Product Description
Far in the future, the craftsmen of the distant planet Halma create goods which are the wonder of the galaxy.But they know little of this.Their society is harshly regimented, its religion austere and unforgiving, and primitive -- to maintain standards, even the most basic use of automation is punishable by death.

When Amiante, a wood-carver, is executed for processing old documents with a camera, his son Ghyl rebels, and decides to bring down the system.To do so, he must first interpret the story of Emphyrio, an ancient hero of Halman legend. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Perhaps Vance's best "standalone" novel
This is one of Vance's best novels, and in many ways a good introduction to this author. On display are many of the hallmarks of his mature style: his elegant writing, his wonderful depiction of local colour, his unusual social systems. Emphyrio lacks only the humour that is so often present in Vance: this is one of his more melancholy books. It's also better plotted than many of his novels, and it's a stand-alone.

The story concerns a young man in the city of Ambroy (on the planet Halma) named Ghyl Tarvoke. Ghyl is the son of Amiante Tarvoke, a rather unconventional inhabitant of Ambroy. Amiante is a master carver of wooden screens, one of the handmade products that Ambroy exports to the rest of the Galaxy, but he is rather solitary, and does not produce especially many screens, and does not participate in the religious rituals of Ambroy, which involve intricate leaping (saltation).

Ghyl's childhood is wonderfully presented. It's rather lonely, but happy, as Amiante's rearing of Ghyl bids fair to make him as unconventional as his father. Ghyl explores much of his city, which is ruled by a very few "Lords" or "Remedials," who control the utilities and services of the city, and provide a guaranteed minimum support lifestyle to the common people who co-operate, in exchange for control of the market for Ambroy's artwork. Various regulations are enforced, most notably an absolute rule against duplication of any kind, ostensibly to ensure the maintenance of Ambroy's reputation for completely original handmade art.

Ghyl makes a few friends, some who end up "noncups," or people living outside the welfare system. He also learns eventually that his father's unconventionality extends to illegal duplication: his father has a collection of historical documents, which he duplicates. He also teaches Ghyl the writing systems used in these old documents. One old document is an unfinished version of the legend of Emphyrio, a hero of the past on the planet Aume who helped humans throw off the domination of aliens from the mood Sigil. As Ghyl grows older, he remains isolated from most of his fellows, an isolation only enhanced by his brief affair with a Lord's daughter, and further exacerbated by his father's eventual punishment and death for his duplicating.

Finally Ghyl is pushed to a desperate act, kidnapping a Lord's spaceship. This leads to a journey offworld, where he eventually learns much about the true story of Emphyrio and the true nature of his own planet, of the Lords who rule it and the mysterious puppet makers of the moon Damar. The resolution is satisfying if a bit odd, with a nice twist. However, although the plot of this novel is satisfactory, the real pleasures, as with all Vance, lie elsewhere.

This book features, for one thing, a very satisfying depiction of an odd, lonely but happy, childhood. For a second thing, there is the culture of Ambroy, which is perhaps not so odd as some of Vance's social structures, but still fascinating, with its welfare system, prohibition of duplication, mysterious Lords, and unusual and mordantly amusing punishments. Thirdly there is Vance's always elegant prose, with his glorious touch for names of people (Amiante Tarvoke), alien races (the Garrion), and places (Daillie); and his knack for coining words (noncups, skeel, Remedials). And finally, his plots, even when unsatisfactorily resolved, often seem to be following conventional paths before suddenly taking unusual but believable turns. Vance's main weakness, besides his occasional trouble with endings, is his cavalier approach towards scientific realism. In some moods this bothers me, but I think it's best with Vance simply to ignore this. So what if his spaceships seem but cars that can be driven at FTL? That's not the point with Vance.

Haunting, yes, and vintage Vance.
I have little to add to those who've commented that this little Classic of Vance's Gaean Reach novels is haunting, and Vance in the top of his form. This little passage always stays with me as an example of writing that could ONLY be Vance:

(It's a backward world, far from Earth, a thousand years in the future... where artists and artisans are exploited by a commercial cartel. This is a conversation between the protagonist as a little boy who's just seen a puppet show, and the peripatetic puppeteer Holkerwoyd):

"I was born beside a star so far that you'll never see its light, not in the sky of Halma."

"Then why are you here?"

"I often ask myself the same. The answer always comes: because I'm not somewhere else. Which is a statement more sensible than it sounds. And isn't it a marvel? Here am I and here are you; think of it! When you ponder the breadth of the galaxy, you must recognize a coincidence of great singularity!"

"I don't understand."

"Simple enough! Suppose you were here and I elsewhere, or I were here and you elsewhere, or both of us were elsewhere: three cases vastly more probable than the fourth, which is in fact our mutual presence within ten feet of each other. I repeat, a miraculous concatenation! And to think that some hold the Age of Wonders to be past and gone!"

Splendid parable
The one flaw I find in this engrossing book is that Vance seems to have decided, at that stage of his career, that it needed a little more structural emphasis than his previous books had displayed. This led him to the calamitous device of an opening, "framing," chapter. If this opening chapter should be torn bodily from the book -- and would we might see Vance's own explicit authorization for such a deed! -- it would then be perfect, in all respects.

Different--but still Excellent--Vance
As most of the other critics have noted, this is a vastly different book than most of Vance's other novels or stories. While it shares the some of the same trappings and atmosphere of Vance classics such as "Night Lamp" or the Durdane trilogy, its view is rather depressing. In my opinion, "Emphyrio" most resembles the Durdane trilogy, with its ignorant protelariat and non-existent civil society controlled by a mysterious entity.

I, too, agree with the critic who mentioned the discord between the two halves of the book. The first (better) half focuses on the societal injustices and the rights of Man. The latter part IS rushed; it seems that Vance had to change tack after the hijacking of the Lords. It reminds me of Twain's "Huckleberry Finn," (yes, I'm serious) in that regard--Twain faced the same dilemma 2/3rds of the way through that book (while Jim and Huck are on the raft). Does anyone else agree with this observation?

I highly recommend this book. Find a copy, and grab any copy of ANY Jack Vance book that you come across.

Imaginative story with a rushed, skeletal second half
Reminiscent of "1984" or "Brave New World," "Emphyrio" is Vance's stab at dystopian fiction. Like its predecessors, it is a gloomy, pessimistic novel (lacking Vance's trademark wit); unlike other novels in this genre, however, this one is enriched by a coming-of-age story focusing on the relationship between a father and a son.

