When the battles grow fierce, the action is bloody, exciting and overblown, which can be very enjoyable.
The plot in this book is so-so. Some of the political intrigue is good and some sequences, particularly those surrounding the Deathstalker Standing ruins, are both exciting and interesting. When coupled with the humour, this can flow extremely well.
Other times, not so much. When reading this, I can't help feeling that there's so much excess story that could easily be trimmed and edited. For a nine-book sequence, it has a lot of flab and I really doubt it needed to be this long. Of course, with sequences like 'The Wheel Of Time' making so much money I can understand the reasoning, but that doesn't mean I agree with it.
If you're a fan of over-blown, bombastic space opera with larger-than-life characters and technology then this will more than entertain you on a rainy day. I just wish they'd spent more time refining and cutting it down into a few less books and made me feel less used in feeling like I have to read all nine books to get the full enjoyment out of it.
Tomas L. Martin
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