Planet of the Warlord

Infobox Book |
name = Planet of the Warlord


author = Douglas Hill
country = UK
language = English
series = Last Legionary
genre = Science Fiction
publisher = Gollancz
pub_date = 3 Sep 1981 (1st edition)
media_type = Print (Hardcover)
pages = 128 Hardcover
isbn = ISBN 978-0575030091 Hardcover
preceded_by = Day of the Starwind

"Planet of the Warlord" is a young adult science fiction novel by Douglas Hill first published in 1981. It is the fourth and final book in the Last Legionary series which has been described as a simplified version of E. E. Smith's Lensman series. [cite book
last = Sullivan
first = C.W.
title = Young Adult Science Fiction (Contributions to the Study of Science Fiction and Fantasy)
publisher = Greenwood Press
date = 1999-03-30
location =
pages = 44
isbn = 978-0313289408]

Plot summary

Keill Randor has left the Overseers, and abandoned their plan of subtle investigation. He has entered the Battle Rites of Banthei, a galactic ultimate fighting contest. He is the first person in 80 years to enter it unarmed, and his progress through the early rounds of the contest has made him famous throughout the galaxy.

This leads a strike team by the Warlord to try and kill him, and while Keill pursues the gunman, he is captured, rendered unconscious and taken to the far side of the Galaxy.

There, on the planet Golvic, he meets Altern again (aka The One), and is introduced to the "Warlord". The Golvicans had created an Arachnis technological device, which was capable of linking minds. The Warlord was actually a group mind of Golvican scientists, linked by Arachnis. Though Keill tries to fight them and kill them, one touch from an Arachnis tendril enslaves him mentally.

From this point on, the automaton which used to be a man called Keill Randor, trains recruits for The One. He sometimes hunts Glr, too. The One takes pleasure in abusing the automaton, but since there's no part of Keill Randor left, there's little to be gained from this.

When the Warlord gained access to Keill's mind, they learned about Glr, her abilities, the Overseers asteroids, the nature of his unbreakable bones, and every other secret.

A long time goes by, until one time while trying hunt down Glr, Keill's arachnis link is torn from his head, by Glr. Normally this would result in mind death, but the iron hard will power of the Legionary, determined to survive, keeps him alive. Glr psychically helps him heal from the mental trauma. When he is recovered, she tells him that she lost contact with Talis in the same way, meaning that they have also been enslaved by Arachnis.

Because Glr now has the coordinates of the asteroid, Keill goes on a rescue mission. His familiarity with the troops he has trained under The One allows him to defeat them in combat. Glr frees Talis from the Arachnis link, and in combat with The One in front of the 24 Golvicans who make up the Warlord group mind, Keill manages to destroy both The One and Arachnis. Without the link to sustain the group mind, the 24 go insane and die.

With the Warlord defeated, Keill is now a man without a mission, and to combat a life of boredom, Glr suggests that they take her craft, capable of intergalactic flight, and explore the universe. Keill gladly accepts.

Literary significance and reception

Jerry Spiegler in the "School Library Journal" describes Keill Randor as the cybernetic Bruce Lee of the future. He says that "readers will enjoy the fast-paced action as long as they don't mind the many violent confrontations. Not great literature but a lot of fun and excitement". [Citation
last =Spiegler
first =Jerry
publication-date =August 1982
title =Planet of the Warlord (Book)
periodical =School Library Journal
publication-place =
volume =Vol. 28
issue =Issue 10
pages =p126
issn =03628930
accessdate =2008-05-04]

Publication history

* 1981, UK, Gollancz ISBN 978-0575030091, Pub date 3 Sep 1981, Hardcover
* 1982, UK, Macmillan ISBN 978-0330267137, Pub date 10 Sep 1982, Paperback
* 1981, US, Atheneum ISBN 978-0575030091, Pub date 1981, Hardcover
* 1987, US, Laurel Leaf ISBN 978-0440971269, Pub date June 1987, Paperback
* 1988, UK, South Yarra ISBN 9780732001964, Pub date 1988, Audio Cassette

Notes