The first (and far better) half of the book focuses on the bond between Amiante and Ghyl. Amiante is a skilled artisan whose work is highly valued, but his lackadaisical and somewhat rebellious attitude keeps him from participating fully as a "proper" member of a strictly regimented society--a world in which any form of automation or duplication (cameras, molding, assembly-line manufacturing, etc.) is strictly forbidden in order to maintain the quality and uniqueness of handmade goods. Amiante imparts his aloofness to his son Ghyl, who shares his father's taste for individualism and subversion. Goaded by seditious friends and angered by his father's ultimate punishment, Ghyl hatches a scheme to leave his native planet; the plan goes awry but allows Ghyl to explore the universe and discover its history and secrets.

Vance aims his barbs at a wide range of targets: the welfare state, capitalism, totalitarianism, religion, socialism, class warfare, unions, and more. And that's the problem with the last 100 pages: the novel is far too short for such a scattershot approach, and the "message" often gets lost in a series of quick resolutions and easy aphorisms. Planets are briefly visited, characters come and go, and secrets are revealed. While on Earth, for example, Ghyl spends a month (fewer than four pages) with Flora, "a slim blond Norwegian girl,"but the reason for her sudden introduction and equally sudden disappearance is mystifying. Through contrived coincidences (e.g., running into a previous acquaintance on faraway planet) and relatively effortless disclosures, Ghyl learns "surprising" truths about the structure of his native society. The resolution of the plot and the revelation of the book's secrets are actually quite clever, so it's doubly sad that Vance seems to be rushing through the story, tying up loose ends without either making them all that believable or giving the reader much of a chance to consider what they mean.

"Emphyrio" is, of course, meant to be an allegory, and I suspect that Vance deliberately modeled his "myth" as fable (like, say, "Animal Farm") rather than full-blown epic (like "Dune"). His nightmarish universe and imaginative vision is far too big, though, to be satisfactorily presented in 200 pages. As a result, "Emphyrio" at times seems more a skeleton of a brilliant novel than a fully realized masterpiece. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

3 Novellas, each of a different quality
If you read the Dying Earth cycle sequentially, by the time you get to Rhialto the Marvellous, you have a clear understanding of Vance's style. The Dying Earth is merely a backdrop that gives Vance an excuse to add baroque details of setting, beastiary, and magic to his adventures starring vain men enacting amusingly petty mischeifs on one another.Without the young heros of his first book, the all-star dastardly Cugel from the second and third we now have Rhialto.Rhialto is different from Cugel only in that he is a) a magician, and b) good looking.Otherwise he could be Cugel quite easily.The switch to a new character offers a stable character tableau of a wild cabal of magicians.You wouldn't think the quest element of the first three books would radically alter the pleasure so much, but sadly that's the case.Its just a bunch of silly men bickering with each other.
The first story is some sort of 1950s satire about men becoming effeminized by a naughty witch. You get all excited that Vance's wife, who apparently typed out his handwritten manuscripts a la Tolstoy, chided him to include strong women characters- until you realize its just a slap in the face bit of misogyny. Nuff said.There's a fullness of vision though to the pictures he creates in your mind.
The second story is so meandering, and unclear in direction that I thought it was one of the dullest things I'd read by Vance.Rhialto is betrayed by a frenemy, he's set upon by his cronies and then he loses his magic. He spends about a 100 pages with a demon searching through time for a rulebook to take back to his cabal to show them they owe him restitution.There's cannabals, and cuties, and demons but it just doesn't gel together for some reason- its just a lot of nothing when its all said and done.You find yourself wondering why he wasn't using Cugel since he disenfranchised Rhialto of his magic.
The third story is beautiful.The cabal use a castle as a space ship to fly out to the edge of the universe, and rescue a long lost ally.The set peices are stunning, the long lost magician is a fully realized Vance character, and there's something interesting about the Cabal acting together.

You just wonder though what the heck IOUN stones are...As part of the cycle I'm glad I read it, and if it was the only Vance thing you'd found it'd be fine.But after the other 700 pages it felt like it'd jumped the shark at some point.

Another great entry in the "Dying Earth" series.
Vance's baroque and vibrant style is in full force here. I must admit that the "Dying Earth" books are among my favorites, as they were my introduction to Vance's work to begin with. This book features Rhialto, amagician residing on Earth at the end of time. As in previous books of thisseries, there is some time travel...and one of the adventures takes placeat the end of the universe (that's right, a finite wall marking the limitsof the universe). Vance's characters are fascinating, as usual;unscrupulous, arrogant, witty and clever. His dry humor is evidentthroughout. Another reviewer takes issue with Vance's use of obscure andself-created words. I think this just adds flavor to Vance's work.Regardless, "made-up" words are a fairly common convention inthis genre and I don't think it amounts to much of an issue. ClearlyVance's style is unique, but not so unusual as to be inaccessible (witnesshis Hugo, Nebula and Edgar awards). If you're familiar with Vance, you'veprobably already bought everything you can find. If not, this would make asgood an introduction to his work as any. They're all good.

An excellent addition to The Dying Earth series
This is a collection of stories about Rhialto, a magician who lives in Vance's Dying Earth.Fans of Cugel's Saga and the previous Dying Earth books will love it, as will those who just want a good read.Vance's command of the English language is formidable, and his descriptive passages are priceless.This book is humorous, sardonic, and very rich indeed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Three of Vance's best supporting characters
Two down and three to go... In order to exact revenge on Viole Falushe, the third Demon Prince, Kirth Gersen must first discover who Mr. Falushe is, and then find and infiltrate his famous Palace of Love.

The actual plot, while just as brisk and fun as usual, isn't the most entertaining aspect of The Palace of Love. This volume is particularly charming because of Jack Vance's exquisite characters -- three in particular:

1. Vogel Filschner was rejected by the prettiest girl in school when he was a pimply 14-year old geek. His retaliation feels just like what school psychologists are warning us about these days. He's a fascinating villain!
2. Navarath is a washed-up poet who lives on a houseboat. We're not sure if he's a genius, a fake, crazy, or just drunk. Whatever he is, he's amusing and Vance has lots of fun with Navarath, giving him an eccentric artist personality. He talks dramatically and emphatically, gestures extravagantly, seeks attention, drinks a lot, and broods. When he got on a spaceship for the first time he "simultaneously became afflicted with claustrophobia and agoraphobia, and lay on a settee with his feet bare and a cloth pulled over his head." He even constructs absurd (but somehow ingenious) poems, including one whose stanzas end with lines such as "But Tim R. Mortiss degurgled me" and "But Tim R. Mortiss peturgles me."
3. Zan Zu, the girl from Eridu, is a dreamy dirty adolescent misfit with no name. (Since Kirth asked for her name, Navarath introduced her as "Zan Zu from Eridu.") Vance can't help but use her entire title nearly every time she's mentioned (and I can't either), so Kirth thinks of her as Zan Zu, the girl from Eridu, and we regularly encounter the words "Zan Zu, the girl from Eridu" in the text. It just trips off the tongue so nicely and somehow made me smile every time I saw it. (I read somewhere that Jack Vance chose his characters' names this way -- by saying them over and over to see how they sound.)

