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Victim #3
Hunter/Victim
Frank Blackwell, a widower, is selected to participate in an underground operation known as the hunt, and while he stalks his victim he himself will be the target of the world's top assassins
- GenresScience FictionFiction
269 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
13 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
Robert Sheckley
1,395 books669 followersOne of science fiction's great humorists, Sheckley was a prolific short story writer beginning in 1952 with titles including "Specialist", "Pilgrimage to Earth", "Warm", "The Prize of Peril", and "Seventh Victim", collected in volumes from Untouched by Human Hands (1954) to Is That What People Do? (1984) and a five-volume set of Collected Stories (1991). His first novel, Immortality, Inc. (1958), was followed by The Status Civilization (1960), Journey Beyond Tomorrow (1962), Mindswap (1966), and several others. Sheckley served as fiction editor for Omni magazine from January 1980 through September 1981, and was named Author Emeritus by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2001.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 7, 2020
A novel of dry wit, suspense, action and satire, July 20, 2017
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Hunter/Victim (Kindle Edition)
The product details in the Amazon listing show this to be 5 pages in length. That is incorrect, this is a novel first published, I believe, in 1987.
This well written, entertaining novel is a tongue-in-cheek tale full of dry wit, satire, word play and sardonic observations about people and institutions. If you grow tired of the tart observations concerning big business and other things frequently associated with what is often known as the right in American politics, persevere. Mr. Sheckley is soon goring sacred cows usually associated with what is considered to be the American left. In addition, this is an excellent suspense novel with a touch of romance. Romance twisted by Mr. Sheckley's quick and strange wit.
This novel is part of the same universe as VICTIM PRIME, THE 10th VICTIM and the short story SEVENTH VICTIM. Mr. Sheckley expanded Seventh Victim into the novel The 10th Victim after the release of the 1960's Italian movie of the same title which starred Marcello Mastroianni and Ursula Andress.
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Hunter/Victim (Kindle Edition)
The product details in the Amazon listing show this to be 5 pages in length. That is incorrect, this is a novel first published, I believe, in 1987.
This well written, entertaining novel is a tongue-in-cheek tale full of dry wit, satire, word play and sardonic observations about people and institutions. If you grow tired of the tart observations concerning big business and other things frequently associated with what is often known as the right in American politics, persevere. Mr. Sheckley is soon goring sacred cows usually associated with what is considered to be the American left. In addition, this is an excellent suspense novel with a touch of romance. Romance twisted by Mr. Sheckley's quick and strange wit.
This novel is part of the same universe as VICTIM PRIME, THE 10th VICTIM and the short story SEVENTH VICTIM. Mr. Sheckley expanded Seventh Victim into the novel The 10th Victim after the release of the 1960's Italian movie of the same title which starred Marcello Mastroianni and Ursula Andress.
July 13, 2022
Book 3 in the Victim Series by Robert Sheckley is remarkable as one of those stories where the author humbly mentions themselves and their books. A decent mindless pulp fiction for leisure reading!
June 29, 2025
http://whatsread.pp.ua/work/9943
Буквально з перших рядків: "...Переможець усіх десяти Полювань наділяється практично необмеженими цивільними, фінансовими, політичними і сексуальними правами..." уже виникає певний сумнів в адекватності чи то світу автора, чи то самого автора. На жаль і далі за текстом роману автор нас не розчаровує і продовжує гнути свою лінію. А ознайомившись трохи з творчістю Шеклі й усвідомивши, що це не поодинокий прокол, а ціла серія (плюс деяке перегукування з іншими прикладами його творчості), розумієш, що автора на темі вбивств, жертв, канібалізму та "сексуальних прав" клинило всерйоз і надовго.
Чесно не знаю, навіщо я це читав (напевно, не так багато в мене залишилося нечитаного з Шеклі, і хотілося закрити прогалину), але практично весь роман викликав певне відторгнення і навіть огиду. Починаючи від самого початку, зі сцен пальців, що залишилися в руці, розітнутого, спливаючого кров'ю тіла дружини, і далі за перебігом, як автор смакував тему вбивства і його доцільності і, скажімо так, буденності, повсякденності цього діяння, чи що. І закінчуючи сценами підготовки та здійснення кривавих нікому не потрібних революцій і сценками-натяками на канібалізм. Усе це рясно присмачене наркотиками і розгульним життям. Тож на мою думку - від дітей і підлітків тримати подалі, а ще краще - викинути.
Це що стосується ідеї та сюжету, тепер же спробую оцінити інші художні "чесноти". Фірмового шеклівського гумору немає й близько, все картонне, герої картонні, діалоги виглядають чи то як пародія на гангстерські фільми, чи то як пародія на змову світового уряду (самі в себе купують зброю, щоб практично в одній зі своїх вотчин організувати чергову різанину, яку називають революцією, увесь процес курується на вищому рівні як таємними організаціями, так і самою державою через ЦРУ). Світ - чи то утопія, чи то пародія на утопію. Загалом навіть писати далі не хочеться, з оцінкою коливався від двох до чотирьох (але чотири - це явно перегин) за десятибальною шкалою. 3/10
Буквально з перших рядків: "...Переможець усіх десяти Полювань наділяється практично необмеженими цивільними, фінансовими, політичними і сексуальними правами..." уже виникає певний сумнів в адекватності чи то світу автора, чи то самого автора. На жаль і далі за текстом роману автор нас не розчаровує і продовжує гнути свою лінію. А ознайомившись трохи з творчістю Шеклі й усвідомивши, що це не поодинокий прокол, а ціла серія (плюс деяке перегукування з іншими прикладами його творчості), розумієш, що автора на темі вбивств, жертв, канібалізму та "сексуальних прав" клинило всерйоз і надовго.
Чесно не знаю, навіщо я це читав (напевно, не так багато в мене залишилося нечитаного з Шеклі, і хотілося закрити прогалину), але практично весь роман викликав певне відторгнення і навіть огиду. Починаючи від самого початку, зі сцен пальців, що залишилися в руці, розітнутого, спливаючого кров'ю тіла дружини, і далі за перебігом, як автор смакував тему вбивства і його доцільності і, скажімо так, буденності, повсякденності цього діяння, чи що. І закінчуючи сценами підготовки та здійснення кривавих нікому не потрібних революцій і сценками-натяками на канібалізм. Усе це рясно присмачене наркотиками і розгульним життям. Тож на мою думку - від дітей і підлітків тримати подалі, а ще краще - викинути.
Це що стосується ідеї та сюжету, тепер же спробую оцінити інші художні "чесноти". Фірмового шеклівського гумору немає й близько, все картонне, герої картонні, діалоги виглядають чи то як пародія на гангстерські фільми, чи то як пародія на змову світового уряду (самі в себе купують зброю, щоб практично в одній зі своїх вотчин організувати чергову різанину, яку називають революцією, увесь процес курується на вищому рівні як таємними організаціями, так і самою державою через ЦРУ). Світ - чи то утопія, чи то пародія на утопію. Загалом навіть писати далі не хочеться, з оцінкою коливався від двох до чотирьох (але чотири - це явно перегин) за десятибальною шкалою. 3/10
January 21, 2019
I really enjoyed the first one a lot. This one deviated from the straight up Hunter-Victim kill or be killed.
April 16, 2020
very funny and entertaining
January 10, 2022
Molto bello anche se il finale convulso è un po' tirato per i capelli e l'essenza della Caccia è cambiata.
May 16, 2024
An entertaining follow-up to Sheckley's 'The 10th Victim', returning us to a near future where war has been abolished and replaced by a hugely popular spectator game in which humans hunt one another through urban settings. Published in the 1950s, this book will remind readers of later classics such as Stephen King's 'The Running Man', and the 'Death Race' films. As with so much of Sheckley's work, this is a fun read, and very much ahead of its time.
November 18, 2010
pulpaweek.blogspot.com
'His wife, an innocent victim, was slain in a senseless act of terrorism. And now, Frank Blackwell was a perfect recruit for the underground operation known to a select few as the Hunt. In a world on of exterminating itself, the men and women of the Hunt sought to create order out of deadly chaos, choosing Victims with care. Blackwell was chosen to exterminate one of the world's major gunrunners, a man who almost singlehandedly could supply the equipment to launch the Third World War. It was a once-in-a-lifetime assignment that could see Blackwell stalked by the top assassins of every undercover power around the globe- in a fast-paced game of blood and betrayal!' -The back cover
Copyright 1988, published by Signet. 269 pages. $3.50 cover price.
This is the third book in the Hunter series by Robert Sheckley, and is something of a prequel. The book begins with Frank Blackwell having a terrible time on a trip to Paris: arguing with his wife, having his travellers checks stolen and then finally witnessing his still upset wife blown in half during an attack by some Balkan terrorists seeking a 'free Montenegro.' Frank returned to the US vowing, “somebody's going to pay for this.” He repeats this mantra to everyone he knows until he gets the attention of Minska, a Polish tavern keeper in New Jersey whom Frank had seen photos of in Soldier of Fortune. Frank asks the man about how he can become a mercenary himself because, well, “I want to kill somebody, Minska.” The ex-merc tavern keeper knows a better way: he takes down Frank’s number and has him contacted by the Hunters. Frank, a free-lance book editor with no combat experience or know-how, has just become an assassin for a shadowy organization.
