I’ve been reading faux-Jack Vance novels lately. Matthew Hughes comes closest to emulating The Master. Last week, I recommended Ray Aldridge’s “The Emancipator” series that contained echoes of Jack Vance’s Demon Princes series. Today, I’m recommending L. Warren Douglas’ Stepwater: An Arbiter Tale which will remind some of you of Jack Vance’s Alastor Cluster series. Stepwater is the first book in a trilogy (The Wells of Phyre and Glaice are the other books in the series) which revolves around The Arbiter, John Minder, who needs to keep the peace on a thousand planets with minimum resources. Many of those planets are inhabited by genetically engineered humans who can adapt to less than Earth-like conditions. Douglas channels Jack Vance’s whimsy and diplomatic cunning in these tales. Well worth reading!
very interesting – but … imagine George, for the sake of argument, that one humble reader wanted to go back to the ‘source’ as it were, and get stuck into Jack Vance having only occasionally read peripatetically (and potentially, in thr case of ‘Ellery Queen’ paperback originals, pseudonymously) over the decades, an many moons ago at that – where should one start?
Sergio, I’d recommend Jack Vance’s TALES OF THE DYING EARTH. The TOR edition includes the brilliant EYES OF THE OVERWORLD which I’m sure you’ll love.
I’m well aware of your fascination and reverence for Vance, and I too like (some of) his works, but I’m afraid it takes more than a reminded of” to make me jump into anything for that similarity, however slight, alone. I’m also very interested to see your answer to Sergio’s question.
TALES OF THE DYING EARTH is the place to start, Rick. If you and Sergio enjoy that (as I’m sure you will) I’d then read Jack Vance’s THE DEMON PRINCES series.
I think the first Vance I read was The Dragon Masters / The Five Gold Bands (1963), which I liked a good bit. Whatever Vance I read next lessened that liking and after one more try I left Vance. I have TALES OF DYING EARTH but have yet to read it… it may be boxed up since the move to Portland.
THE DRAGON MASTERS won a Hugo Award, Rick. And THE LAST CASTLE did, too.
I’ve ordered this one, as well as the one from last week.
I’m sure you’ll find these faux-Jack Vance novels entertaining reading, Randy. But next Friday, I’ll have the Real Thing!
I really like L. Warren Douglas’ work. It may be faux-Vance but it’s a good faux.
Exactly, Scott! L. Warren Douglas is pretty good at faxu-Vance novels, but no one can touch Matthew Hughes!
Thanks very much George – TALES OF THE DYING EARTH it shall be!
Sergio, I envy your first experience with TALES OF THE DYING EARTH! Mavels await you!