The Vance Phile Issue 5 February, 1995 (c) 1995 Gregg Parmentier (except where noted) Gregg Parmentier 2018 Waterfront Dr #137 Iowa City, IA 52240 Parmentier@IowaSP.Physics.UIowa.edu ************************************ The Vance Phile can be freely copied as long as it is unchanged and this and all other copyright notices are included. ************************************ CONTENTS: The Elusive Volumes of Jack Vance - The Dragon Masters Leon J. Janzen After the Fact! Jerry Hewett Is Cadwal what Maske: Thaery was intended to be? Gabriel Stein Reviews Hans Verkuil Kevin D. Hardman The Vance Phile Marketplace Finnish Bibliography Jussi T. Vainikainen Spanish bibliographies Francisco Romero Royo Hello, Vance Fans: First thing I want to do is make an appeal: If any one of you, or anyone you know, owns signed copy number 1 (one) of Bad Ronald in the 1982 Underwood-Miller edition, please contact me! This issue introduces a new feature to The Vance Phile, the marketplace. It's a way to find and sell Vance related items. I hope some of you will take advantage of this forum to fill your collections, or to help others do the same. See later for ground rules. Also starting in this issue is an update to _The Work of Jack Vance_, by Jerry Hewett and Daryl F. Mallett. Jerry's interesting title is: "After the Fact! An Ongoing Bibliographical Update to _The Work of Jack Vance_". Those of you who don't own a copy of Jerry's book can see here the wealth of information he has made available to us all. I recommend this book whole-heartedly to any Vance fanatic. This periodic series means that I won't be doing more amateur bibliographies, or updates to them, in regular issues of the fanzine. This issue finishes off those amateur bibliographies with the Spanish and Finnish, one from Francisco Romero Royo, and the other from Jussi T. Vainikainen. I probably don't need to say who supplied which. I'd really really like to thank Asbjo"rn Nejman for pretty much filling in all the Swedish information missing from last issue. I put in the new information as he got it to me, so the general run printed issues, and the later sent electronic issues, have it more/all correct. If anyone wants the final version of the Swedish bibliography, let me know and I'll send you a copy of it. Gabriel Stein has an interesting piece on parallels between Cadwal and _Maske: Thaery_, Kevin D. Hardman and Hans Verkuil chime in with a few reviews, and last but certainly not least, Leon J. Janzen dazzles us with his next article in his Elusive Volumes series, this time the Hugo winning _The Dragon Masters_! Are we privileged, or what? Now on to Vance news of note: Chuck Miller hopes to complete a new edition of _Emphyrio_ in April. It will only be available as a signed, numbered, slipcased edition, with art by Ned Dameron. The run will be limited to 500 copies and they will sell for $60. Tim Underwood is working on a combined _The Eyes of the Overworld_/_Cugel's Saga_ edition called _The Laughing Magician_. It will also be a signed, numbered, slipcased edition, but with art taken from the older U-M editions, done by Stephen Fabian. Tentatively it will be ready in May at $75. Patrick Neilsen Hayden informs me that there will be an Orb omnibus of the Alastor Cluster books, called Alastor out this fall. Tim Underwood tells me that Vance has been working on _Night Lamp_, but has not even started _Ports of Call_, or the other book. All were sold based upon outlines and no actual writing had been done when the contract was signed with Tor last summer. So despite how glowing the comments of Mr Vicinanza to follow, we have a bit of a wait before any of these new works appear. Sorry to bring bad news. From Phil Stephensen-Payne (These came from Ralph Vicinanza's Rights Report): "_Ports Of Call_: Vance is now polishing a new novel about a musical group touring the galaxy and encountering the strange inhabitants of a dozen worlds only Vance could create!" "_Nightlamp_: In this new novel, a young orphan boy named Jaro comes of age, while his dark past remains a mystery. The only clues are haunting voices that sound in his deepest memory and occasionally on the edges of his sleep. Jaro sets out to find the truth of his birth and of the strange "dark half" that calls to him in the night. His travels lead to the discovery of a long lost twin brother with whom he shares a powerful mental link. But there are more family secrets that Jaro doesn't know, and the reunion is not as pleasant as he expects." From Hans Verkuil (the day after I heard from Phil): The November issue of Locus has some Vance news, I quote: "Jack Vance's next two novels, _Nightlamp_ and _Ports of Call_ -- sold earlier to Tor, along with a third unnamed SF novel still unsold in the US -- have gone to HarperCollins UK, via agent Ralph Vicinanza." If anyone's heard from/of Kurt Cockrum, Martha Koester, or Dan Levack, since Honor to Finuka and Fantasms II, please let me know. I'm on the path to reprint rights. It was pointed out to me recently by Gaines A. Coleman that, since _Take My Face_ and _Bird Isle_ had been written by Jack Vance, and published in 1957 under pseudonyms, he was actually not eligible for the Edgar Award he was given for _The Man in the Cage_ in 1961. That award is for the best first mystery novel from the previous year. Gaines doesn't recall the mystery reference in which he first came across this. If anyone else has seen a reference to this, drop me a line. Well, that's all from me for now. Dive in and enjoy the fanzine. ******************************************************************************** Though prior visits were not fruitful, we again seek out the bookseller's storefront doorway, on a narrow street, in an older part of town. We choose to overlook the faded "Rare Books" sign, the panels of window glass opaque with dust, the entry bell muffled by crooked stacks of books, their titles barely readable in the dim amber light. Our path through the shop leads deeper along thousands of books in general, past hundreds of mysteries, to a shelf of dozens of science fiction ... where we quickly reach for a single fantasy: _The Dragon Masters_ by Jack Vance. The disinterested proprietor, not perceiving our good fortune, accepts a few coins from our pockets in exchange for this twelve chapter treasure. Anxious to begin, we rush towards home, thrilled to have acquired another of... THE ELUSIVE VOLUMES OF JACK VANCE by Leon J. Janzen Have you asked yourself which novel by Jack Vance is his best? Are you able to select from the stories you've read so often the one which best combines in one tale all the elements we appreciate as unique to Vance's writing? Would your first choice offer bizarre but believable environments and cultural structures ... the sense of great antiquity and vast distance of Vance's planets and periods ... a dark, often evil secret within the story which explosively explains puzzling events ... the oddly formal speech, ironic humor and amoral behavior of those who populate his villages ... the brilliant color, sensory detail and transient delicacy of their pageants, their mansions and marketplaces? These ingredients (and others) commingle in Vance's best stories like the burning words of a kind of spell. And like an adept magician with a mastery of the potent phrase, Vance directs these enchantments to the surface of the page ... where they become vicarious experiences of wonder, humor and adventure not found by the reader anywhere else. But which is his best? In the August 1962 issue of "Galaxy" Magazine there appeared a novel brief but rich in the qualities of strangeness and wonder ... _The Dragon Masters_ ... a story with such a reasserting power over readers like me that I must recommend it as Vance's finest. One of his fastest paced adventures, full of unique and surprising concepts, its considerable action takes place in very credible other-world surroundings. Aerlith, one of those crowded Jack Vance planets where different species congregate, presents all this on the monochromatic, rocky "jambles" of its surface. Much Vancian color is found, however, in the subterranean world of the Sacerdotes, with their "Rationale" of conduct and their precious "Tand." "Galaxy"'s editors, no doubt made active by the novel's unprecedented palette of participants, rose to the occasion for this the first appearance of _The Dragon Masters_. Science Fiction readers by the thousands must have been intrigued with the magazine's color cover (by "Galaxy" staff artist Gaughan) showing a sword-wielding Banbeck knight astride his "Spider", racing past a fierce and fully armed "Blue Horror" dragon. Inside the issue were found a series of unique and stylized illustrations. Here in black and white were the colorful "Dragons" and "Basics", "Sacerdotes" and men of extreme description all promising an adventure in fantasy beyond previous experience. What could we do but read on...? On the far planet Aerlith, the last scattered remnants of mankind live a difficult and feudal existance, making war on each other with squads of human knights and armies of "dragons." These fierce six-legged creatures are raised from the eggs of alien Basics captured generations before by an audacious Banbeck ancestor, during an alien slave raid on the humans. Both