A day for damnation (The war against the Chtorr)

by David Gerrold

Book Overview

McCarthy was drafted from his college biology studies and became a member of the Special Forces. Then he is given the opportunity to contact the Chtorr, but when a helicopter crash leaves him and his... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671492586
• ISBN13: 9780671492588
• Release Date: January 1984
• Publisher: Distributed by Simon and Schuster
• Length: 382 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A crazy rollercoaster on the way to nowhere...

and I'm taking you with me! I read this one first, then read the other 3. I still found this to be the best one, and after reading some of the others and David's Gerrolds website, I worry about both the state of the Chtorr infested Earth and Mr Gerrolds mental state in equal measure! As an biologist, I could see the obvious effort made into creating a believable alien ecology and he uses this book to great effect to consolidate the ground laid in book 1 (indeed much like the chtorran invasion!). The description of the speeded up ecology witnessed by the hero and his squeeze in the downed gunship is beautifully realised and the quality of the writing runs throughout the book, and indeed the series. I would worry as to the direction of the series, however, overall the reader wants answers that are not forthcoming and you get the impression Mr Gerrold himself doesn't really know how to move the series forward. In the planned 5th/6th book, he appears to suggest if you write yourself up as a character and bung him a few quid, you will be a "star" of the book, and be killed off in a variety of interesting and imaginative ways! Which is a shame, because book 2 established some nice architecture to the overall plot and it would be a shame to see the whole thing disintegrate into a mess. Of course this could be an allegorical manifestation of the seemingly entropic nature of the Invasion. Or am I wrong? Spoiler warning - As I recall, by the end of book 4, there appears to be no indication of the rhyme or reason, or intelligence behind the invasion and there is a limit to the amount of navel gazing and "worm empathising" that the series can stand. So Mr Gerold, if Book 5 is rubbish, chuck it out, re-read this book and guide the saga (and this is a saga) back onto the high quality rails it started off on.

A Case for a Classic

The War against the Chtorr series of books was first published in the mid eighties. At a later point, the incomplete series was rereleased with a few changes. I first read the first three novels in a single hardback collection that I borrowed from a friend's house, and loved it. At the time, I was unaware that David Gerrold had also written "the Trouble with Tribbles." This set has been with me through multiple moves, and is the last book I will read this millenium. This series has not become dated--in fact, many of the thoughts remain refreshingly new. David has created a very complete world that is easy to enjoy. The characterizations are complex, the plot engaging, and along with the intense descriptions combine to present a seamless experience. However, the series remains unfinished, so ultimately, you must resolve the fate of the world yourself.

Hopeful for the rest...

It was a great book, but he never finished the series, if anyone get find him and tell him, i know a few hundred people or so that would buy the next ones for sure

One of the ten best SF books ever

Although Gerrold spends time warning the reader that the book is not meant to be didactic, it could be one of the best business books ever written. The premise of the book is pretty mundane and the cover is embarrassing, but the series is one of my favorites.