Buy Used
Used - Acceptable See details
$13.49 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
The Demon Princes (Volume Two): The Face, The Book of Dreams
 
 
Tell the Publisher!
I'd like to read this book on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

The Demon Princes (Volume Two): The Face, The Book of Dreams [Hardcover]

Jack Vance (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)


Available from these sellers.



Book Description

August 15, 1997 Demon Princes (Book 2)
Jack Vance is undoubtedly one of the most gifted and versatile authors of science fiction today. The winner of a Hugo, a Nebula, and a World Fantasy Award, Vance lays claim to a career that spans more than five decades of critical acclaim and devoted readership. Tor Books has recognized his widespread audience and for years has brought classic Jack Vance novels back into print--most recently The Demon Princes, Volume One, and omnibus containing the first three books of Vance's beloved Demon Princes series. Tor now presents The Demon Princes, Volume Two, and omnibus containing the series' final two novels, The Face and The Book of Dreams.

Kirth Gersen carries in his pocket a slip of paper with a list of five names written upon it--the names of five Demon Princes. The Demon Princes are a race of beings who disguise themselves as humans and delight in power and destruction. however, to Kirth they are merely murderers who killed his family and destroyed his home planet--and who deserves to die for those misdeeds. Three have already fallen in Kirth's hands, but there are two more names on his list, two more Princes who will live only long enough to regret their evil ways.

Lens Larque was just as unique as the other Demon Princes--uniquely appalling. He was personally ugly, startling vicious, and arrogant above all others. Larque's own mission was a villainy of the highest order, and his personal obsession with success kept him hidden well from attackers--almost well enough. Howard Alan Treesong poisoned his friends, tortured his colleagues, and wrote his own horrific holy book, The Book of Dreams. But, clever as he may be, a galaxy-wide guessing game will be his undoing--and Kirth Gersen's sworn vengeance will be complete.

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought


Editorial Reviews

Review

"Jack Vance is one of the truly important science fiction writers of our day."--Los Angeles Times Book review

"Vance's descriptive eye is sharp, and his ear for the language is close to infallible."--New York Newsday

"(Vance has) a velvety elegance that rivals John Gielgud reciting poetry....One of the treasures of science fiction."--Washington Post Book World

About the Author

Jack Vance is one of the greats of science fiction. He has been writing for more than 60 years, and in 1997 was honored as a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America. He is the author of dozens of science fiction and fantasy novels, including the World Fantasy Award winning Lyonnesse series, and the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning The Last Castle. He lives in Oakland, California.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Tor Books (August 15, 1997)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312865767
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312865764
  • Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,657,797 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

 

Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
5 star:
 (3)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime., July 8, 1999
By 
Philip Maloney (Boulder, Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Demon Princes (Volume Two): The Face, The Book of Dreams (Hardcover)
The most literate, witty, sophisticated, inventive space opera ever written. Vance tosses off entire, elaborate cultures with unmatched ease. Entertaining, exhilarating, suspenseful, and occasionally horrifying, told in Vance's inimitable dry, ironic voice. Superb. Both volumes are a must.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent work of Soft 70s Science Fiction, September 2, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: The Demon Princes (Volume Two): The Face, The Book of Dreams (Hardcover)
The feel of technology in these books is quite alien to what you will read in hard science fiction novels, but this is not necessarily a bad thing, as no one can perfectly predict or extrapolate technology into the future.

I was disappointed by many references to things that were obviously on the way out even in the 70s, things like manila folders full of files (yes, we have them now, but less than we did 30 years ago, and centuries from now, I doubt that high-tech socities will be using them).

However, once you get by these small problems (and the problems are made small by the stories other strengths), you will find an absolute bare-bones story, hard on target, without frills and distractions, flying toward conclusion from the first words of each book.

The plots are well done and the pacing excellent. The obstacles the characters face are difficult to overcome and many times are intangible things which must be thought around rather than simply blown up.

One of the worst dangers faced by the author is that the main character is, to put it simply, quite nasty. A master of many martial arts, weapons, espionage techniques, slieght of hand, and chemistry (especially as relates to poison); it can be difficult to present a story with any challenges for such a character, but Jack Vance does a good job by the by. Kirth's main problem is that he is overconfident, and this comes back to haunt him a time or two. Personally, I wish he'd had a few other shortcomings to make it easier to relate to him and to make obstacles harder to overcome (although, as I said, many of the obstacles aren't of the sort that any physical skill will help on).

Overall, an excellent series, with better than average writing, and in some cases, excellent writing.

I bought them both the moment they appeared (on the recommendation of a friend), and I was not disappointed. Definitely worth the money.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Vance, April 29, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: The Demon Princes (Volume Two): The Face, The Book of Dreams (Hardcover)
This represents some of Jack Vance's best work. In the last two Demon Princes novels, the characters are fully fleshed out and the universe seems utterly real (and horrifying). Lens Larque and Howard Alan Treesong are very convincing portraits of evil, and the worlds that surround them are filled with detail and subtlety. A must-read.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews




Only search this product's reviews



Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
From Popular Handbook to the Planets, 330th edition, 1525: Aloysius, Vega VI Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
ten svu, hundred svu, five svu, svu certificates, thousand svu, two svu, fifty svu, million svu, chief referee, feed train, chief porter, twenty shares, special writer, cargo hatch
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Lens Larque, Bel Ruk, Ottile Panshaw, Howard Hardoah, Howard Alan Treesong, Howard Treesong, Dar Sai, Benchmaster Dalt, Alice Wroke, Jehan Addels, Henry Lucas, Cooney's Bank, Kirth Gersen, Kotzash Mutual, Rath Eileann, Wild Isle, Dindar House, Ettilia Gargantyr, Maxel Rackrose, The Book of Dreams, Valdemar Kutte, Jerdian Chanseth, Madame Tintle, Tuty Cleadhoe, Leta Goynes
New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:



Books on Related Topics (learn more)

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums


Listmania!


Create a Listmania! list

So You'd Like to...


Create a guide


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject