I rarely re-read books (too many new ones arrive here every day!) but I was in the mood for a Jack Vance “Fantastic Adventure in the Far Future” so I chose Maske: Thaery from 1976. Vance was at the height of his writing powers in the mid-1970s so this novel of conspiracy and treachery kept the pages turning.
Jubal Droad, from the Droad caste on the planet Maske, has a chance encounter with an arrogant nobleman, Ramus Ymph. Jubal’s confrontation with Ramus Ymph leaves him badly injured. After he recovers, Jubal seeks a position from the powerful noble Nai the Hever. Nai the Hever, intrigued by Jubal’s information about Ramus Ymph, hires Jubal to be a member of Thaery’s secret intelligence agency, unit D3. Jubal’s lust for revenge overlaps with the intelligence agency’s interest in Ramus Ymph, leading Jubal on a planet-hopping adventure to track down his nemesis and discover his schemes.
After a couple of near-death experiences, Jubal manages to follow Ramus to a strange land where Ramus negotiates with the tree-worshipping Waels for the use of their land in exchange for much-needed food and other resources. The conclusion of Maske: Thaery blends Vance’s sinister sense of Justice with the possibility of more adventures on Maske. Sadly, this remains a stand-alone SF novel, but a very good one. GRADE: B+
I’m a big Jack Vance fan. I’ve read pretty much everything of his. My favorite is The Dying Earth series and The Night Lamp.
Steve, you have excellent taste! I’m a huge fan THE DYING EARTH series. Loved THE NIGHT LAMP! I just reread THE DEMON PRINCES series to prepare to review Matthew Hughes’s “extension” of the series, THE BARBARIANS OF THE VOID.
I must admit this one sounds more interesting than a couple of other Vances I tried but which did not resonate with me the way they do for you and Steve.
Jeff, THE DYING EARTH series is Vance’s masterpiece. THE LAST CASTLE, a Hugo Winner, is a good introductory volume.
Reading the stories in THE EYES OF THE OVERWORLD and their latter-day sequels being published for the first time (EYES being the second THE DYING EARTH volume, eventually joined by CUGEL’S SAGA) in 1978 hooked me on Vance…try his crime-fiction such as BAD RONALD and THE MAN IN THE CAGE if you don’t find the fantasy fiction compelling)…
Todd, BAD RONALD is very underrated novel.
I remember starting this one, but got bogged down. I think it was at 5his point that I realized that, other than The Dragon Masters, I wasn’t much of a Vance fan.
Rick, Jack Vance has a unique writing style. Perhaps EYES OF THE OVERWORLD might be more to your taste.