Jack Vance, best known as a Grand Master of Science Fiction, wrote mystery novels as well. Subterranean Press has collected three of Vance’s best mysteries in a wonderful 560-page omnibus volume: the Edgar Award winning The Man in a Cage (1960), the suspenseful Bad Ronald (1973), and the mysterious The Deadly Isles (1963). Jack Vance was at the top of his game in the 1960s and early 1970s and these three mysteries are first-rate. I hope Subterranean Press reprints more of Jack Vance’s mysteries that have long been out-of-print.
The recently released Thriller TV collection contains an episode based on The Man in the Cage. Bad Ronald was made into a TV movie of the week – I think on ABC. As far as I know they are the only books of his that have been put on the screen, big or small. And here they both are, in one volume. Anyone aware of any others?
Of course he did write a lot of the kid SF series stuff for TV in the 50s
Myself, I prefer the Sheriff Joe Bain novels the best of all his mysteries.
I’m a fan of Vance’s “Ellery Queen” mysteries, Stan. THE FOUR JOHNS, A ROOM TO DIE IN, THE MADMAN THEORY (and possibly FACE TO FACE) should be collected in a nice package like DANGEROUS WAYS.
I’ve been impressed with Subterranean Press; nice books.
I remember that BAD RONALD TV movie too. It was made in 1974 and starred Scott Jacoby, almost ubiquitous at the time, as the troubled kid.
Stan makes a good point that not much of Jack Vance’s work has made it to the Big Screen or Little Screen, Jeff. And, you’re right: Scott Jacoby owned the Troubled Kid franchise back in the Seventies.
In a bit od coincidence, I just ordered this book.
Good move, Randy! Subterranean Press says they published a smaller than normal press run of DANGEROUS WAYS so I expect it to be out-of-print soon.
Nice coincidence – Ed Gorman reviewed BAD RONALD as his Friday’s Forgotten Book today.
Great minds think alike, Jeff. I know Ed Gorman is a big Jack Vance fan, too.
A nicely dramatic cover, George. Who’s the artist?
Ken Laager is credited with the cover artwork, Drongo. It has a little bit of a James Bama feel to it.
I’ve ordered it too.
It’s about time someone reprinted Vance’s lesser-known mysteries: TAKE MY FACE, ISLE OF PERIL, THE VIEW FORM CHICKWEED’S WINDOW, and THE HOUSE ON LILY STREET.
If Subterranean Press (or some other publishing company) would publish Vance’s lesser-known mysteries, Jerry, I would buy them.
Uncanny coincidence with two posts on Vance and BAD RONALD this week. But I swear I’ve read Ed’s review somewhere else prior to today. Either that or I’m seriously hallucinating from lack of sleep last night.
Nice to know BAD RONALD is now available in an affordable edition. The original PB is being sold for absurd prices in the avaricious internet bookselling world. One that is not reflective of the real bookselling world in Chicago, BTW.
BAD RONALD is presently available in an affordable edition, JF, but I suspect not for long. I think the press run for DANGEROUS WAYS will be sold out fast.
At a meet-the-authors event this Tuesday, Bob Silverberg told of getting a phone call this year from Vance on his birthday (Silverberg turned 75 in January). I can’t do Vance’s voice, obviously, but Bob does – brusque, gruff, and emphatic – “How you doing, Silverberg?’ Bob said, he wasn’t sure, turning 75 is a big milestone . . ., and Vance shot back, “You’re just a kid!” God bless him, he’ll be 95 this August, and seemingly still going strong!
I hope Jack Vance lives to be 100+, Art. But he has given up writing.
Ed often posts his reviews rather early…I assume Patti posts them on her blog as incentive to go to her page, or because initially she was having difficulty with links, or both.
This is tempting, and Subterranean probably should’ve done a full-on press run.
The Subterranean Press web site says because STRANGE WAYS is a collection of mysteries and not their usual offering of fantasy and science fiction, they ordered a smaller than normal press run, Todd. But, I suspect you’re right: they should have done a full press run for this Jack Vance volume. It’ll be a collector’s item soon.
George: My British hardback of The Mad Man Theory is semi-autographed by Vance. He started to write his name, said oops I can’t do that and wrote Ellery Queen over it, and then wrote his initials JV underneath. I’m pretty sure he didn’t write Face to Face.
Jerry House – I agree. I had two of those books in the Underwood-Miller edition, but they disappeared along with other stuff in a lost box during one of my moves. I saw a first of Take My Face at Mystery and Imagination Bookstore in Glendale years ago, but it was way too pricey. Now that the Integrated Edition of his work is out, a lot of those early books are worth less.
The last Vance Subterranean Press I bought was his autobiography.
Stan
I’m sure that semi-autographed copy of THE MADMAN THEORY by Jack Vance is worth a bundle, Stan. I’ve purchased every Jack Vance volume Subterranean has published even though I owned the original paperbacks.
Read some Vance mysteries in the 80s and liked them fine, but these titles don’t sound familiar.
These mysteries come from the Sixties and early Seventies, Evan. DANGEROUS WAYS is a wonderful volume, just like all the other Subterranean Press books.
I ordered my copy!
You’ll enjoy DANGEROUS WAYS, Scott! These Vance mysteries have been out-of-print for years.
The copy of this one I ordered said second printing.
The first printing was small, Randy. But the novels should delight you.