These are three of Vance's best supporting characters, all packed into about 150 pages. That's enough reason to read The Palace of Love.

3.5 stars - the series moves on a little slower
The third book in the Demon Princes series is predictably good. It is slow and methodical. It follows the same formula as the previous 2 books, which is a winning one. Kirth Gersen has sworn to hunt down and kill the 5 Demon Princes who murdered members of his family and his town many years ago. They now live anonymously, still committing acts of evil. Gersen now pursues Viole Falushe , who controls the Palace Of Love.Its location and nature is shrouded in mystery. Gersen slowly lifts the shroud.

Again, there are memorable bits of information and unusual characters. Gersen's companion during his search this time is an eccentric poet, who makes for a colorful character. The hunt for Falushe develops with the same sureness of the last 2books, but I found this one to be somewhat slower in pace. Falushe's evil is deep and solidly told, and has a complexity to it that is refreshing. Vance sticks to the series premise as stubbornly as Gersen maintains his singular purpose. Gersen may be unable to change, but I would welcome at least a little something different from the series the next time around. Either way, Vance's strong writing will surely not disappoint.

Not Free SF Reader
Third revenge.


Girlfriends are part-time, killing your crimelord enemies is a full time occupation.So Gersen now turns his newly acquired wealth from the previous book to the task of getting to Falushe, the next on his list.

Yet again he has to find the planet the guy hangs out on, find out which person he is - which is kind of interesting, overlord megalomaniac types that like to hide who they are.Be a bit easier if they paraded around like Ming the Merciless, but a much shorter series.

"Tim R. Mortiss, He's a Loving Friend"
The Palace of Love

A Guest of the Margrave

Kirth Gerson's quest for revenge against the five Demon Princes who destroyed his home and family has one unfortunate side effect.It makes him more than a little unlucky in love.When Alusz Iphigenia finds herself dragged to Sarkovy, the poisoner's planet, to watch a man die for selling poisons to Viole Falushe at the wrong price she draws the line and Gerson finds himself alone one again.Unsurprisingly, Gerson is almost relieved at the loss.

For Gerson, the thin clues discovered on Sarkovy will eventually lead him back to Earth where he must struggle to build the snare that will trap the elusive Falushe.Eventually, the trail will lead him to Navarth, a poet of unsteady demeanor and writing skills, the guardian of the young woman called Zan Zu from Eridu.Whoever Zan Zu really is, she is the double of Jheral Tinzy, the woman whose cavalier treatment launched young Vogel Filschner, later known as Viole Falushe, on the life of a dire criminal mastermind.Gerson uses Zan Zu and Navarth as the keys that will gain him access to the killer.Even if it means a trip to the fatal delights of the infamous Palace of Love.

If 'The Killing Machine' was a slight letdown, 'The Palace of Love' finds Vance back in complete control of his writing powers.The book is both a facile satire of the foibles of an overly attenuated civilization and a hard nosed adventure of the fight to the death between a vicious, if overly romantic, sadist and one of his earliest victims.Irony is the rule of the day as many characters get their just and embarrassing deserts.For a reader jaded by the modern tendency to the grim and noir, Vance's use of almost comic justice is like a breath of fresh air.

Vance creates his worlds in order to have full use of the people on them.Sarkovy, with its wheeled god, the archaism of Earth, and the countless quirks of the worlds of the Oikumene and beyond the Pale come to life in the footnotes and quotes with which Vance peppers his stories.You will find yourself enamored of both Vance's story-telling skills and his capabilities as a somewhat cynical sociologist.These are stories designed to fire the imagination, to stay in the mind after they are put to rest.

A great read
"Many fine things your father had planned for you:learning and useful work; a life of satisfaction and peace.All this is gone now, do you understand?But the learning you shall have - the use of your hands and mind.And useful work: the elimination of evil men.What work is more useful than this?Finally, I cannot give you peace, but I promise you ample satisfaction, for I shall teach you to crave the blood of these men more than the flesh of a woman."

These are the words uttered by Kirth Gersen's (sometimes called Keith Gersen) grandfather after a raid on their homeworld by 5 super-criminals (known as the 5 Demon Princes) leaves everyone but these two either dead or enslaved.True to his word, the old man forges his grandson into an unstoppable instrument of vengeance.In fact, Gersen often seems more a force a nature than a human being, more machine than man in his single-minded quest for revenge.His fighting prowess and physical abilities are without peer;likewise, his mind is sharp and focused.

This is the third book in Vance's "Demon Princes" Series.I found it enjoyable, but not as much as the first two books.In this book, Gersen - after his epic swindling of Interchange to the tune of 10 billion SVU (Standard Value Units) - is undoubtedly the richest person in the Gaean Reach (the area of space inahabited by human beings). Of course, no one is aware of who it was who cheated Interchange, but Gersen now has virtually limitless resources with which to pursue the 3 remaining Demon Princes.

As in the first two books, the third Demon Prince also masks his true identity by pretending to be someone else.Half the fun of this series is seeing Gersen doggedly attempting to unearth the secret identity of the super-criminals, and that is the case here.The other half is watching him catch the bad guy.

As usual, Vance's Gaean Reach is populated with a wide variety of memorable characters who etch themselves into one's memory on blocks of granite.Gersen himself, is, of course, magnetic - created in the classical hero motif but far from static or boring. ... Read more

Product Description
Bringing together in a single volume for the first time the three novels which make up "Durdane" - "The Faceless Man", "The Brave Free Men" and "The Astura". This book is set far in the future, on the distant planet Durdane, which lives under the mysterious rule of the Anome - the Faceless Man. ... Read more

Product Description
Jack Vance is science fiction s world-builder par excellence, a multi-award-winning Grand Master and much-loved doyen of the art of the planetary adventure. In a career spanning 59 years, Vance has been responsible -- more than any other writer in the field -- for creating exotic alien cultures and living, breathing worlds, among them Tschai, Durdane and Big Planet, Trullion, Cadwal and Wyst, Aerlith, Fader and Dar Sai.

Now, in a single impressive volume, The Jack Vance Reader brings together three of the master's very best planetary adventures: the internationally acclaimed Emphyrio, the classic interplanetary whodunnit, The Domains of Koryphon, and the provocative and unforgettable The Languages of Pao. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

space opera
A good writer from the old school of space opera and adventure.Just a good read. He has many books and I've enjoyed all I have read

Marvelous introduction to Vance for me
I had never heard of Jack Vance until I was reading a eulogy for Dungeons and Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax, where Vance's work was listed as an influence on the D&D rules. I was surprised, because I thought over the last thirty years I had traced down all the authors who'd influenced Gygax and Arneson. Recently I saw his name again where someone noted Jack's influence on the rules had been removed in the new edition. Being a completist, I immediately headed for Amazon.

This was my first Jack Vance read, and I was enchanted. I couldn't believe I had never heard of him. The Languages of Pao belongs on a list of American literary greats. As another reviewer noted, it is unfortunate that he has not had the opportunity to enjoy the popularity he deserves. I followed up this purchase with Tales of Dying Earth, another treasure trove.

Jack is now the number one bullet in my clip for when my friends toss up their "What should I read next?" clay pigeon.

Disregard Previous comments
Anyone new to Vance should completely disregard the previous entry. This is a worthy introduction to the World of Jack Vance. It is indeed frustrating that this writer has never received widespread recognition like Asimov for example. Now in his 90's it is probably fair to say that posthumous recognition is a certainty and he will be better known than he is now. The stories include the masterwork Emphyrio which is one of his best. If you are already a Vance fan, well its always necessary to add to the collection. By all means go ahead and buy a copy.
John Colum Hughes has given an honest appraisal in his review above. I echo the sentiment.

A great edition
The Jack Vance reader contains Emphyrio,Languages of Pao and "The Domains of Koryphon" (previously known as The Gray Prince).This "new" title is the title Jack wanted and which the wonderful V.I.E (Vance Integral Edition) used in their sanctioned editions.I have the book and it is a beautiful and solidedition using high quality paper and with introductions from Robert Silverberg,Ursula K Le Guin and Mike Resnick....and what a bargain price.I too have many editions of the same books.The more the better when it comes to a fan of the great Jack V!
Later edit:I have just checked the first pages of the book (stating the previous publications)and it states within that "The domains of Koryphon"was also called"The grey prince".No charge of misguiding the public or "deceptive practice" can be leveledagainst Subterranean Press.

Misleading Title
This book was an enormous disappointment.It contains three novels--Emphyrio, The Languages of Pao, and The Domains of Koryphon.I already own the first two in hardcover, but was willing to buy this book in order to read "Koryphon", which I had never heard of.Yes, I'm that fervent a Jack Vance fan.

Unfortunately, "Koryphon" was an early, obscure title for The Grey Prince, which had been published under that name in mass market and hardcover for many years.Of course, I own a couple of copies.

This was not a good experience.The lone star rating I gave this book was not for the quality of the content--Jack Vance rules--but for the deceptive practice of the publisher. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Nobody outdoes Jack Vance for sheer inventiveness
After successfully dispatching the first of his lifelong enemies in the previous novel, The Star King, Kirth Gersen now takes on the second of the five demon princes, Kokor Hekkus, aka "The Killing Machine." The Killing Machine is even more fun than The Star King. It's full of diverse characters, exotic venues, hilarious fashions, weird food, awesome architecture, and bizarre machinery. Nobody outdoes Jack Vance for sheer inventiveness. The plot moves rapidly and contains plenty of action and suspense.

As with many of his novels, at the beginning of each chapter Vance imparts small amounts of background information in the form of excerpts from government documents, textbooks, popular sayings, magazine articles, planetary travel guides, etc. This is a clever way to give us knowledge without relying on the much maligned "info-dump" that's often endured in speculative fiction. Sometimes these excerpts are just a fun way to let us know about some interesting aspect of a planet's environment, history or culture; sometimes they're just an excuse for Jack Vance to say something smart or witty about politics, economics, biology, astronomy, or psychology; sometimes they give him a chance to give a nod or a jab to one of his SF friends ("Frerb Hankbert" was quoted in The Star King and "the dean of modern cosmologists, A.N. der Poulson" was mentioned in The Killing Machine). But occasionally, though they may seem irrelevant at first, they give us clues for solving a part of the plot's mystery.

In The Killing Machine we get to know Kirth Gersen a little better. We already knew he was clever, driven, and almost ruthless. Now we start to see a bit of remorse and melancholy as he muses about what his life would be like without this goal to take revenge on the five demon princes. And, more importantly, he begins to wonder: after he's finished, who will he have become?

Another Demon Prince masterpiece
Kirth Gersen has sworn to hunt down and kill the 5 evil Demon Princes who were present at his family's massacre. This book chronicles his search for Kokor Hekkus, another of the cunning suspects. The search is inventive and endlessly entertaining. Again, Vance takes a standard space opera and turns it into something special.

Gersen is a bit more reflective this time around, and a few scenes hint at a man not so sure of his previously sworn destiny. The entry of an intriguing heroine perhaps creates more possibilities for him, beyond his self-imposed singular purpose. His character, in other words, begins to develop a bit more. And it is good for the story.

Adventure is the main theme, and there is plenty. There are scenes of intellectual suspense, as well as vivid clashes involving physical brute strength. Vance's universe is one of many wonders and intrigues, and there are no wasted scenes or useless information. This is a layered work, encompassing a precious few pages. After finishing it, I felt like I was holding some magical device created by Vance. Surely the delight I had experienced was from a much larger novel, somehow compressed so that I didn't notice it. Impressive stuff.

"My goal is to produce a nightmare quality of fright"
Kirth Gersen, having won his conflict with the Star King now turns to the next of the Demon Princes who participated in the destruction of Gersen's entire home world - Kokor Hekkus.Or rather, happenstance (a series of kidnappings) leads Gersen to a kidnapping plot by which Hekkus is gathering a huge sum of money.Investigation brings Gersen to Interchange, an institution created solely to facilitate the collection of ransoms and the comfort of the victims - for a fee, of course.In a way, this is Hekkus' storehouse, not just of his victims while they await redemption but also of the ideas, which drive his dark fantasies.

