Back in early 1990s, Ray Aldridge published a trilogy of novels that reminded me of Jack Vance’s Demon Princes series. In the first book, The Pharaoh Contract, Aldridge’s hero, Ruiz Aw, signs a contract with the Art League to discover who is poaching on their slaves on the primative planet of Pharaoh. Ruiz Aw is a skilled agent, but even he is almost killed before this book ends. Slavery is common in the galaxy and various groups compete for the profits such a dark business produces. Like many Jack Vance novels, The Pharaoh Contract features bizarre human societies and amoral violence in a decadent Galactic civilization. I can also recommend the other two books in this series: The Emperor of Everything and The Orpheus Machine.
Sounds good. Completely unfamiliar with the author.
This sounds like great fun – thanks George, another new author for me! Just how easy is it to get the series though?
I didn’t know anything about Ray Aldridge, either, Randy. But I know after reading his trilogy that he was a Jack Vance fan.
I read a book a day, Sergio. The trilogy reads like adventure novels: fast and furious!
What Randy said. Sounds like something worth looking for.
OK, I ordered the three books. I hope you know you’re a bad influence.
This book / author is a new one to me.
Jeff, George the Tempter strikes again! I bought the EMANCIPATOR trilogy for a penny a book (plus shipping). They’re light entertainment with a Jack Vance flavor.
Rick, Ray Aldridge’s trilogy was new to me, too. I don’t know how I missed it in the 1990s (maybe I was working on my dissertation and missed it).
Rick, I was able to get all three from paperbackswap.com in case you want to check. I figure they should be arriving around the time we get home.
I do recommend to read this brilliant trilogy started with The Pharaoh Contract and following two more The Emperor of Everything and The Orpheus Machine
Ray, I enjoyed reading the trilogy, but THE PHARAOH CONTRACT was the best book. The other two novels, THE EMPEROR OF EVERYTHING and THE ORPHEUS MACHINE, had a drop-off in quality. Aldridge’s decision to return to SeaStack in the third book was a mistake in my opinion.