The Jack Vance thread

Not quite finished "Emphyrio" yet but I think it is very good, as good as "Blue World" (and similar in some ways) and better than "Dragon Masters" which was only average.
 
Fried Egg said:
Not quite finished "Emphyrio" yet but I think it is very good, as good as "Blue World" (and similar in some ways) and better than "Dragon Masters" which was only average.
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Seems you rate them exactly like i do. Emphyrio, Blue World would be top level work of most other SFF classic authors but in Vance biblio they are very good and not in the top of his level. I like them alot. Interesting they are not alien heavy as his other quality SF books.

Dragon Masters are one of few JV works i rate average and 3 stars. Last Castle, Miracle Workers are better versions. I cant wait to see what you think of the shorter stories that isnt Vance style.

There are some odd little stories like The Mitr, The Men Return etc

Enjoy Vance for me too, im stuck with course books, dry literary scholar texts for most of the rest of the year. I cant even look at my unread Vance books :(
 
Just finished "Eyes of the Overworld". Another good installment in the "Dying Earth" series marred by not always finding the prose style as engaging as I would have liked.

I notice that the sequel "Cugel's Saga" picks up where it's predecessor left off but was written nearly twenty years later. I have high hopes for it that the prose style will be up to the standards of "Lyonesse".
 
Fried Egg said:
Just finished "Eyes of the Overworld". Another good installment in the "Dying Earth" series marred by not always finding the prose style as engaging as I would have liked.

I notice that the sequel "Cugel's Saga" picks up where it's predecessor left off but was written nearly twenty years later. I have high hopes for it that the prose style will be up to the standards of "Lyonesse".
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Prose style or not what did you think of Cugel ? His weird world, characters he meets in DE.

Lyonesse is high fantasy and all i dont think Vance writes DE prose like that no matter the 50s,60s or 80s Dying Earth books. Cugel early and later books are writing with same leaner prose style that is not similar to Lyonesse style.
 
I thought Cugel, and the story of what happens to him, quite hilarious. Quite the anti-hero that made him an unusual and interesting protagonist. I found myself constantly flipping between rooting for him one minute and despising him the next.
 
Fried Egg said:
I thought Cugel, and the story of what happens to him, quite hilarious. Quite the anti-hero that made him an unusual and interesting protagonist. I found myself constantly flipping between rooting for him one minute and despising him the next.
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Thats why i love reading Cugel stories, they are so much fun. Dark and witty Jack Vance style is pretty wonderful read.

I have hated him at times too. Rialtho stories are near as much fun.

I think now that i have read alot of his early period stuff its finally time to see what Lyonesse is like.
 
Fried Egg said:
The only thing I would say is be prepared for a much slower pace...
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Yeah i did see that slower pace when i actually sampled the first few pages of first Lyonesse book in the bookstore i go to.

Also i have read his 1987 novel Araminta Station which is much longer (300-400), slower pace than his 60s,70s,50s books,stories.


Jack Vance can never be slow to me unless we are talking about his worst book and not one of his most rated works.
 
It's astonishing to me that so many people speak of great fondness of some of Vance's admittedly finest works, but no one has a mention for the small book of four tales that hooked me for the next fifty years. I am speaking of an anthology from the sixties called "Future Tense", which includes the uniquely promising Ullward's Retreat, the forgettable Dodkin's Job, and the extraordinary "Sail 25". Can't remember the fourth tale, but for one of my own four favorites accept "Moon Moth", prestigiously anthologized.

More power to Mr. Vance, as long as he may live.
 
That Vance Future Tense has a cool cover.

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eleemosynary said:
It's astonishing to me that so many people speak of great fondness of some of Vance's admittedly finest works, but no one has a mention for the small book of four tales that hooked me for the next fifty years. I am speaking of an anthology from the sixties called "Future Tense", which includes the uniquely promising Ullward's Retreat, the forgettable Dodkin's Job, and the extraordinary "Sail 25". Can't remember the fourth tale, but for one of my own four favorites accept "Moon Moth", prestigiously anthologized.

More power to Mr. Vance, as long as he may live.
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The fourth tale was "The Gift of Gab". And I just happened to look at the ISFDB's list of oldest living authors yesterday and, if memory serves, he was the oldest living author in my collection. I'll echo the good thoughts.

As far as Future Tense, I almost mentioned it indirectly. I haven't read the earlier collection but the Timescape/Pocket books edition of The Best of Jack Vance contains "Ullward's Retreat" and "Sail 25", as well as "The Moon Moth" and three others ("The Last Castle", "Abercrombie Station", and "Rumfuddle") so might do just as well and be easier to find - at least it was for me. :) It does not have a cool cover, though (at least IMO).
 
eleemosynary said:
It's astonishing to me that so many people speak of great fondness of some of Vance's admittedly finest works, but no one has a mention for the small book of four tales that hooked me for the next fifty years. I am speaking of an anthology from the sixties called "Future Tense", which includes the uniquely promising Ullward's Retreat, the forgettable Dodkin's Job, and the extraordinary "Sail 25". Can't remember the fourth tale, but for one of my own four favorites accept "Moon Moth", prestigiously anthologized.

More power to Mr. Vance, as long as he may live.
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Thats because those are short stories that have appeared in tons of anthologies. Its not forgotten books. I have Dodkin's Job among my fav JV short stories. Sail 25 overrated story who is known for Vance himself rates it high.

Moon Moth is seen as his best short story period my many of the fans. I have it in 3 collections. Its Jack Vance type SF story perfected.


Future Tense is just some forgotten anthology while the stories are legendary as the writer himself. Frankly i think he is better short story,novella writer than full length novels. His best SF, Science Fantasy is often short or novella length.
 
Wow, I just stumbled upon a very large stash of Vance books (mainly 70's & 80's paperbacks) in one of my local charity book shops. They are all only £1 to £1.50 each. I picked up a few that I knew I wanted but I'm wondering whether I should go back and get some more before they disappear.

I picked up "Cugel's Saga" and "Rhialto the Marvellous" to complete the Dying Earth series I've been slowly making my way through. Also, I picked up "Planet of Adventure" (omnibus) that I also recall being spoken highly of.

But there were numerous other volumes there that I haven't heard of before. Can anyone offer any recommendations of what I should go back and look for? I've already read "Blue World", "Emphyrio", "Lyonesse" and "Dragon Masters".
 
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