At Interchange, finds an engineer who failed to satisfy Hekkus' need for an imitation giant centipede, and gains some insight into Hekkus's motivation.By playing on the Demon Prince's list for this mechanical device, Gersen discovers more and more, until, by a series of fortuitous events finds himself flying with the beautiful and mysterious Alusz Iphigenia in search of her home, the mythical world of Thamber.And on Thamber, Gersen confronts a world out of a romantic's fervid daydream.Somehow, he must penetrate to the nest of the spider that hides behind the fairy tale in order to quiet one of the voices from his own past.

This is the second of the Demon Prince novels, and over all, I think it is probably the weakest.The story relies heavily on the mechanism of coincidence or 'luck.'And that weakens its overall impact.Vance has always had a tendency towards baroque story lines, which, to be honest, is one of the reasons I like him.The strange cultural architecture of Thamber is a little too fragile and conflicts with what we have been told about Hekkus' character.Vance moves this complex plot through a volume of only 160 pages, so even the major characters are noticeably two-dimensional.

For all my grumbling, 'The Killing Machine' still is a wonderful piece of invention, introducing many of the mechanisms that Vance will go onto use in the volumes to come.I cannot imagine a reader of vintage science fiction who will not love its countless twists and turns.Quite successful in its time, it has gone on to become a monument on the science fiction landscape.

Fantastic as both an individual book and part of the series
"Many fine things your father had planned for you:learning and useful work; a life of satisfaction and peace.All this is gone now, do you understand?But the learning you shall have - the use of your hands and mind.And useful work: the elimination of evil men.What work is more useful than this?Finally, I cannot give you peace, but I promise you ample satisfaction, for I shall teach you to crave the blood of these men more than the flesh of a woman."

These are the words uttered by Kirth Gersen's (sometimes called Keith Gersen) grandfather after a raid on their homeworld by 5 super-criminals (known as the 5 Demon Princes) leaves everyone but these two either dead or enslaved.True to his word, the old man forges his grandson into an unstoppable instrument of vengeance.In fact, Gersen often seems more a force a nature than a human being, more machine than man in his single-minded quest for revenge.His fighting prowess and physical abilities are without peer;likewise, his mind is sharp and focused.

This book, the second in the series, concerns Gersen's hunt for the second Demon Prince - Kokor Hekkus, also called "The Killing Machine."Like the first book in the series, "The Star King," this book again reveals Gersen to be an interpid man of action.Here, however, I feel there was more emphasis on Gersen's resourcefulness and mental acumen, which I found to be absolutely delightful.It gives Gersen the feel of being more than simply a one-dimensional character; he overcomes the formidable obstacles in his path with cunning and guile as often - or even more often - than he does with physical prowess.Also, like the first book, Gersen again travels far beyond the Gaean Reach (the area of space inhabited by man) in his quest for vengeance.

As usual, Vance's has created a rich and vibrant epic in which social mores, morals and manners vary from ours in extreme measure, yet this new world - so different from our own - is both convincing and credible.

Best of the good "Demon Princes" series
I count this (the second book of the 5 book Demon Princes series) as one of Jack Vance's best works and one of the all time best space operas.I think it is better than the first book of the series, "The StarKing", for which he won the Hugo.The Introduction of the heroine isa wondrous conceit, the hero's adventures have a thoroughly satisfyingtaste, and there is stunning boldness to the plot.And, as is usual withVance, you are treated to imaginative cultures and a rich linquistic taste. This read is a wonderful memory. ... Read more

Product Description
Rhialto the Marvellous takes up the personal and political conflicts among a conclave of two dozen magicians of Ascolais and Almery in the 21st Aeon.The shocking appearance of the Llorio the Murtha, a powerful female force from an earlier aeon threatens to unbalance nature by “ensqualming” or feminizing the magicians. This triggers a tremendous struggle for power and the other mages turn against Rhialto.

Hoping to reestablish his rightful place, Rhialto travels to other aeons to restore the missing Perciplex which projects the Mostrament, the constitution of the association. In his final adventure, Rhialto must, ultimately, travel to the very ends of time and space to confront an old adversary whom he had wronged and must commit further misdeeds to restore order.

Out of this welter of exotic politics, values systems, personal eccentricity, and magic, the figure of Rhialto slowly comes into focus and takes on dimension. He is a vain, apparently superficial man, not ashamed to demonstrate his melancholy to enhance his reputation. But he is courteous, patient, and subtle, even kind. He is self-aware and introspective as Cugel never could be—the wisest and most sympathetic of all of Vance’s wizards. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Mystery Vance
The Man in the Cage is one of Jack Vance's non sf works.It's a murder mystery/thriller set in North Africa, and it's strength comes from strong main character, witty observations of an expat US community, and Vance'susual brilliance at visual desciption.The murder and its solution issuperbly plotted. ... Read more

Product Description
A collection of three works follows the adventures of the Connatic, the Alastor world's vengeance-seeking ruler, and includes the classic novels, Trullion: Alastor 2262, Marune: Alastor 933, and Wyst: Alastor 1716. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

My favorite Jack Vance book
I'm convinced the sport that Jack Vance invented in this book will be played some day.The building up of a great team from an embarassingly bad one is fascinating enough, but the way the plot is woven into a subtext is pure Vance magic.The wry wit of Jack Vance is exemplified by the team's sole female member.When the opposition catches the gold ring at her end of the field, her clothes fall off!Who but Jack Vance would have thought of that.

Some of the very best Science Fiction ever written!
Jack Vance should be considered a great writer by any standards. His command of the lanquage is incredible. His ability to create new worlds, customs and characters is fantastic. The books in this omnibus are among his very best!High praise indeed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good Fantasy
I first learned of the existence of Michael Shea's novel _A Quest for
Simbilis_ some twenty or so years ago. The novel is set in Jack Vance's
Dying Earth, and is a direct sequel to Vance's own _The Eyes of the
Overworld_ (now retitled _Cugel the Clever_ in the Vance Integral
Edition), following Cugel's adventures immediately after the events of
Vance's novel (Vance himself would later write his own independent
sequel, _Cugel's Saga_, which ignores this book). As I considered
Vance's work a classic of the genre, and considered Shea's _Nifft the
Lean_, if not a classic, an enjoyable fantasy of middle rank, this of
course interested me. Only recently, however, have I come across a copy.

The first few adventures in this episodic novel follow Vance's novel
fairly closely, revealing an imagination much like Vance's, and using
some of Vance's creations in the earlier Dying Earth books, such as
erbs, grues, and hoons. Later, Cugel and companions adventure into a
hellish underworld, and Shea's creations here bear more resemblance to
those in _Nifft the Lean_, in which his thieves adventure in two
different hells, one the afterworld and the other underground. This part
of the novel can get quite entertaining with its myriad of gruesome
inventions.

This DAW edition, like many of DAW's books, is marred by misprints.
"Obscenetrobes", for example, mutate into "obscenehpobes" [sic], which
is repeated several times. None of these misprints should hinder
understanding, though.

All in all, I would rate this novel with Shea's _Nifft the Lean_ and
other works as a good mid-rank fantasy, but not quite a classic. Readers
who like Vance and/or Shea will want to read it. As it's a sequel to
_The Eyes of the Overworld_, readers will want to read that first, but
do not need to have read other works by Vance or Shea.

Good Fantasy
I first learned of the existence of Michael Shea's novel _A Quest for
Simbilis_ some twenty or so years ago. The novel is set in Jack Vance's
Dying Earth, and is a direct sequel to Vance's own _The Eyes of the
Overworld_ (now retitled _Cugel the Clever_ in the Vance Integral
Edition), following Cugel's adventures immediately after the events of
Vance's novel (Vance himself would later write his own independent
sequel, _Cugel's Saga_, which ignores this book). As I considered
Vance's work a classic of the genre, and considered Shea's _Nifft the
Lean_, if not a classic, an enjoyable fantasy of middle rank, this of
course interested me. Only recently, however, have I come across a copy.

The first few adventures in this episodic novel follow Vance's novel
fairly closely, revealing an imagination much like Vance's, and using
some of Vance's creations in the earlier Dying Earth books, such as
erbs, grues, and hoons. Later, Cugel and companions adventure into a
hellish underworld, and Shea's creations here bear more resemblance to
those in _Nifft the Lean_, in which his thieves adventure in two
different hells, one the afterworld and the other underground. This part
of the novel can get quite entertaining with its myriad of gruesome
inventions.

This DAW edition, like many of DAW's books, is marred by misprints.
"Obscenetrobes", for example, mutate into "obscenehpobes" [sic], which
is repeated several times. None of these misprints should hinder
understanding, though.

All in all, I would rate this novel with Shea's _Nifft the Lean_ and
other works as a good mid-rank fantasy, but not quite a classic. Readers
who like Vance and/or Shea will want to read it. As it's a sequel to
_The Eyes of the Overworld_, readers will want to read that first, but
do not need to have read other works by Vance or Shea. ... Read more

Product Description
Book 2 of the battle of survival in the world of Durdane. ... Read more

Product Description
Halma, a world where humans were ruled by a race of effete and arrogant lords; where a neo-feudal system banned all work by machines; where a mock welfare state rewarded painful hand labor with a pitiful dole.Young Ghyl Tarvok was a rebel. In a pirated spaceship, he began his search through the civilizations of the galaxy, hunting the elusive key to the time-shrouded secret that could free his people. Inexorably he moved toward his last desperate hope: the place his ancestors had left many thousands of years before, the mysterious and terrifying planet called Earth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Some corrections on the Publisher's Weekly review.
The previous reviews spoke to the main points, but the summary... did they actually read the book?
Casmir is not Madouc's uncle, he is suppossedly her grandfather. Suldrun, the woman believed to be Madouc's mother was his daughter, making his treatment of her all the more monstrous. Persilian's prophecy is that his grandson, not Casmir himself, shall sit on the throne, and to a man of Casmir's ambition, that is unacceptable.

superb
the superb end of and outstanding triologie... if you look at the reviews of the first book of the triologie you'll get a glue that this is a must read. I don't want tell too much only that in my opinion this is the bestof the three books. so follow my instructions to read this books and in theend you'll don't know if you are shimrod the mage or a reader in the 20thcentury. search for your best chair, take a bottle of your finest alcohol,put in your favorite music and start reading, you won't stop until itsfinished...

(any critics to my english welcome as long as they arewritten in german ;)) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

set free to find a new illusion
Nopalgarth, or the Brains of Earth, will probably always evoke divided reactions because it is a basically comic story about something which people find terribly disturbing, namely, mind control. Although superficially seeming to be a realistic science fiction story, the plot and characterizations never quite fit in the genre and as one reviewer's reaction here shows, can appear to be slightly silly in that frame of reference. Nevertheless it is unforgettable once read which to me is the mark of a classic (albeit it is a minor one).

One of Vance's worst
I am an avid Vance fan, so it pains me to say this, but this is one of his worst efforts.Since other reviewers seem to completely disagree with me, it's obvious that everyone has different tastes.However, I found this book to be very amateurish.The characterization is stale, the basic story is pretty outlandish, even for Science Fiction, and the ending is nothing short of silly.

If you want to read some of his better books, pick up the "Demon Princes" series, the "Alastor" series, or "To Live Forever".If you're having trouble finding Vance books through Amazon, check out rudysbooks.com, I've had a lot of luck on that site.

One of Vance's best
I've read almost all of Vance's published works, and I highly recommend this as one of his best shorter works, along with "The Dragon Masters" and "The Moon Moth".

Unlike most Vance stories, this novella is mostly set on present-day Earth, and contains significant elements of suspense and horror.But there are also unusual aliens (in this case, creatures whose brains must construct an internal physical model of something in order to imagine it), a mordant sense of humor (almost descending to farce), and some interesting philosophical speculations.There's no characterization to speak of, but that's not the point of this story.

I don't want to say too much about the plot, so as not to give away the twists, but think along the lines of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", Heinlein's "The Puppet Masters", or Sturgeon's "Rule of Three", but with Vance's unique flair.

The edition I have (from DAW Books) also contains two less memorable short stories, "The Houses of Iszm" and "Son of the Tree".Note also that in some editions, "Nopalgarth" is called "The Brains of Earth".

Probably the best Vance I have had the privilage of reading
Nopalgarth has got to be the best Jack Vance book I've ever read. As a frustrated Vance collector (why do so many of his books have to be out of print?) I have read many of his books (Big Planet, The Asutra, Ecce and OldEarth, etc.,) and Nopalgarth is probably one of my favorites (right behindit would be Wyst: Alastor...) It's definitely an awesome book. If you canfind it buy it, but the copy I have is the only copy I've seen. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Space Station Creatures, Masks, and Galactic Rulers
Jack Vance's _Monsters in Orbit_ and _The World Between and Other Stories_ (1965) are a pair of Ace Doubles. _Monsters in Orbit_ is a fixup novel based on two 1952 novellas from _Thrilling Wonder Stories_: "Abercrombie Station" and "Cholwell's Chickens". _The World Between_ is a collection of five stories.

