This review of Songs of the Dying Earth: Stories in Honor of Jack Vance is an extension of yesterday’s tribute to Jack Vance for Forgotten Books Friday. In 2009, this celebratory collection was published to positive reviews. A “Who’s Who” of SF and fantasy writers wrote stories in Jack Vance mode to express their respect for one of the great writers of the 20th Century who influenced them. From Dean Koontz’s laudatory INTRODUCTION, to Jack Vance’s PREFACE, to the excellent stories that follow, this brilliant collection shows the fondness these writers have for Jack Vance and his magnificent work. Last week, Subterranean Press published Dan Simmons’s The Guiding Nose of Ulfant Banderoz, the short novel that was included in Songs of the Dying Earth. I’m happy to own both editions. If you’re a fan of Jack Vance, these stories will delight you.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Thank You, Mr Vance –Dean Koontz
Preface –Jack Vance
The True Vintage of Erzuine Thale –Robert Silverberg
Grolion of Almery –Matthew Hughes
The Copsy Door –Terry Dowling
Caulk the Witch Doctor –Liz Williams
Inescapable –Mike Resnick
Abrizonde –Walter Jon Williams
The Traditions of Karzh –Paula Volsky
The Final Quest of the Wizard Sarnod –Jeff Vandermeer
The Green Bird –Kage Baker
The Last Golden Thread –Phyllis Eisenstein
An Incident in Uskvesk –Elizabeth Moon
Sylgarmo’s Proclamation –Lucius Shepard
The Lamentably Comical Tragedy (or The Laughably Tragic Comedy) of Lixal Laqavee –Tad Williams
Guyal the Curator –John C Wright
The Good Magician –Glen Cook
The Return of the Fire Witch –Elizabeth Hand
The Collegeum of Mauge –Byron Tetrick
Evillo the Uncunning –Tanith Lee
The Guiding Nose of Ulfant Banderoz –Dan Simmons
Frogskin Cap –Howard Waldrop
A Night at the Tarn House –George R R Martin
An Invocation of Curiosity –Neil Gaiman
Of course I saw both of these, but I’m always leery of tribute collections. I’d usually just read the real thing.
Rick, the quality of the 23 stories in this Jack Vance tribute collection is very high. The Dan Simmons’ short novel is exceptional! SONGS OF THE DYING EARTH can be found at inexpensive prices. I picked up a trade paperback edition for $4.95.
My library has several copies so what the heck. I reserved one.
Jeff, you’ll enjoy these stories (but some are better than others). At the end of each story, the author writes about their relationship with Jack Vance and his work. Nice!
I think I’ve read enough of the Dying Earth stuff that I feel I could actually enjoy this collection now for what it is. I do have it sitting on my bookshelf. Great list of authors. We are reading The Dying Earth for our SF book club next month so after that refresher should be a good time to check this out.