Jace Vance’s The Palace of Love (1967) is the third book in the Demon Princes series. Kirth Gersen, a survivor of a vicious attack on his home, Mount Pleasant, has vowed to punish the five master criminals who coordinated and participated in the massacre. So far, Gersen has eliminated Attel Malagate (you can read my review of Star King here) and Kokor Hekkus (aka, The Killing Machine). The Killing Machine is my least favorite novel in the Demon Princes series, so I’ll spare you my review.
However, The Palace of Love presents Kirth Gersen with a challenge: finding The Palace of Love and finding its owner, Viole Falushe who searches for Love while practicing Hate. Gersen has to trace Viole Falushe’s development from a moody teenager into a criminal genius. The actual scenes of the confrontation in The Palace of Love are among the most compelling in Vance’s series. GRADE: A-
I reread the Star Kings series several years ago and enjoyed them a lot. I should reread the Planet of Adventure series, Lyonesse series and the Durdane books. I have read just about all of Vance’s book. There are a few standalones I may have missed. The last one I read was The Night Lamp, one of his later books and one of my favorites. I also enjoy the stories by Michael Shea and Matthew Hughes which are heavily influenced by Vance.
Steve, like you I’m fond of Michael Shea and Matthew Hughes with their faux-Vance pastiches. I have the PLANET OF ADVENTURE omnibus that TOR published and may read that in the Summer. Jack Vance is my favorite SF writer.
I read the Star KIngs 50 years ago first in German translation and then later the original. Forgot most of the story now but am still fascinated by Vance.
Again, fond memories!
Correction:
Of course only the first three – the rest of the series I bought later on one of my many shopping trips to London.
Wolf, now THE DEMON PRINCES is available in multiple formats: omnibus editions and separate novels.
Wolf, Matthew Hughes has written a sequel to THE DEMON PRINCES so you’ll see a review of BARBARIANS FROM THE BEYOND in the months ahead.
Wish I had something to contribute here.
Patti, you’ve read books about people seeking revenge. THE PALACE OF LOVE takes that obsession and explores the motivations of criminals who commit such heinous crimes.
Vance was our best Decadent after Clark Ashton Smith (I prefer Vance) and until Gene Wolfe and some others (Thomas Ligotti comes to mind, and Tanith Lee in certain moods)…but keeping up with his output wasn’t quite as challenging as keeping up with Greenberg anthologies, but close enough.
The only series I’ve read through has been the DYING EARTH/Cugel…though I began the LYONESSE…and have barely touched several of the others.
Todd, I envy you all the great Jack Vance works you have before you! THE PLANET OF ADVENTURE series should delight you!
I’ve tried. God knows I have, many times. I just can’t enjoy / like / appreciate Vance. I’ve never been able to get more than 50 or 60 pages into anything except THE DRAGON MASTERS, Dying Earth is just a confusing mishmash for me. Sorry, George, I know he’s your favorite, but his writing just doesn’t work for me.
Rick, different strokes for different folks. I’ve tried to read Proust three times and failed.
Like you, George, I was not im-Proust with A LA RECHERCHE DU TEMPS PERDU.
Jerry, now I’m In Search of Lost Time I wasted trying to read Proust! I’m glad I’m not the only one who had that problem!
I got scolded by a College Professor when I told him I found Proust unreadable and found him too prissy (Proust not the Professor). He let me read Man’s Fate by Malraux instead which I liked.
Steve, you and me and Jerry House all seem to have had the same experience trying to read Proust. I would take Malraux or Dumas any day!