The Stainless Steel Rat

The monicker 'Stainless Steel Rat' comes from a series of science fiction novels written by Harry Harrison from the 1960's through the 1990's. My first memorable foray into the literary world of science fiction was with the Han Solo novels written by Brian Daley. These books were published in the interim between Star Wars and the Empire Strikes Back. I was a young man with a hunger for adventures in space that was fueled by my uncle Dean's treasure trove of science fiction novels. Han Solo had captured my imagination like no other character before and after devouring those novels I was hungry for more of the same. Around this period of time my father was diagnosed with cancer. He would often have to take trips with my mother to Omaha for treatments. On one of these occasions we were staying with my grandmother and I was scouring my uncle's shelves for something to read. I came across The Adventures of the Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison.
The tales of "Slippery" Jim DiGriz, master criminal, stainless steel rat in the wainscotting of society, were just what I needed. Slippery Jim DiGriz was the mold from which Han Solo was created and this book made an indelible impression on me. This was my first non-Star Wars science fiction experience and though admittedly not "high literature" this book and its sequels are and always will be near the top of any "best of" reading list of mine.
Through the years I've paid homage to the Stainless Steel Rat and his creator with email addresses, computer game character names, etc and so when the time came to name this blog the choice was an obvious one. Thank you Harry Harrison, and thank you Slippery Jim.....