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Berserker #11
Shiva in Steel
In a continuation of the series about a race of intelligent machines dedicated to destroying all organic life, a Berserker computer, nicknamed Shiva for the Hindu god of destruction, sets out to annihilate entire human colonies with the help of its evil subordinates
318 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1998
11 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
Fred Saberhagen
335 books496 followersFred Saberhagen was an American science fiction and fantasy author most famous for his ''Beserker'' and Dracula stories.
Saberhagen also wrote a series of a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular ''Empire of the East'' and continuing through a long series of ''Swords'' and ''Lost Swords'' novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an It was while he was working for Motorola (after his military service) that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, ''The Golden People''.
From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as well as writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter.
Saberhagen also wrote a series of a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular ''Empire of the East'' and continuing through a long series of ''Swords'' and ''Lost Swords'' novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an It was while he was working for Motorola (after his military service) that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, ''The Golden People''.
From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as well as writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 9, 2011
A decent and under appreciated series. In this installment of of Saberhagen's man vs killer machines war series we getting a full novel, rather then the usual collection of short stories and it is a classic 'base under siege' story, as a human base prepares to attack a Berserker stronghold.
Not bad, as there are a mix of characters dealing with the coming battle. Unfortunately, Sabrehagen decides to focus on spacer for hire with a noble streak and Han Solo clone, Harry Silver.
Shame, as there is a good mix of people and as the book progresses, they become supporting cast for Harry. so, characterization is pretty flat, which hurts the book as it's a pretty standard war story, that has been moved into space.
So, the combo of cliched story and weak characters drags the story down and the last part, which should be the attention grabbing finale is only okay and the various after the battle epilogues are a struggle to get through.
Decent, but could have been so much better.
Not bad, as there are a mix of characters dealing with the coming battle. Unfortunately, Sabrehagen decides to focus on spacer for hire with a noble streak and Han Solo clone, Harry Silver.
Shame, as there is a good mix of people and as the book progresses, they become supporting cast for Harry. so, characterization is pretty flat, which hurts the book as it's a pretty standard war story, that has been moved into space.
So, the combo of cliched story and weak characters drags the story down and the last part, which should be the attention grabbing finale is only okay and the various after the battle epilogues are a struggle to get through.
Decent, but could have been so much better.
January 13, 2016
I made it through Saberhagen's (then) new Berserker novel, but just barely-- the opening moves like rush-hour traffic in L.A.: S - L - O - W. Once it gets moving [around p. 160(!)] it's not too bad. Inside the padding is a pretty decent novellette struggling to get out. Maybe. The characters are so flat, cardboard looks well-rounded. Plot-threads dangle, and logical holes gape. Saberhagen clearly lost interest at the first draft, and his editor didn't send it back for a badly-needed rewrite....
Shiva in Steel somehow got a good review in Locus, which is why I bought it (besides having liked previous Berserker stories). So I suppose YMMV, but I doubt it. Trust me -- you don't want to read
this one. Reread an old Berserker book instead. It's bad enough, I felt guilty recycling it to the used bookstore.
Shiva in Steel somehow got a good review in Locus, which is why I bought it (besides having liked previous Berserker stories). So I suppose YMMV, but I doubt it. Trust me -- you don't want to read
this one. Reread an old Berserker book instead. It's bad enough, I felt guilty recycling it to the used bookstore.
May 21, 2010
I normally enjoy the Berserker books, but this one was not great.
It kind of felt like Saberhagen was just phoning it in for a paycheck this time.
Several of the main characters were recycled from earlier Berserker books despite the series's usually episodic nature. Several major plot points weren't explained; significant figures are mentioned, but the reader is just expected to remember them from another book.
The narrative was confusing at times. The action jumped from character to character, sometimes even backtracking without bothering to explain why.
If you're a completionist, you'll probably read it anyway. If you're not, I'd recommend just going back and reading Brother Assassin again.
It kind of felt like Saberhagen was just phoning it in for a paycheck this time.
Several of the main characters were recycled from earlier Berserker books despite the series's usually episodic nature. Several major plot points weren't explained; significant figures are mentioned, but the reader is just expected to remember them from another book.
The narrative was confusing at times. The action jumped from character to character, sometimes even backtracking without bothering to explain why.
If you're a completionist, you'll probably read it anyway. If you're not, I'd recommend just going back and reading Brother Assassin again.
January 8, 2016
It's a decent pulp read - the kind you blaze through lying on a beach hammock, without much to think about and process. It's simple, it's really, really fast, and follows some fairly standard tropes - the kind that can be churned out quickly as well.
That said, there's some pretty interesting moments, concepts, and characters along the way. The book's a bit dated, but has a very retro-classic flavor - like a trashy 80's movie - that's unpretentiously fun.
That said, there's some pretty interesting moments, concepts, and characters along the way. The book's a bit dated, but has a very retro-classic flavor - like a trashy 80's movie - that's unpretentiously fun.
April 12, 2012
I did not like this. I used to love the Berserker series. Was this a fluke? Or did I read the series long ago and my tastes have changed? I did not like the characters and was one or more steps ahead of them in the story.
March 25, 2014
Dar tokios nuobodžios ir tragiškos mokslinės fantastikos knygos senai neskaičiau. Knygą skaičiau perversdamas vis po 10-20 lapų, bet net ir tokiu tempu tai jautėsi kaip kankynė. Siaubas.
June 14, 2023
There is a potentially good novel here, perhaps an excellent novella. However this potential is not developed very well. A couple subplots with weird characters and a tangential McGuffin hamper the overall story, which is primarily focused on the build-up to a massive battle. I liked the characters of Harry Silver and Commander Normandy and I would have liked to have seen their interaction as the center of the book. There is also a tendency for information to be repeated and for key plot points to come as narrative summary rather than dialogue or action. The Berserkers, and the title menace, are off-screen for two-thirds of the book and are even thinner as characters than usual in Berserker stories. This was definitely a weak entry in the series.
October 13, 2018
Plieninis Š...
September 22, 2025
I've read quite a number of Saberhagen's Berserker stories and novels. This one is the weakest.
November 25, 2025
Scifi, book, machine against man, sometimes, bad guys stay bad guys; no mater how much good they end up doing!!!
Want to read
April 7, 2016Another book in the Berserker series by the Grand Master of Sci Fi and fantasy. Battling machines programmed to kill all Human life has been the premise of this series. Here I go again into the galactic battle with Saberhagen. No better place to be.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews