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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
I feel like this is one of those books that isn't for everyone, but is still a good example of literally genius. Read this if you'd like to delight your brain.
Araminta Station has less of the wordplay that makes so many Vance books great fun to read. That's not to say it's not classic Vance - there are strict societies, dispassionate characters, and alien landscapes galore. But the verbiage is somewhat tamer than in other books. At the same time, Vance focuses more on the detective aspect than usual. In short, this is an excellent SF crime mystery handled with Jack Vance style and panache.
The hero, Glawen Clattuc, is more approachable and 'normal' than many Vance protagonists, but true normality is reserved for Eustace Chilke, a supporting character. This book establishes the setting of the Cadwal Conservancy (a protected planet) and the pressures it faces. However, the scale of the story is mostly focused on Glawen and his struggles with rivals, love, and society. It's probably more of a 3.5 than a 4 on a Vance scale, but really anything by Vance is in a class by itself.
CVIE edition
The hero, Glawen Clattuc, is more approachable and 'normal' than many Vance protagonists, but true normality is reserved for Eustace Chilke, a supporting character. This book establishes the setting of the Cadwal Conservancy (a protected planet) and the pressures it faces. However, the scale of the story is mostly focused on Glawen and his struggles with rivals, love, and society. It's probably more of a 3.5 than a 4 on a Vance scale, but really anything by Vance is in a class by itself.
CVIE edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Stuffier than other Vance books I've read.
This is my first Jack Vance book, and I was really expecting to like it, but was disappointed. It's okay, and comes to a satisfactory conclusion, but I almost gave up a couple times at the dry, boring storyline and the odd, ponderous dialogue.
A longish space opera that is, essentially, a string of boy's adventures some of which are like those of John Carter himself. Many resemble a police procedural. This is the number one volume of the book seller's delight, a trilogy, and I will read on. All of the plot lines are tied up, but one is added in the last adventure that serves as a lead into volume 2.
It is always interesting to see how our view of the future is limited by the present. This book is copyright 1988, just before the internet became widely available and before the mobile phone took off. The characters in this book send written letters across space and in one adventure they search for a telephone.
It is always interesting to see how our view of the future is limited by the present. This book is copyright 1988, just before the internet became widely available and before the mobile phone took off. The characters in this book send written letters across space and in one adventure they search for a telephone.