Customer Reviews

The Many Worlds of Magnus Ridolph

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Jack Vance is a writer known to many for his excellent work in the field of fantasy fiction. His classics have inspired a generation of modern fantasy fiction authors. What many do not know is that Jack Vance was equally at home in the field of science fiction. His latest works have all been in that subject, but he came to it years ago with his Demon Princes series, the Planet of Adventure series and the Cadwal Conservancy trilogy. He got his start in the genre writing for pulps, but his style is significantly different from normal pulp stylings. As evidence, examine the Many Worlds of Magnus Ridolph. Collecting stories heretofore only available in pulp format, or rarely added to sci-fi anthologies, these stories are detective fiction set in a grand future. Magnus Ridolph is a gentlemanly rogue with keen insight and clever repartee. Predating Asimov's sci-fi/detective fiction stories by some years, this book provides some excellent yarns. His classics 'The Kokod Warriors' and 'The King of Thieves' are in there, along with little known works such as 'The Howling Bounders' and 'Spa in the Sky'. Although some of the stories fail to live up to the quality of the best in the book, this is still a must-have for Vance fans.

Jack Vance is my favorite science fiction writer. I have never read books that are better written, more imaginative, inovative, fascinating, than his. I particularly like this character, Magnus Ridolf. Like most Vance "heros" Magnus is a bit of a rascal. His quirky solutions to problems would only occur to those with the most devious minds. Just my kind of guy.

Magnus Ridolph is not your 'typical' bronzed, herculean built type of space wayfarer. In fact, he is described as slight of build, fastidious, with a white goatee making him look like a nanny goat.

But don't let his outside looks fool you. Mr Vance has recreated an unforgetable character in the form of Magnus Ridolph who is sharp of wit and able to reason out just about any sort of problem.

Magnus can best be described as a trouble-shooter for hire. Invariably those with whom he associates try to either cheat him or take advantage of him, based on his physical appearance. But he turns out with the answer to their problem and winds up beating the cheater of not just his fee, but additional royalties as well.

The stories of Magnus Ridolph are enthralling because they are different. It's amusing to watch this little guy take on those who would beat him out of his fee and comes up smelling like roses each time. I've had this book in paperback for more than forty years ... and look forward to seeing it published on Kindle (because it's easier for me to re-read on that device).

The book is, unfortunately, not widely available at this time, but hopefully the publisher will release a version on Kindle for a reasonable price.

Bottom line is that I think you'll enjoy reading these 'space yarns' which really have little to do with space other than each story is on a different planet with different 'people'. The outcome of each is not always obvious and sometimes is hilarious. Good reading for an evening or two's enjoyment.

Definately Recommended for ages 8 and up.

~P~

Jeez, what can anyone say? Jack Vance is incomparable. Probably the best Science Fiction Author to ever live.
A better way to understand him is he uses science fiction to illustrate human behavior in a way that is exciting and clear.