Banbeck Vale and Happy Valley take militant pride in these scaled and vicious reptilian warriors, which are easily bred for size, armament, and specialized battle skills. Termagants and Fiends, Striding Murderers and Long-Horned Murderers, Blue Horrors and huge "splay-footed" Juggers bring individual and terrible skills into battle. These dragons, training daily in their pens, know nothing of the Basics from whom they are descended and serve the masters that feed and groom them. Joaz Banbeck, leader of prosperous Banbeck Vale, is not content with conditions as they stand. His enemy Ervis Carcolo, abrasive and hostile ruler of nearby Happy Valley, breeds dragons to threaten the tranquillity of Banbeck Vale. The naked and philosophical Sacerdotes, earliest of the humans to find refuge on planet Aerlith, frustrate Banbeck's demand for a weapon which might counter the threat he alone believes imminent. Banbeck has studied ancient objects from mythical planet Eden and nervously anticipates the cyclical approach of the red star Coralyne. This recurring stellar event seems to align with prior slave raids, a hundred years apart, when huge alien ships descended from space on the valleys of helpless humans. Legend describes a frightening sequence of events as immense ships settled upon huts and fields, ports opened and down the ramps marched armed and armored warriors bred from true men into sub-human slaves by the Basics on Coralyne. Arranged with precision before the ship were Trackers slender and keen, Weaponeers with three-wheeled energy projectors, stocky and numerous Heavy Troops and Giants tall and massive. Prancing behind came the aloof and dominant Basics, perched on mounts which were "creatures only remotely resembling men." With weapons of energy, their man-like soldiers unstoppable, they would assemble their human captives, then drive them up the ramps and carry them away to an unknowable fate. Jack Vance has often made use of "shape changing" humans and other species to re-form and make them fascinating, but in _The Dragon Masters_ the concept is mature. In _The Star King_ Kirth Gersen first exposes, then disposes of Attel Malagate, a competitive alien who has adopted human form. In _The Killing Machine_ he defeats the infamous Kokor Hekkus, a "hormagaunt" or faceless man who feeds on emotion and wears the skins of others. In the Planet of Adventure series, the fierce Dirdir are emulated by the sexually altered human Immaculates. In his trek across planet Tschai, Adam Reith encounters the Chaschmen, the Wankhmen and the Pnumekin all trying to appear like their alien masters in dress, diet and behavior. In _Maske: Thaery_ the villainous Ramos Ymph must atone for his evil intentions by being planted and forced to take root. Vance introduces artificially created (and dreaded) "Roguskhoi" in the Durdane series and in _Emphyrio_, the vat-grown Lords who control all the city's wealth. This very Vancian idea ... that flesh is flexible and can be shaped to one's use like wood or iron ... comes full circle in _The Dragon Masters_, as Vance mirrors two armies of slaves, each derived and bred from the genes of their enemies, then sets them at each other in bloody combat. The practice of slavery, one of mankind's larger and more realistic cruelties, serves Vance as a plot platform in many books, adding dimension to the choices made by his characters. In The Last Castle non-human Meks, enslaved for seven hundred years, rise up to destroy their human masters. In _The Gray Prince_ the powerful and mysterious erjins do the same. In the vast tale of Lyonesse, the war-like and imperial Ska form their captives into labor gangs to further their domination of enemy territory. Slavery and like evils are not dwelled on in these stories, but serve as catalysts to action. While Vance may include long, warmly detailed paragraphs on the food and accommodations found at a nearby inn, he will likely mention an atrocity briefly, in passing. In chapter three of _The Dragon Masters_, for instance, the practice of "child selling" between Happy Valley and Banbeck Vale is humorously discussed. Situations like this validate the question posed on the cover of the 1963 Ace paperback: "Which was master, which was monster?" The first book appearance of _The Dragon Masters_ was the Ace Double #F-185 (with _The Five Gold Bands_) and the Gaughan cover was visually in series with his earlier "Galaxy" illustrations. Shown was an arrogant and alien Basic, his quirt at a jaunty angle, astride and surrounded by the de-humanized slaves which paid him homage. The magazine appearance of _The Dragon Masters_ won the Hugo Award in 