The Jack Vance thread

[Fried Egg]

Originally Posted by Connavar

FE have you read Demon Princes books or Planet of Adventure ?

No, I haven't.

[Stephen Palmer]

The Demon Princes quintet is a must-read!

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by Fried Egg

No, I haven't.

Well you should if i have read you right and you like SF as much you like to read good,great fantasy.

Most Vance series are SF and those two series are the best of his in that field. Other than the short stories of course.

They are the reason i have not read Lyonesse yet, i was sweeped away in those weird worlds of his in Gaen space, Beyond.

[Fried Egg]

I will do at some point, I'm sure. For the immediate future though, I want to concentrate on reading what's left of his to read in the SF/Fantasy Masterworks series so I plan to read "Emphyrio" and the last three books of "Dying Earth".

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by Fried Egg

I will do at some point, I'm sure. For the immediate future though, I want to concentrate on reading what's left of his to read in the SF/Fantasy Masterworks series so I plan to read "Emphyrio" and the last three books of "Dying Earth".

You havent even finished Dying Earth ?

Dont tell me you only read the first book DE and not Cugel, Rhialto books. No wonder you dont talk highly of Dying Earth series

Emphyrio was my first Vance and its special for me but it and Blue World cant compare to Demon Princes, Planet of Adventure. Thats why i recommended those series to you.

SFF Masterworks series is just cheap way to get Vance for me. His best works is not in SF/Fantasy works other than Lyonesee/DE. According to the fans atleast. The short stories, the SF novels.

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by Stephen Palmer

The Demon Princes quintet is a must-read!

Which is your fav Demon Princes book ? The Killing Machine is wonderful character study,adventure,action,world building etc

Other than that i think its too much Dumas and not enough Vance at times. What can i say im spoiled by his other, more his own works

[antiloquax]

Originally Posted by Connavar

Dont tell me you only read the first book DE and not Cugel, Rhialto books. No wonder you dont talk highly of Dying Earth series

Agreed - I liked the first book. The Eyes of the Overworld is my favourite of the Cugel books. I have Rhialto but haven't read it yet!

[Fried Egg]

Originally Posted by Connavar

You havent even finished Dying Earth ?

Dont tell me you only read the first book DE and not Cugel, Rhialto books. No wonder you dont talk highly of Dying Earth series

I picked up and read the first Dying earth book a while ago but I've never come across the others. I will make a concerted effort to track them down though...or perhaps I will just buy the omnibus if it works out cheaper.

[Stephen Palmer]

Originally Posted by Connavar

Which is your fav Demon Princes book ? The Killing Machine is wonderful character study,adventure,action,world building etc

The Face (4th) is my fave, after that I really like the first and last ones. I didn't much care for the third one, and Killing Machine (2) is pretty good. But he got it so right for The Face...

[Sargeant_Fox]

I read the news Jack Vance celebrated his 95th birthday on the 28th. I think this is a good occasion to finally read something by him. I'm going to try The Dying Earth series.

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by Fried Egg

I picked up and read the first Dying earth book a while ago but I've never come across the others. I will make a concerted effort to track them down though...or perhaps I will just buy the omnibus if it works out cheaper.

To my knowledge the Masterwork edn. Tales Of The Dying Earth contains the complete series. It is well worth the purchase which in and of itself is very affordable. I also have the tribute anthology Songs Of A Dying Earth. I've only dipped into this so far but it's an excellent anthology with a stellar list of contributors. A highlight of last year's WorldCon for me was a panel discussion with George RR Martin and other SFF authors about their personal recollections of Jack Vance and the legacy he has undoubtedly left to the Genre. All present were of the opinion that any aspiring SFF writer should read Jack's work if they wanted to learn how to write fiction...period. Such is the respect and obvious affection Vance holds within the SFF community and certainly someone deserving of the title SFWA Grandmaster.

[Fried Egg]

Hmmm...right now, I can get the Dying Earth omnibus from Amazon for £8.93. Alternatively, (at the time of posting) I can get the last three books of the series from Abe books for £8.79.

Not much in it really...

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by Fried Egg

Hmmm...right now, I can get the Dying Earth omnibus from Amazon for £8.93. Alternatively, (at the time of posting) I can get the last three books of the series from Abe books for £8.79.

Not much in it really...

Since you were talking about Fantasy Masterworks i thought you had Tales of Dying Earth Omnibus. It dont cost more than regular paperback in that series so you would save alot of effort than buying second hand books versions book by book.

Isnt new book omnibus is easier to read than abebooks you dont know the quality of, books marked, somewhat damaged ?

I have seen reading yellowed,damaged books is not as much fun as fresh looking books.

Whatever way you read the best books in the series, let us know what you think of the by far most popular character in Vance works.

[Fried Egg]

Originally Posted by Connavar

Isnt new book omnibus is easier to read than abebooks you dont know the quality of, books marked, somewhat damaged ?

Well, perhaps. I tend to avoid omnibus editions if I can because I don't like hefting large omnibus books around with me. Ideally, I like to be able to slip a book easily into my coat pocket. Something I don't think I'll be able to do with the FM Masterworks edition!

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by Fried Egg

Well, perhaps. I tend to avoid omnibus editions if I can because I don't like hefting large omnibus books around with me. Ideally, I like to be able to slip a book easily into my coat pocket. Something I don't think I'll be able to do with the FM Masterworks edition!

I dont buy omnibus, i dislike them because they are often too big like a heavy hardcover. But in Vance case i enjoyed reading quality paper of a book of his whenever i wanted. No i must buy next book in the series now. Same with Chronicles of Amber by Zelazny. Few authors with great series i buy omnibus with.


Most Vance books i have are omnibus. Demon Princes series,PoA by Tor. Since his books except Lyonesse are pretty short in the range of 160-200 pages an omnibus is a nice way of reading a whole series back to back if you are fan