Jack Vance, non-series book reviews

Contains spoilers

I've completed the series of books, as they are understood to be. Now I'll concentrate on his individual novels. It must be recognised that a lot of these are very broadly attached to the "Gaean Reach".

The Slaves of the Klau 1958: Roy Barch and his elitist female companion, Komeitk Lelianr are captured by the eponyms and transported to the far world of Magarak. They escape from slavery and plan their ultimate emancipation back to Earth. Routinely plotted, but full of Vance's trademark imagery and culturalism. 6 out of 10.
Emphyrio 1969: Ghyl Tarvoke lives in another of Vance's bizarre welfare states ruled by the cloistered and weak Lords of Halma. Jaded and annoyed with his life in this ostensible utopia he seeks out the truth behind the legends of Emphyrio, a hero of many centuries past. Picaresque and travelogueish like others...in the same broad "Gaean Reach" milieu as some other works. 6 out of 10.
Big Planet 1952: Similar to the later Durdane trilogy in that it features a "low-density world", and like that series is full of weird and wonderful transportation methods. The plot isn't so strange; an agent of Earth investigates a megalomaniac who wants Big Planet for himself. 6½ out of 10.
Showboat World 1975: Two competing captains of opera boats attempt to thwart and subvert each other en route to the Grand Festival. Set on Big Planet, but not a sequel. It is definitely picturesque and buoyant,but sadly lacking in substance. This book is what some people may describe as "second order Vance" 5 out of 10.
Languages of Pao 1958: Beran of the world Breakness attempts to reclaim the world of his birthright Pao by ingenious creation and manipulation of semiotics and linguistics. The villain Palafox is thereby defeated. An amazing book if only for the novel concepts contained within, but it is plotted with some complexity. Characterisations are a bit flat, though. 7 out of 10.
The Dragon Masters 1962: Winner of a Hugo Award, this slim little novella deals with a favourite subject of Vance's; descendants of marooned or crash-landed spacefarers. Here they have reverted back to mediaevality with naked Sacerdotes, warring clans, sinister aliens and the dragons of the title. Not dragons as in breathe fire type St. George manifestations, but indigenous large, rideable lizards. Interesting reading, but why did it win an award? 7 out of 10.
The Blue World 1966: Originally published as a short in Fantastic it has to be said that only fantastic adequately sums up the setting of this novel. Another one of Vance's descendants of shipwrecks books, here we have an ocean world, no land in sight, and the populace living on giant lily-pads...they communicate by hoodwinking each other! It has to read to be believed, especially the climax. Vance's imagination at its infinite best! Would you say hello to a "Sklar Hast"? 9 out of 10.
The Five Gold Bands 1950: Vance's second published book and it is a far cry from his first, The Dying Earth. Standard cat and mouse space opera with a tawdry pseudo-Irishman as protagonist. The title refers to the secrets of space-drive denied Earth. Readable. Thanks to Neil Taylor in Canada for selling it to me, nonetheless. 5 out of 10.
The Gray Prince 1974: More sail-propelled land vehicles and more footnotes, say the cynics. It is a fair effort nonetheless, quite intriguing in its politics and discussion of indigenous peoples and their rights. Relatively engaging in its own way. According to Michael Reynolds it is "inspired directly and specifically by the events in Rhodesia in the 1970s; weakened by having to fit in this framework". 6 out of 10.
Son of the Tree 1951: The tree in question is a giant specimen residing on the world Kyril. Joe Smith has to contend with the machinations of various and disparate societies all in search of the Earthman who run off with his girl. Second rank. 5½ out of 10.
The Houses of Iszm 1964: First published in magazine format a decade earlier, this one of Vance's more intriguing efforts. The houses are in fact, plants, and the world Iszm holds a crucial monopoly over their growth and trade. Ingenious to say the least. 7 out of 10.
To Live Forever 1956: While it is hailed as a masterpiece by many Vance fans, I can't truly agree. Another welfare state, coupled with an odd caste system surrounds one man's redemption from former sins. It is readable (what Vance book isn't?) and it holds your attention to a fair degree. 6½ out of 10.
Maske: Thaery 1976: More Vancian exoticism among vibrant societies and strange trees. Footnoted and glossaried like no other book he has written as well. The book concerns young Jubal Droad and his employment as a mercantile spy. Very much a colourful travelogue and a mild joy to read. 7 out of 10.
The Last Castle 1966: 1967 Nebula Award winner for a short novel. I've included it under the books section as it has been published in that form singly. A nice effort on a baroque world full of insectoid women, giant birds and masques. The castle of the title holds out against a Mek invasion. 7 out of 10.
Night Lamp 1996: The edition I have (thanks to Jerry Hewett) is an American hardcover and it has a beautiful jacket illustration. Thematically, the book is a "Gaean Reach" novel and it is set in the same time as his Cadwal books. It lacks the waspish niggardliness of those books and it starts off well. A standard plot of a fostered boy trying to find his origins turns into a confused tale in the last third. Disappointing in the last with characters who fail in their humanity tests and there is a number of unfortunate contrivances. Good, but could have been great. 7 out of 10.
Space Opera 1965: The title says it all; it is a space opera. Roger and his ditsy aunt go gallivanting through planets civilised and primitive with their operatic company, all in order to find a mysterious troupe. A light and enjoyable read and thanks again to Jerry Hewett for the book! 6½ out of 10.
Ports of Call 1998: Well, this is an entirely plotless book written by Vance. It starts off much like Space Opera with a Myron Tany and his overbearing aunt and her voyage to visit a quack who has developed the Fountain of Youth. Soon, she strands him on a distant world and the book descends into a travelogue as Myron flits from one world to the next with his odd shipmates and their pilgrim passengers. Vance seems to have written this from beginning to end with no real thought of developing characters or plotline. His trademarks are there: rich language, everyone endowed with parsimony and a deep vocabulary, but for Vance, I feel the well has dried up here. A mildly pleasant read nonethelesss. 6 out of 10.

Conclusion

Vance has lately released Lurulu which I'll eventually get hold of.

I do not own Vandals of the Void and it remains the only novel of Vance's SF&F I have not read. I must make special mention of a hardcover book I received from Jerry. It's titled the Work of Jack Vance, published by Borgo Press under the auspices of Underwood/Miller.

It is a beautiful book as most of Underwood/Miller's are and the material on Vance is quite exhaustive. It even contains the unpublished outline of the third Joe Bain mystery The Genessee Slough Murders. The prior two were published under Jack's full name; John Holbrook Vance. An essential addition to any serious Vance fan's collection.

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