1963, and Ace issued it as a "double" in the same year. The novel became an immediate paperback favorite, and in 1965 the Ace typesetting was made available in a cloth-bound edition by Dobson Books Ltd, London. This smallish first edition was the first of the Dobson hardbound Vance books and its surrealistic cover artwork (soldiers in a row?) was representative of the series of Vance volumes to follow. The first American hardcover edition was offered in green cloth, no jacket, by Gregg Press in 1976. This volume included an enjoyable ten page definition of Vance by sci-fi author Norman Spinrad. If you've been unable to locate a hardbound version of this great Vance work, don't worry ... _The Dragon Masters_ is best enjoyed in the form of its earliest appearance, with illustrations, in "Galaxy" Magazine. Like Kirth Gersen and Adam Reith, Joaz Banbeck is a practical, problem-solving leader. In this story he's trapped between pressures above and below, imposed on him by others ... the Basics who threaten from space, and the Sacerdotes in their secret caves and tunnels. As the story progresses, success for the fully prepared Joaz seems certain as he pits common sense against his various enemies. As with other Vance stories, all issues become resolved when the impending and ancient problem ripens. The pragmatic Banbeck sets the Basics against the uncooperative Sacerdotes. When all this dust finally clears, Joaz Banbeck and his people are left standing in the rubble of Banbeck Vale. His actions have destroyed his own community, the peaceful passiveness of the Sacerdotes, the stubborn opposition of Happy Valley, and the slave-taking power of the Basics. This is a classic Vance formula ... an ancient event, long in motion, descends through time to challenge a single competent man, who reacts without counting the cost ... and the cost (measured in lives, treasures and traditions) is always high. Jack Vance avoids happy endings to stories like these, but he will sometimes extend a wistful hope ... Joaz Banbeck, pondering his future thinks aloud: "There must be an original world from which men came. Call it Earth, or Tempe or Eden - somewhere it exists ... perhaps we are the last men. But I shall go forth to look..." ******************************************************************************** AFTER THE FACT! An ongoing Bibliographical Update for The Work of Jack Vance Copyright (c) 1994 Jerry Hewett ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Welcome to what I hope is the first in a series of updates and companion pieces for _The Work of Jack Vance_! Since the manuscript was handed over to the editors at The Borgo Press in December of 1992 there have been at least half a dozen new Vance novels and collections published, as well as innumerable changes and additions that I've been able to make to previously sparse entries in the novel and short-story sections of the bibliography. And since Jack seems to be as prolific as ever (three new novels are in the works!) it looks like there will be enough new material to keep both fans and bibliographers busy for some time to come! At present I plan to issue addenda and corrections by title, so that the sheer size and volume of each update won't be quite so intimidating! And now that I'm finally back in action on Compuserve and the Internet I suspect that I'll receive enough prodding and nudging from other Vance fans to keep these addendums coming at fairly frequent intervals. As usual, I'm always on the lookout for any relevant information and assistance regarding this project. Correspondence should be addressed to: Jerry Hewett 30712 Doral Ct. Temecula, CA 92592 (USA) Internet: jhewett@ix.netcom.com CIS: 75267,1726 Please remember to let me know how you want your name to appear in the introduction to the next edition (credit and acknowledgments always cheerfully given!), and an address (surface or electronic) where I can contact you if further clarification is required! Jerry H. 28DEC94 THE WORD PROCESSOR DID IT! Well, the software is actually blameless (and quite good!), but it sounded like a catchy heading to use! As I become aware of typos and other textual errors in the bibliography they will appear in this section of the update. p. 16: Collation for entry (A5hb) should be listed as (A5h), not (A5g). p. 127: Notes for the Underwood-Miller edition of _The Face_ (A61c) should list the plates as coming from DAW UJ1498 (A61b), not (A62). Due to a misunderstanding by the editors at The Borgo Press, the pagination information immediately following "COLLATION:" for all entries in the Novels section is incorrect. Fortunately, the astute