Bill, the Galactic Hero is a humorous, satirical science fiction series written by Harry Harrison. The first novel in the series (Bill, the Galactic Hero) was first published in 1965 and roughly retells the famous anti world war one novel "The Good Soldier Švejk" (written by Jaroslav Hašek) but set in the future.
The overall theme of the series is similar to Hašek's work, with the protagonist tricked into joining the army by an unscrupulous recruiting sergeant. He is then sent on a succession of badly organized adventures. Satire is evident throughout with spoof's of many popular Science fiction authors including Isaac Asimov, Doc Smith, Robert Heinlein (Starship Troopers) and Joseph Heller.
Also prevalent throughout is the constant drunkenness, incompetence of officers, petty pilfering that has been seen by many (including a Vietnam veteran) as being very close to the truth.
reviews in the series
Galactic Dreams
by Harry Harrison
A companion volume to the collection Stainless Steel Visions, this volume collects several of Harrison's best stories, such as Space Rats of the CCC; At Last, the True Story of Frankenstein; and Bill, the Gallactic Hero's Happy Holiday. Includes a hilarious new adventure of Bill, the Galactic Her...
Bill... The Final Incoherent Adventure
by Harry Harrison
The army made Bill the galactic hero what he is today - the perfect Starship Trouper, and proud possessor of two right arms and a lockerful of feet suitable for every occasion. Now he's been volunteered to join a suicide-squad run by Captain Cadaver to the well-known hell-hole planet of Eyerack.<...
Bill... On the Planet of the Hippies from Hell
by Harry Harrison
Bill is the perfect starship trooper: big, strong and completely brainwashed. He'll also do almost anything to save his neck. Now he's been sent to Barworld, home planet of the finest beverages in the universe. But can Bill survive an entire planet of blondes, booze and bathtubs of champagne?
...
Bill... On the Planet of Zombie Vampires
by Harry Harrison
BILL - the perfect Starship Trooper: big, brawny, and brainwashed. Possessor of two right arms (impressive when it comes to saluting) and a foot that is threatening to turn into something more suited to being an umbrella stand than anything that could be squeezed into a size 11 sneaker.
...
Bill... on the Planet of Tasteless Pleasure
by Harry Harrison
BILL - the perfect Spaceship Trooper: big, brawny and brainwashed...
BILL - the perfect hero: ready to go anywhere, do anything to save his own neck, which is probably the only part of his body that is still his own...
BILL - back in the Army Hospital...
Bill... On the Planet of Bottled Brains
by Harry Harrison
Bill should know that you never complain in the Troopers. But when his new foot looks like turning into something green, scaly and abundantly clawed, a visit to the medics would seem to be reasonable. But before he can say 'Quintiform computer error' he seems to have got himself volunteered again...
Bill... On the Planet of Robot Slaves
by Harry Harrison
Bill would give his right arm to defend his Emperor against the alien Chingers - which is lucky seeing as he has two of them...
War demands sacrifices, and if you've lost one left arm, have an artificial foot and a set of nifty surgically-implanted tusks, it's a small price...
Bill The Galactic Hero
by Harry Harrison
It was the highest honor to defend the Empire against the dreaded Chingers, an enemy race of seven-foot-tall lizards. But Bill, a Technical Fertilizer Operator from a planet of farmers, wasn't interested in honor-he was only interested in two things: his chosen career, and the shapely curves of I...
