I can't remember....

[mjr]

We've all run into those brick walls. Some of us more often than others.

OK, I admit I'm getting old. And I've read a [u]lot[u] of books as I've wandered through life. But there are two that have been on my mind (I'm trying to do a paper on juvenile scifi then and now.)

The first book has an alien character that is an ambassador or avatar and has this great line where he tells the protaganist about being 'set upon by doodlehums' (hoodlums). Is this enough to ring a bell with anyone?

The other was one of my brothers' and a series (3 I think). In the first book the main character was a con man who got invovled with a colony where everyone had become a super warrior. Everything on the planet, plant and animal, was bent on offing the humans. And in one of the sequals he sucks the bad guy into an argument about ethics and ethos solely to get his hands on a book to throw (at the controls?)

I know this isn't much to go on and it's been...oh, I don't even want to admit how long it's been. But any help would be appreciated.

[squidboy]

The other was one of my brothers' and a series (3 I think). In the first book the main character was a con man who got invovled with a colony where everyone had become a super warrior. Everything on the planet, plant and animal, was bent on offing the humans. And in one of the sequals he sucks the bad guy into an argument about ethics and ethos solely to get his hands on a book to throw (at the controls?)

Sounds like the Deathworld trilogy by Harry Harrison.

[captain button]

mjr wrote:

The first book has an alien character that is an ambassador or avatar and has this great line where he tells the protagonist about being 'set upon by doodlehums' (hoodlums). Is this enough to ring a bell with anyone?

This is almost certainly Doorways in the Sand by Roger Zelazny. The "doodlehums" line comes from Ragma, an alien cop posing as a wombat.

A very funny book, a favorite of mine. Later on there is a telepathic alien psychotherapist who practices "assault therapy".

[mjr]

quote]

Sounds like the Deathworld trilogy by Harry Harrison.

That's it! Thanks so much, Squid.

[mjr]

This is almost certainly Doorways in the Sand by Roger Zelazny. The "doodlehums" line comes from Ragma, an alien cop posing as a wombat.

A very funny book, a favorite of mine. Later on there is a telepathic alien psychotherapist who practices "assault therapy".

No one I knew had the slightest clue. Thanks muchly! Gives me an excuse to head for my favorite book store:^)

[dr-phil-physics]

My wife and I love "Doorways in the Sand". If you've ever been tempted to become a professional student and hang around college forever, you should read this book. (grin)

We long ago decided that after reading about "an alien in a wombat suit", that one of our cats is "an alien in a cat suit", because he isn't aloof at all. Reason enough to be kicked out of the Cat Union, except that since he isn't really a cat, all we have to do is worry about the wombats. Er, sorry, the aliens.

Dr. Phil