_Monsters in Orbit_ is not Vance at his very best. It is a space opera on par with _The Five Gold Bands_ (1950), _Son of the Tree_ (1952), and _The Houses of Iszm_ (1954). Some readers today are inclined to be rather stern with these novels. I find that they have a certain wit and panache, coupled with a shrewd insight into human nature that redeem themselves.

The heroine is Jean Parlier: beautiful, charismatic, clever, and more than a little mercenary. She is not what you would call a "nice girl," but she is the sort of girl to whom adventures happen. Therefore, she is the sort of girl we like to read about. In the first half of the novel, Jean goes in search of a rich husband on a rather bizarre space station. In the second half, she returns to the planet of her birth, where she runs afowl (no, that is not a misspelling!) of some different biological horrors.

The stories in _The World Between_are: "The World Between" (_Future_, 1953), "The Moon Moth" (_Galaxy_, 1961), "Brain of the Galaxy" (_Worlds Beyond_, 1951), "The Devil on Salvation Bluff" (_Star Science Fiction No. 3, 1954), and "The Men Return" (_Infinity_, 1957). They range in quality from good to excellent.

The good stories are the first and the last. "The World Between" is an ecological adventure tale marred by an unnecessary twist ending. "The Men Return" is an allegorical treatment of the rise of humanity (again).

The middle stories are Vance at his best. "The Moon Moth" is the one about the bungling agent trying to find an enemy on a world of music and masks. "Brain of the Galaxy" is a series of tales that _seem_ to be unrelated. I'm betting that you won't guess the connection. And "The Devil on Salvation Bluff" is about some missionaries struggling to set up a colony on an alien world. There is indeed a devil... but it is not the one that the colonists fear.

My individual ratings are: _Monsters in Orbit_, three stars; _The World Between_, four stars. In ranking Ace Doubles, if there is a difference of one star between the individual books, I usually go with the higher ranking for my global score. So, my global score is four stars.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Oceans and Spaceyards.
This is the second volume in The Planet of Adventure series, and finds Adam Reith, Traz and Anacho accompanying Ylin Ylan, the lovely Flower of Cath, on her journey home.There, despite a deteriorating relationship with the young woman, Reith hopes to convince her father to help him acquire or build a space ship.They proceed almost haphazardly across Tschai's continents drawing closer to Cath, but not without incident.

A faltering floater carries them on to where they can seek sea voyage.And then, with the irritating addition of Dordolio, one of Ylin Ylan's countrymen, they set sail across the Draschade Ocean.The voyage contains both discoveries and tragedies, leaving a wiser Adam Reith to navigate the complexities of Cath society.Since this is only the second volume, I think it does no harm to admit that getting passage off planet remains out of reach.

But, amid the intrigue of Cath, Reith encounters Zarfo Detwiler, a man who finds the challenges of getting the party to the shipyards of the Wankh just his cup of tea.The Wankh are the latest invaders of Tschai, and have minimal contact with the world about them other than through their servitors, the Wankhmen.Once again, Reith's problem solving approach creates the maximum disturbance in what were previously orderly societies.One has to wonder if Tschai will survive Reith's return home.

My raving about Vance's write is probably becoming tedious to the reader's of my recent reviews.Suffice it to say, he was one of the truly great writers of science fiction and had far reaching influence is surprising corners.These stories are as fresh as they were 30 years ago and will no doubt remain popular when we return to the Stone Age and have to chisel them into walls.Please take the trouble to try a volume; you will no doubt be a fan forever. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Not Free SF Reader
Last revenge.


The end of the Demon Princes series is also the weakest part of it, as the last opponent to be tracked down has gone a bit quiet, after attempting to control both the crooks and the cops where he has decided to hang out.

This knowledge gives him a start to finding Treesong, his last enemy, along with his colourful underlings.


3 out of 5

Tied for First Place
THE BOOK OF DREAMS culminates Kirth Gersen's epic quest for revenge against the syndicate of slavers that destroyed his home town and killed his parents.This fascinating story, full of otherworldly imagery and brimming with suspense, relates how Gersen runs the single remaining Demon Prince (Howard Alan Treesong) to ground, and how the latter meets with a surprising end.A book well worth the read and any number of subsequent re-reads.THE BOOK OF DREAMS, last in a series of five, in my estimation ties the preceding book, THE FACE, for first place.

The last of the Demon Princes: Howard Alan Treesong
"Treesong's obsession with mystery extended far. No photographs, representations, or likenesses were known to exist, on or off the public record. His origins were unknown; his private life was as secret as the far end of the universe; he regularly disappeared from public notice for years on end."
- herein

Gersen saved the most difficult target for last: Treesong, the self-styled Lord of the Overmen - an affectation born of his view of criminals as superior predators, taking what they wish from the rest of humanity, illustrated long ago by the Mount Pleasant raid that destroyed Kirth Gersen's childhood home, killing or enslaving most of the population, leaving Gersen's grandfather with a hunger for revenge so great that he and Kirth together shaped Kirth for his lifelong quest to hunt down and kill the five great crimelords behind the raid.

Considering Vance as a mystery writer, each of the Demon Princes provides a different illustration of a theme common to several Golden Age mystery writers: that of overwhelming vanity as a driving force in crime. (See Sayers' WHOSE BODY?, most of Josephine Tey's novels, and Agatha Christie, of course.) The twist is that in the human-settled universe of THE DEMON PRINCES, there *is* no real inter-world law to appeal to. Gersen himself is a force outside law, who can be as terrifying as his quarry. Unusually for Gersen, for once he becomes involved with others whose reasons for seeking vengeance are on a par with his own (in one instance even *more* fanatical), although they lacked the resources to hunt Treesong down.

This story opens with a quote from the real BOOK OF DREAMS: a rather florid fantasy (isn't it?) of seven paladins, each with distinct characteristics, all but one with a distinct color - the sort of thing an adolescent might write. As we learn later on, that's no accident; the Book was written by the young Treesong, and serves as a handle to his character - it's no fantasy to him. He is, in fact, a multiple personality, but integrated to the point that without THE BOOK OF DREAMS - or more time to study him in person than anyone normally gets - one might never realize it. A book with only one copy, lost in Treesong's youth, worth almost any price - if one were to learn that it even existed.

While with those who have gone before, Vance tended to draw out one or two spectacular ongoing projects for each Demon Prince, we're given a more elaborate treatment of Treesong, with various anecdotes of his past turning up as well as the schemes of the present. In learning from one of his old Interworld Police Coordinating Company (IPCC) contacts just why they have so little material on the notorious Treesong, Gersen receives illumination on Treesong's character: Howard very nearly got control of the IPCC itself a few years back, enough to arrange for legitimate-sounding orders about destroying certain data on the grounds of inaccuracy. "Treesong is a sly devil. I'd still like to carve up his liver."

Chance deals Gersen a break, after many fruitless hours hunting through the records of COSMOPOLIS magazine: a photograph of a banquet sent in by a branch office, with the cryptic annotation, "H.A. Treesong is here." Digging into its provenance, Gersen is convinced of its authenticity, not least because the woman who sold it disappeared under suspicious circumstances. In a beautiful maneuver, Gersen arranges a Cosmopolis contest to name the 10 people in the photograph. At worst, he should learn enough names to get a lead; at best (and a near-certainty, if the image is any good at all) Treesong himself will take an interest, and given his penchant for privacy, he'll come close enough to give Gersen an opportunity to kill him.

The photograph itself is a clue to another of Treesong's grand schemes: it records a banquet attended by the highest-ranking members of the Institute, which itself takes a rather grandiose view of its importance in human affairs (something introduced in earlier volumes and reinforced here). The photograph leads to the first of Treesong's onstage appearances, only 3 of which involve face-to-face encounters with Gersen. Gersen's only human, after all; the greatest weapon in his arsenal is that he never gives up, not that he never suffers setbacks. (We've seen this before, particularly in THE FACE, where Gersen suffered multiple defeats at the hands of different people in the course of the story.)

Like Falushe, Treesong takes revenge for slights dating back to his school days; unlike THE PALACE OF LOVE, we see Treesong's revenge in action rather than exposition, as he attends a reunion of those who know only that he left his homeworld in disgrace, and not what he became. For the last reply to the great Cosmopolis contest - other than Treesong's own - is from Treesong's estranged father, so that just as happened with Falushe, Lens Larque, and Kokor Hekkus, the slender thread connecting Treesong's separate lives comes into Gersen's hands - utterly necessary, because otherwise a first attempt at smoking Treesong out would be the last, in pursuing a man with his peculiar talents.

The focus of THE BOOK OF DREAMS - both this book and that in the story - is on the character of Treesong: any who seek him must study him as a person, given his thoroughness about eliminating any evidence that might endanger him. The viewpoint, as always, is 3rd person following Gersen, who ironically must adopt some of the tactics of his quarry so that hunter doesn't turn hunted.

"The affair is over.I am done."
In 1981, two years after the publication of 'The Face,' Jack Vance finally completed the Demon Prince series with 'The Book of Dreams,' the story of Kirth Gersen's confrontation with Howard Alan Treesong, the last of the criminals responsible for the rape and destruction of his home world.Once again, Gersen roams the Gaian Reach looking for clues to the identity of the most mysterious of men, dragging us along helter-skelter as an intricate trap is built and sprung.

In these last two books in the series Vance makes Gersen a much more ingenious and proactive individual, whereas in the earlier books the protagonist depends more on serendipity and occasional dumb luck.Thus, in 'The Book of Dreams,' Gersen takes the thin clue of a photograph of ten diners, and builds it into an intergalactic contest to expose the identity of Treesong.In the process, he exposes the Demon Prince's plans to rule the universe, meets the beautiful Alice Wroke, and discovers that taxidermy is a weapon.All of this is much to the reader's delight.

It is sad to have this series come to a final end.Gersen's entire life has been working to the bring about the end of five poisonous men.Now, Alice Wroke in hand, the adventurer must satart a new life.Will he succeed?Is there ever peace at the end of this kind of mission?Vance gives us not a hint.Men of this heroic mold populate much of Vance's science fiction.In the end each takes his secrets with him to wherever characters go when novels end.

Vance never loses an opportunity to make gentle, but sardonic fun of the strange cultures that make up the civilization he has created.A world of 1,562 different sects, the rapacity of landing field owners, another world full of conservationists as nobility.These are the things that make the author's stories far more than simple narratives, for it is the little glimpses of the quirks of human behavior that makes these stories as alive and brilliant as they are.Colored and illuminated by a stream of quotes from galactic gazetteers and the pronouncements of the pompous Unspiek, Baron Bodissey.Of course, his creations are mirrors of his times, but it is surprising how timely Vance's wit remains years later.

Excellent!
"Many fine things your father had planned for you:learning and useful work; a life of satisfaction and peace.All this is gone now, do you understand?But the learning you shall have - the use of your hands and mind.And useful work: the elimination of evil men.What work is more useful than this?Finally, I cannot give you peace, but I promise you ample satisfaction, for I shall teach you to crave the blood of these men more than the flesh of a woman."

These are the words uttered by Kirth Gersen's (sometimes called Keith Gersen) grandfather after a raid on their homeworld by 5 super-criminals (known as the 5 Demon Princes) leaves everyone but these two either dead or enslaved.True to his word, the old man forges his grandson into an unstoppable instrument of vengeance.In fact, Gersen often seems more a force a nature than a human being, more machine than man in his single-minded quest for revenge.His fighting prowess and physical abilities are without peer;likewise, his mind is sharp and focused.

I actually like some of the other books in this series better, but I found the villian in this one to be the most complex and intriguing; this particular villian has schemes within schemes and plots to take over the Gaean Reach (the area of space inhabited by man) in such a sublime and surprising manner that you won't believe it.

As with the others before him, this Demon Prince hides his true identity and Gersen must ferret him out.After his epic swindling of Interchange to the tune of 10 billion SVU, Gersen has ample financial resources, but must invariably use his hands and mind to track down the elusive demon prince known as Alan Howard Treesong.

Once again, Vance's unstoppable hero Gersen takes us on an adventure that is part sci-fi, part mystery, part thriller and all fun.This book marks the end of the series.The only part I found vaguely unsatisying is that there was not a strong enough indication of Gersen would do after his long quest for vengeance was over.The character is so memorable that it is hard to imagine that he is not the central figure in at least a dozen books/stories, like Tarzan or Sherlock Holmes.That's the worst part of this series:that we are not likely to see Kirth Gersen again after it's all over. ... Read more