The Jack Vance thread

[randyattwood]

I haven't been an active reader of sci fi for many years, but the mention of Jack Vance got my attention and the titles the Many Worlds of Magnus... and To Live Forever popped out at me. And the covers posted here rang bells in my head. In preparation of some attic remodeling I boxed up all my books and also started culling them, but remember the Jack Vance books were kept. Can't remember exactly what I boxed up now. What I left out in our small den area are the 70 copies of various Philip K. Dick books I have (including a first edition of Man in the High Castle, but, unfortunately, with a very abused dust jacket). Many of the paperbacks go back to the early 1960s when they would arrive at the drug store of he small town where I was raised and was our only window on new books. Anyway, thanks for jogging my memory about Vance.

[dask]

Anyone know if NIGHT LAMP is Vance's last novel or did he write one after that?

[J-Sun]

Originally Posted by dask

Anyone know if NIGHT LAMP is Vance's last novel or did he write one after that?

This page lists the duo of

1997
Ports of Call
2004
Lurulu

[dask]

Thank you. More money I gotta spend!

[Connavar]

How many Vance you have left dask ? Novels i mean or are you jumping over many books to his last ?

[GOLLUM]

Hey I've got Ports of Call and Lurulu but I've not read either of them yet. Thanks for the reminder.

[Ian Whates]

Ports of Call and Lurulu should very much be read together. They are, in effect, one novel split in two.

I read the first when it came out and was frustrated by the abrupt ending. At the time, I feared this would prove to be Vance's last novel, and was sad that such an incomplete, under-developed book might be his final word. So I was delighted when Lurulu came out. Especially as it proved such a wonderful, typical slice of Vance, which fully rounded off everything that had developed in Ports of Call.

I know some fans found the pair a little lightweight, but I love them, and reckon they provide a fitting swan-song to the works of one of my favourite writers.

[GOLLUM]

Thanks Ian. I'm encouraged by this to finally make the time to read them.

[Fried Egg]

Well, "Emphyrio" I am currently reading and have nearly finished. "The Eyes of the Overworld" just turned up in the post so that will probably be my next read.

Like I said, I will finish of the Dying Earth series and then see what else Vance has to offer. The "Planet of Adventure" and "Demon Princes" series both look good and I also wouldn't mind trying one of his collections.

[Connavar]

You have read Dragon Masters but not The Last Castle, Miracle Workers ?

Jack Vance Treasury, Green Magic, Wild Thyme has his best short,novella stories.

What do you think of Emphyrio compared the SF of his you have read like Blue World ?

[Fried Egg]

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.

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by Fried Egg

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.

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

[Elflock]

I just started 'To Live Forever' from 1956...it's a good one.

[Elflock]

Originally Posted by Elflock

I just started 'To Live Forever' from 1956...it's a good one.

8/10 in fact.

[Fried Egg]

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".