This all sounds rather dark and grim (which it is), but the book lightens up quite a bit at this point. Peppered throughout all the vengeance and murder is a farce about spies and international intrigue, which has before and since been used as a vehicle for laughs in countless films and novels. Blackwell is educated by the Hunters much like a college student would be: he has an “unarmed combat” class, an “explosives” class, and finally the “professional killing” class--all with whimsical details and deadly results. Once he is deemed ready, Frank is handed a dossier for “Alfonso Alberto Guzman Torres,” the aforementioned gun runner that had been active politically and militarily in Guatemala and Nicaragua. Frank was informed that his anticipated success rate--and therefore chance of his survival--was very low. This didn't seem to bother Blackwell, who had fostered quite the death wish over the last year.
After a period of planning, the book is crammed with mayhem and hijinks due to either a blunder caused by Blackwell, or some double cross by one of the many shadowy organizations that pop up in this book (the CIA, an Armenian cartel, etc). Minska accompanies our protagonist and pulls him out of the fire on numerous occasions, cracking jokes and making dry commentary all the while. Guzman is an extremely paranoid individual with a long list of enemies, which does not help our hero’s cause in the least. In the 269 quick pages of Hunter/Victim, there are a few torture scenes, plenty of shoot-outs, a sexy double agent or two, and pages worth of cheesy one liners to lighten up the non-stop violence. All in all, Hunter/Victim is a fun book, but it is pretty shallow outside of the action from the few notable characters it has.
Labeling Hunter/Victim as 'Sci-Fi' (as the publisher did at the time) seems rather erroneous as there isn't anything scientific outside of the stock spy gadgets you would expect out of any James Bond vehicle, but I will let it slide and add it as a label. If you prefer your explosions in your imagination rather than on the big screen, you will definitely enjoy this paperback.
'I couldn't let that fat slob shoot you' -Mercedes, sexy double agent.
Thank to my homegirl @lbnass for the edits
'His wife, an innocent victim, was slain in a senseless act of terrorism. And now, Frank Blackwell was a perfect recruit for the underground operation known to a select few as the Hunt. In a world on of exterminating itself, the men and women of the Hunt sought to create order out of deadly chaos, choosing Victims with care. Blackwell was chosen to exterminate one of the world's major gunrunners, a man who almost singlehandedly could supply the equipment to launch the Third World War. It was a once-in-a-lifetime assignment that could see Blackwell stalked by the top assassins of every undercover power around the globe- in a fast-paced game of blood and betrayal!' -The back cover
Copyright 1988, published by Signet. 269 pages. $3.50 cover price.
This is the third book in the Hunter series by Robert Sheckley, and is something of a prequel. The book begins with Frank Blackwell having a terrible time on a trip to Paris: arguing with his wife, having his travellers checks stolen and then finally witnessing his still upset wife blown in half during an attack by some Balkan terrorists seeking a 'free Montenegro.' Frank returned to the US vowing, “somebody's going to pay for this.” He repeats this mantra to everyone he knows until he gets the attention of Minska, a Polish tavern keeper in New Jersey whom Frank had seen photos of in Soldier of Fortune. Frank asks the man about how he can become a mercenary himself because, well, “I want to kill somebody, Minska.” The ex-merc tavern keeper knows a better way: he takes down Frank’s number and has him contacted by the Hunters. Frank, a free-lance book editor with no combat experience or know-how, has just become an assassin for a shadowy organization.
This all sounds rather dark and grim (which it is), but the book lightens up quite a bit at this point. Peppered throughout all the vengeance and murder is a farce about spies and international intrigue, which has before and since been used as a vehicle for laughs in countless films and novels. Blackwell is educated by the Hunters much like a college student would be: he has an “unarmed combat” class, an “explosives” class, and finally the “professional killing” class--all with whimsical details and deadly results. Once he is deemed ready, Frank is handed a dossier for “Alfonso Alberto Guzman Torres,” the aforementioned gun runner that had been active politically and militarily in Guatemala and Nicaragua. Frank was informed that his anticipated success rate--and therefore chance of his survival--was very low. This didn't seem to bother Blackwell, who had fostered quite the death wish over the last year.
