These were reworked into the opening chapters of the novel. Large sections of the story first appeared in Astounding as two novelettes: The Stainless Steel Rat (1957) and The Misplaced Battleship (1960).There are 12 works in the Stainless Steel Rat series. Like other characters created by Harrison, the Rat is a speaker of Esperanto and advocates atheism. Harrison used the story, with minor modifications, as the introduction to the series's first full-length novel, also called The Stainless Steel Rat. The story introduces the Rat, who has just carried out a successful larceny operation, and subsequently details a complex bank robbery the Rat pulls off with ease however, he is outfoxed by the mysterious 'Special Corps'-a crime-fighting organization staffed with former criminals-and recruited by them in order to fight crime. The character was introduced in Harrison's short story 'The Stainless Steel Rat', first published in 1957 in Astounding magazine. For example, diGriz will steal without compunction, but deplores killing. He displays a strong sense of morality, albeit in a much more restricted sense than is traditional. Master of self-rationalization, the Rat frequently justifies his crimes by arguing that he is providing society with entertainment and besides which, he only steals from institutions that he believes have insurance coverage and so will be able to recoup their losses.

He is also a master of disguise and martial arts, an accomplished bank robber, a criminal mastermind, an expert on breaking and entering, and (perhaps most usefully) a skilled liar.

He is a futuristic con man, thief, and all-round rascal. James Bolivar diGriz goes by many aliases, including ' Slippery Jim' and ' The Stainless Steel Rat'. James Bolivar diGriz, alias ' Slippery Jim' and ' The Stainless Steel Rat', is a fictional character and a series of comic science fiction novels written by Harry Harrison. First cover printing to The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison

The stainless steel rat saves the world