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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
I find Vance a really fascinating writer. The Dying Earth, like the second half of Lyonesse, is effectively a string of fantastical short stories strung together - a little bit Alice In Wonderland, a little bit Homer's Odyssey, a little bit Grimm's Fairy Tales. As such, this is extremely different to 'epic' fantasy in the tradition of Tolkien. There's no overarching quest or overwhelming battle between Good and Evil. Vance has little interest in developing the characters as psychological entities or showing us their inner turmoil; instead his work is a parade of great ideas presented beautifully, picturesque and often picaresque inventions. There's a deft satirical edge to some of the stories.
Problems? Well, there's some horrible incidental sexism, especially early in the book, which looking through the other reviews put some people off. Personally this sort of thing makes me groan but is not something that'll turn me off the book, which was after all written in 1950; if you disagree, you're better off starting with Lyonesse, written 30 years later and featuring a really excellent and central female character.
The always interesting Keely has written a review of this which chides Vance for purple prose - I strongly disagree. I never think the writing gets in the way of the story; it always flows naturally and compellingly, and creates some lovely pictures. I think Vance has my favourite prose style of any fantasy author I've read (I know, I know...winner of the tallest dwarf contest).
Problems? Well, there's some horrible incidental sexism, especially early in the book, which looking through the other reviews put some people off. Personally this sort of thing makes me groan but is not something that'll turn me off the book, which was after all written in 1950; if you disagree, you're better off starting with Lyonesse, written 30 years later and featuring a really excellent and central female character.
The always interesting Keely has written a review of this which chides Vance for purple prose - I strongly disagree. I never think the writing gets in the way of the story; it always flows naturally and compellingly, and creates some lovely pictures. I think Vance has my favourite prose style of any fantasy author I've read (I know, I know...winner of the tallest dwarf contest).
I had never read anything by Jack Vance prior to this. The totally nerdy reason I gave this one a shot is that the way that magic works in D&D is based on how magic works in this world (wizards need to study spells to cast them, and they forget them once they do). Anyway, this is a pretty good set of stories. It's from the 1950s and it feels like it. The characters in general are a-holes and not likeable. It kind of has the same vibe as Robert E. Howards Conan stories. The world and setting is mysterious and interesting, but nothing is really explained well. In general, I personally could have used a bit more description. I am giving it 5 stars because I give everything I even vaguely like 5 starts, but I would only recommend this to D&D nerds looking to dig deep into some old-fashioned pulpy fantasy.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First four stories were very meh. Last two were very imaginative and good.
Heard this was a classic. I must be missing something.
Only noteworthy insofar as it was both boring and sexist.
Only noteworthy insofar as it was both boring and sexist.
The Dying Earth series is Jack Vance's best known work. Set in a time far in the future when the Earth is in its last days, this, the first volume, contains six interrelated stories of magic and adventure. These were originally published as short stories, so there is very little continuity, and certainly no overreaching plot, within this book. A few characters apear in more than one story. In fact, one character seems to go to his death in one story, but is alive and well in a subsequent one. This gave the book a sort of Pulp Fiction-ish feel, where events are not necessarily in chronological order, but nevertheless comprehensible.
Vance paints a vivid mental picture with his prose. Sometimes the descriptions actually get a bit too flowery, but the overall effect is quite enjoyable. At the same time, Vance is very economical with his words, letting ideas pour forth rapidly and not dwelling on anything too long. Modern fantasy writers would have taken the ideas in this 156-page book and made them into at least a trilogy, and we wouldn't have anything more interesting or exciting than what Vance gives us.
Jack Vance is one of the grand masters of science fiction and fantasy. If you haven't read any of his works, this would be a great place to begin. Modern readers may find some of it a bit sparse compared to what they're used to, but I think most readers will enjoy the amazingly rich world Vance created.
Vance paints a vivid mental picture with his prose. Sometimes the descriptions actually get a bit too flowery, but the overall effect is quite enjoyable. At the same time, Vance is very economical with his words, letting ideas pour forth rapidly and not dwelling on anything too long. Modern fantasy writers would have taken the ideas in this 156-page book and made them into at least a trilogy, and we wouldn't have anything more interesting or exciting than what Vance gives us.
Jack Vance is one of the grand masters of science fiction and fantasy. If you haven't read any of his works, this would be a great place to begin. Modern readers may find some of it a bit sparse compared to what they're used to, but I think most readers will enjoy the amazingly rich world Vance created.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
***1/2: I’m very tardy to Jack Vance and had only read excerpts of The Dying Earth cycle until now. 2021 will be my year of catching up on Appendix N. Vance’s 1950 sensibilities limit these stories somewhat but despite my struggle to get past the inherent sexism, and often silly,
repetitive plotting, there is something gripping and peculiar about these tales. Similar to the pulp fantasies of Clark Ashton Smith and a definite precursor to Gene Wolf & Neil Gaiman. Those who want to investigate the pulp roots of sword-and-sorcery (in general) and D&D (particularly), need to read this. Vance packs more ideas and feeling into his short stories than are contained in entire trilogies of modern speculative fiction.
repetitive plotting, there is something gripping and peculiar about these tales. Similar to the pulp fantasies of Clark Ashton Smith and a definite precursor to Gene Wolf & Neil Gaiman. Those who want to investigate the pulp roots of sword-and-sorcery (in general) and D&D (particularly), need to read this. Vance packs more ideas and feeling into his short stories than are contained in entire trilogies of modern speculative fiction.