bibliophile will be able to easily deduce the correct pagination by adding up the page numbers that appear between brackets (just the ones that appear as "[149-151]" -- ignore the ones that say "[i.e., 5-244]" or something similar!) to ascertain whether the book they're purchasing has been altered (re-bound, ex-library) or is missing any pages. THE GOOD STUFF! A few initial snafu's to report; most of them due to me not owning a copy of the book and/or not being thorough enough when examining the edition while going through someone else's collection. I'm certain there are more -- I just can't recall what they are off the top of my head! Now that I finally have a few of the Canadian DAW's in my personal collection, I find that the differences between the U.S. and Canadian versions of the DAW editions are more substantial than I first believed! Since all eleven of the Canadian editions I received show identical changes to the title page, the copyright page, and the spine and cover of the book, I am now laboring under the assumption that the remaining DAW Canadian editions have similar changes. Unfortunately, I am unable to find out where the New American Library is based (unless they've moved Bergenfield, N.J. across the border while I wasn't looking), so for now I'll carry the city of publication as Canada. Correction: COLLATION: [addition to existing title page] PUBLISHED BY / THE NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY / OF CANADA LIMITED, p. [3]; [replaces PRINTED IN U.S.A.] PRINTED IN CANADA / COVER PRINTED IN U.S.A., p. [4]. BINDING: [Canadian pricing replaces U.S. pricing on the spine and cover, and is in boldface print]. Applies To: City of the Chasch. Canada: DAW Books (UE1461), May 1979, paper, $1.95 CN. The Dirdir. Canada: DAW Books (UE1478), July 1979, paper, $1.95 CN. Emphyrio. Canada: DAW Books (UE1504), December 1979, paper, $2.50 CN. The Face. Canada: DAW Books (UJ1498), November 1979, paper, $2.25 CN. The Five Gold Bands. Canada: DAW Books (UJ1518), February 1980, paper, $2.25 CN. The Killing Machine. Canada: DAW Books (UE1409), October 1978, paper, $1.95 CN. The Narrow Land. Canada: DAW Books (UE1747), July 1982, paper, $2.50 CN. Nopalgarth. Canada: DAW Books (UE1563), September 1980, paper, $2.50 CN. Servants of the Wankh. Canada: DAW Books (UE1467), June 1979, paper, $1.95 CN. Star King. Canada: DAW Books (UE1402), September 1978, paper, $1.95 CN. To Live Forever. Canada: DAW Books (UE1787), December 1982, paper, $2.95 CN. Two of the above titles, _The Narrow Land_ and _To Live Forever_, are different enough to warrant particular attention; their appearance raises a few questions, and changes the order of publication in the bibliography! A4g. To Live Forever. Canada: DAW Books (UE1787), December 1982, paper. COLLATION: p. 7 unnumbered + 185, as follows: excerpt, p. [1]; other titles, p. [2]; title page, p. [3]; COPYRIGHT a, 1956, BY JACK VANCE. / All Rights Reserved. / Cover art by David B. Mattingly. / FIRST DAW PRINTING, DECEMBER 1982 / 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 / [publishers seal and trademark] / PRINTED IN CANADA / COVER PRINTED IN U.S.A. /, p. [4]; text, p. 1-185; other DAW titles, p. [190]; DAW catalog offer, p. [191]; other DAW titles, p. [192]. BINDING: 17.75 x 10.75 cms, with cover art by David B. Mattingly. Issued at $2.95 CN. NOTES: Text offset from the Ballantine 167 plates (A4). ERRATA: The previous entry for (A4g) now becomes (A4gb). Also note that the publication date is now in question, since the Canadian edition is a second printing while the U.S. edition is a third printing. A67b. The Narrow Land. Canada: DAW Books (UE1747), July 1982, paper. COLLATION: same as (A67), with changes as follows: [replaces line 13] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 / PRINTED IN CANADA / COVER PRINTED IN U.S.A., p. [4]. BINDING: same as (A67). Issued at $2.50 CN. ERRATA: The publication date of this edition is also questionable, but all dates might be correct since DAW seems to recognize prior U.S. publications in their edition numbering scheme; so even though the DAW Canadian edition follows the U.S. edition it is likely that both were printed within days of each other. ******************************************************************************** An interesting aside from Jerry Hewett relating to _The Work of Jack Vance_: "The numbers that I list for all the Underwood-Miller editions in the bibliography are the actual print runs for the editions. Tim spent almost four hours with me on the phone one morning, going through his entire invoice/shipping file and reading me the actual number of copies delivered