The Master of Science Fantasy
|
|
I've been reading Jack Vance's books for more years than I care to remember and at one time or another have owned nearly his whole collection. I recommend the Planet of Adventure series and the Dying Earth series, the latter, being my personal favourites, perfectly show-off Mr Vance's wicked and whimsical sense of humour; for example, the man who has four fathers due to a magic spell, cast by the Laughing Magician, which caused four his enemies to have to share certain body parts. He blows Terry Pratchett way out of the water and did it many years before Mr Pratchett came onto the scene. Jack Vance's use of language and dialogue his beyond compare and I am constantly on the look-out for his latest novel. Now in his 80s I feel he is seriously overlooked. If Mr Vance is amenable, there is some excellent material for a film. John Cleese as Cugel the Clever, perhaps? Ports of Call is by no means his best but, hey, it's Jack Vance and it demands to be read.
|
|
|
Vance submerges us into another world and culture
|
Ive been reading Vance since the mid seventies and his stories always entertain.
His not a techno head sci-fi writer. You don't get technical data on the star drives of his ships or in depth explinations of the weapons abilities.
Instead you get rich stories which concentrait on the diverse way planets have developed in a very old human star empire.
He loves to give his charactors fancy eastern european sounding names. And develops strange foods for them to eat.
In Ports of call you feel that he has moved the story of maybe a young 19th century boy who wants to run away to sea into the far future.
This is another great read from a master story teller.
His not a young man anymore and I just hope he has many more years left to him to write more.
|
|
a journey to nowhere ?
|
|
jacks books are fasinating and a joy to read. There are very good peaks within, but like others I felt alittle disapointed that we didn't really go anywhere. Thankyou all the same and I await the next.
|
|
|
Nice journey, disappointing story.
|
|
Vance describe places so nicely that this book cannot be poor. Weird characters, exotic ambiences and absurd situations. However, there is no real story and you keep waiting for a main plot to appear, till the sudden end of the book.
|
|
|
Cool Travelogue of the Gaean Reach!
|
|
When Myron Tany finds himself abandoned by his zany great aunt, he has two choices - to go tamely back home to become a Financial Analyst like his father; or to go travelling round the Gaean Reach in order to fulfil childhood desires for adventure, alien encounters and lovers. When the tramp starship Glicca looses a crew member, Myron grasps fate in both hands and embarks for a life amongst the stars!
|
|
|
United States | 
United Kingdom | 
Canada