Customer Reviews

The Jack Vance Reader

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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 solid edition 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 leveled against Subterranean Press.

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.

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

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.