After a period of planning, the book is crammed with mayhem and hijinks due to either a blunder caused by Blackwell, or some double cross by one of the many shadowy organizations that pop up in this book (the CIA, an Armenian cartel, etc). Minska accompanies our protagonist and pulls him out of the fire on numerous occasions, cracking jokes and making dry commentary all the while. Guzman is an extremely paranoid individual with a long list of enemies, which does not help our hero’s cause in the least. In the 269 quick pages of Hunter/Victim, there are a few torture scenes, plenty of shoot-outs, a sexy double agent or two, and pages worth of cheesy one liners to lighten up the non-stop violence. All in all, Hunter/Victim is a fun book, but it is pretty shallow outside of the action from the few notable characters it has.
Labeling Hunter/Victim as 'Sci-Fi' (as the publisher did at the time) seems rather erroneous as there isn't anything scientific outside of the stock spy gadgets you would expect out of any James Bond vehicle, but I will let it slide and add it as a label. If you prefer your explosions in your imagination rather than on the big screen, you will definitely enjoy this paperback.
'I couldn't let that fat slob shoot you' -Mercedes, sexy double agent.
Thank to my homegirl @lbnass for the edits
August 19, 2014
I purchased this book many years ago, having enjoyed the previous two books in the series a great deal but uncertain about a prequel. I think it's good that I've waited, as my tastes in literature have matured in that time and I'm better able to say what I like or dislike about what I'm reading.
Firstly, it struck me that in writing style Sheckley felt very much like he was perfectly between Douglas Adams and William Gibson - lighter than Adams in satirical humor, not so style obsessed as Gibson, while still possessing favorable attributes of both.
That said, the plot was almost too scattered to be considered rambling. I understand that there was an effort to bring multiple different elements in towards the absurdist ending, however it detracted from the main narrative of the sympathetic figure in Blackwell. As smirk inducing as reading about a fussy French chef cooking for freedom fighters in Nicaragua, there were about forty pages of throw-away events. Forty pages I would have rather had exploring Blackwell and his dilemmas.
That's not to say that I didn't appreciate the story, I did. But after a while, when we're constantly exploring a new character every dozen pages with their own very specific and detailed quirks, I wanted to stop and savor a bit.
Firstly, it struck me that in writing style Sheckley felt very much like he was perfectly between Douglas Adams and William Gibson - lighter than Adams in satirical humor, not so style obsessed as Gibson, while still possessing favorable attributes of both.
That said, the plot was almost too scattered to be considered rambling. I understand that there was an effort to bring multiple different elements in towards the absurdist ending, however it detracted from the main narrative of the sympathetic figure in Blackwell. As smirk inducing as reading about a fussy French chef cooking for freedom fighters in Nicaragua, there were about forty pages of throw-away events. Forty pages I would have rather had exploring Blackwell and his dilemmas.
That's not to say that I didn't appreciate the story, I did. But after a while, when we're constantly exploring a new character every dozen pages with their own very specific and detailed quirks, I wanted to stop and savor a bit.
July 16, 2021
This is such a weird interesting story. It's about how legalized murder could become a thing. Logically it doesnt have alot of flaws. This is an idea that I find absolutely terrifying because it would work. Instead of wasting money policing ppl and fighting for justice, life and death is turned into a game where no innocent lives are taken. Its kill or be killed but only if you agree to it. This is the origins of such a system. Like most most origins stories its just so sad. I mean one minute you are making up with the person you just swore to cherish protect and create a future with then BOOM! (LITERALLY) It's all over via terrorist attack. The people responsible die in a storm of bullets from the police trying to avoid apprehension. So vengeance isnt an option, neither is enjoying any part of the life you wanted. I dont think the obvious trip is to become a mercenary but it does make for an interesting tale. This is the last book in the series but a prequel. I found Hunter/Victim interesting because it made me question manipulation and the excuses people create to succumb to base desires. I love when Robert Sheckley goes all meta.
October 10, 2007
Entertaining. Witty. A good conclusion to a great little series.
November 29, 2009
An odd speculation based on the legalization of assisted suicide. People sign a suicide agreement and then take turns hunting and being hunted by strangers.
May 3, 2011
I read this years ago, never realized it was book 3 of a series!
November 23, 2015
არ მომეწონა, თან ძალიან.
რატომ გაუჩნდა შეკლის ამისი დაწერის და მერე გამოქვეყნების სურვილი, ვერ ვხვდები.
რატომ გაუჩნდა შეკლის ამისი დაწერის და მერე გამოქვეყნების სურვილი, ვერ ვხვდები.
August 21, 2015
Love this author. Always fun great read!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews