Subterranean Press rendered us all a big favor by reprinting these Jack Vance mysteries in one handsome hardcover edition. Desperate Days includes The Fox Valley Murders, The Pleasant Grove Murders, and The Dark Ocean . All three books were written in the 1960s (The Dark Ocean was finally published in 1985) when Jack Vance was at height of his powers. Sheriff Joe Bain of Central California’s San Rodrigo County figures in The Fox Valley Murders, The Pleasant Grove Murders. The Dark Ocean tells the story of a young woman and her dangerous stalker. For more information on Desperate Days just click here.
Great stuff!
Great stuff, indeed, Bill! I loved Volume One of these Jack Vance mysteries. Subterranean Press is also reprinting Jack Vance’s early SF stories. Volume Three comes out in March 2013 and I already have it ordered!
Good one. The paperbacks of FOX VALLEY and PLEASANT GROVE used to be fairly easily available but it’s a good thing to have them all collected like this.
What Bill said. I’ve always loved Vance’s mysteries. As with his other work, Vance continually amazes and dazzles.
These sound great George – thanks very much for the ‘heads up’ – have a great New Year!
Subterranean Press editions are always well-made, Jeff. They’re well worth the money. I have the paperbacks, but I’d rather read a nice hardcover with a bigger font.
With every Jack Vance work I read, Jerry, my admiration for his oeuvre increases. The man is a genius.
Happy New Year to you, too, Sergio. These Subterranean Press Jack Vance omnibus editions are wonderful!
I saw this the other day and it is very tempting to pick it up. I’ve only read a handful of Vance but have been blown away by it all. He is one of those authors that I want to spend more time with because I think there is something very special about what he has done.
Your instincts are acute, Carl! Jack Vance is far from just a science fiction and mystery writer. He’s a brilliant, unique author.
And he is still alive at 96.
And Jack Vance talks to Bill Crider on the telephone, Jeff. I’m envious!
I still need to read my copy of volume one, but better to have them at hand when I can get to them…at his worst I’ve read, Vance is clever and cynical in all the best senses…at best, indeed, dazzling. Leiber and Vance and Russ have made it difficult for me to take, say, GRR Martin all that seriously, nor bother with Terry Brooks and such at all.
The early George. R. R. Martin stories are very good, Todd. But when Martin started writing elephantine fantasy novels the trouble started.
Even THE ARMAGEDDON RAG demonstrates some goofy self-indulgence. But that early work was better, yes.