Cover of The Misplaced Battleship

The Misplaced Battleship

  • Free to read
  • 45 min read
  • Reading level: 6th grade

"The Misplaced Battleship" by Harry Harrison is a science fiction novel written in the early 1960s. The story revolves around interstellar intrigue and crime, specifically the implications of a powerful battleship being secretly built in a peaceful sector of the galaxy. It addresses themes of deception, adventure, and the moral complexities faced by characters navigating both lawful and unlawful pursuits in a futuristic setting. The narrative follows the protagonist, Slippery Jim diGriz, a master thief turned agent for the Special Corps, as he uncovers a plot involving the covert construction of a Warlord-class battleship on the planet Cittanuvo. DiGriz, initially sent to investigate, finds himself embroiled in a deeper conspiracy when he discovers that a criminal mastermind named Pepe Nero, with the assistance of a cunning woman named Angelina, has orchestrated the construction and theft of the battleship for his own nefarious purposes. As diGriz races against time to apprehend Pepe and prevent chaos, he finds that nothing is as straightforward as it seems, challenging his wits and resolve at every turn. The climax showcases a tense showdown as diGriz confronts the duo, ultimately leading to unexpected twists and moral dilemmas about loyalty and betrayal.

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  • Science fiction
  • Criminals
  • Police
  • Space ships
  • DiGriz, James Bolivar (Fictitious character)

Read the opening

THE MISPLACED BATTLESHIP

By HARRY HARRISON

It might seem a little careless to lose track of something as big as a battleship ... but interstellar space is on a different scale of magnitude. But a misplaced battleship—in the wrong hands!—can be most dangerous.

Illustrated by Schoenherr

When it comes to picking locks and cracking safes I admit to no master. The door to Inskipp's private quarters had an old-fashioned tumbler drum that was easier to pick than my teeth. I must have gone through that door without breaking step. Quiet as I was though, Inskipp still heard me. The light came on and there he was sitting up in bed pointing a .75 caliber recoilless at my sternum.

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About this edition

This free edition of The Misplaced Battleship by Harry Harrison comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #22541, released 2007-09-08. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Science-Fiction & Fantasy, Crime, Thrillers and Mystery, Adventure.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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