# IX explained — The Stainless Steel Rat

> Chapter companion for The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison.

## What happens

Jim diGriz escapes the Special Corps and sets out to find Angelina, reasoning that she would have fled to the chaotic planet Freibur. He reestablishes his criminal identity by robbing a bank on Freibur, using a homemade explosive coin and gas bombs, and then plans his next moves.

## Themes in this chapter

### Crime and Identity

Jim robs a bank to reassert his criminal identity and escape the 'honesty' instilled by the Corps.

### Loneliness and Ego

Jim's ego drives him to pursue Angelina alone, and he reflects on ego as essential to his profession.

## Character check-ins

### Slippery Jim diGriz

Narrator and protagonist; escapes the Corps, plans to find Angelina, and robs a bank to reassert his identity.

### Angelina

Jim's target; he deduces she fled to Freibur after her escape.

### Harold Peters Inskipp

Head of the Special Corps; Jim considers that Inskipp knows his old disguise.

## Key lines

> Think dirty!

Jim reminds himself to embrace his criminal nature.

_He actively fights the 'honesty' learned in the Corps._

> Call it ego if you like. But ego is the only thing that keeps a man in my profession operating.

Jim acknowledges that his ego is crucial to his identity as a criminal.

_Reflects the theme of loneliness and ego._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_stainless_steel_rat_se/chapters/ix
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_stainless_steel_rat_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_stainless_steel_rat_se/chapters