Deathworld

In Harry Harrison's Deathworld, professional gambler Jason Dinalt, possessing psionic abilities, is tasked by a mysterious stranger to win a substantial amount of money. After a thrilling escape off-world, Jason discovers the unsettling reality of Pyruss, known as "Deathworld," where the planet itself seems intent on annihilating its inhabitants. Intrigued by this chaotic environment, he embarks on a quest to understand its secrets and seeks to unite the beleaguered city dwellers with the resilient colonists living beyond its reach, all while racing against time to prevent their shared destruction.