from the printer! Took quite a while, since the printer could only bind a couple hundred or so copies at a time, due to other orders from other clients. An order of 800 copies of something usually ended up somewhere around 770, with the shipment spread over a couple of months!" ******************************************************************************** Is Cadwal what Maske: Thaery was intended to be? by Gabriel Stein We are all familiar with parallels or connections between different works by Jack Vance. It may be the same name cropping up for different things: apart from Shimrod the magician there is also a Shimrod forest. It may be objects, descriptions or titles: Miro Hetzel in "The Galactic Effectuator" spots a starmenter from the distant Alastor Cluster in "The Dogtown Tourist Agency". In the same story he is addressed by the title Vv. (Viasvar), which also occurs in _The Gray Prince_ as the normal honorific. Many more could be mentioned. I am not sure if Vance really means anything by these coincidences. It may be that he does wish to tantalise us, or it may simply be that he had a good idea once and sees no reason not to use it again. One such idea is the strange non-humans who roam the land, fighting eternal wars for reasons of their own; the Kokod Warriors in the Magnus Ridolph story of the same name, the Gomaz in "The Dogtown Tourist Agency" and the Banjee in _Araminta Station_. However, I believe that there are more obvious connections between two of his stories. Specifically, I feel that The Cadwal Chronicles is the finished masterpiece of which _Maske: Thaery_ was a rough draft. Consider the obvious parallels: In both cases we have a bucolic setting threatened by outside forces. The legitimate authorities are determined to preserve the setting, which in fact was the raison d'‚tre of the settlement in the first place. A young hero joins the police force/security agency (in both cases one of six departments; Bureau B on Cadwal, D3 in Thaery). By chance he discovers the outside threat. As part of his investigation he is forced to go off-planet. Eventually, the threat is averted. If you want to look for them, there are less significant parallels as well: Ramus Ymph wants to build a chain of tourist inns on Maske in order to earn enough money to buy a space yacht; Lewyn Barduys wants to build a chain of tourist inns on Cadwal, although for reasons that are entirely different. But I think that the main parallels are the ones mentioned. There are, to be sure, substantial differences. Take the hero: Jubal Droad is an outsider in Thaeriot society. Although a noble in his own country, he is scorned in Thaery and not surprisingly carries a considerable chip on his shoulder. Glawen Clattuc, by contrast, is the quintessential insider, born to one of the six dominant families on Araminta Station. Once his agency status is satisfactory established he becomes a proteg‚ of the head of Bureau B, whereas Jubal would be ill-advised to rely too much on the benevolence with Nai the Hever, the head of D3. Jubal is avaricious and prickly where Glawen is generous and tolerant. Glawen's love life plays an important point in the Cadwal Chronicles, while Jubal's is only hinted at. Finally, Glawen's life is essentially successful and happy with the exception of the abduction and death of Sessily Veder, whereas Jubal suffers a major catastrophe when his brother and nephew are murdered, a niece is blinded and their ancestral home is destroyed. Although Maske: Thaery is a more sombre book, one could also say that the evil and threat of evil in The Cadwal Chronicles is on a far larger scale. Another difference is the attitude of the societies. Thaery attempts to isolate itself from the rest of the universe and proscribes space travel, whereas Cadwal is very clearly part of humanity. When I met Jack and Norma at the 1992 world sf con in Orlando, I mentioned this idea to them. Jack, as we know, doesn't like to discuss his books. Norma said that she definitely did not agree with my thesis. The parallels may not have been intentional. But to my mind, they are certainly numerous and clear enough to argue that The Cadwal Chronicles are the mature version of which _Maske: Thaery_ was. ******************************************************************************** Reviews Bird Isle/Take My Face by Hans Verkuil These two mysteries are the first mysteries Vance ever published. _Isle of Peril_ (later reprinted as _Bird Isle_) was published in 1957 under the pseudonym Alan Wade. _Take My Face_ was also published in 1957, but this time the pseudonym Peter Held was used. Both were reprinted in 1988 by Underwood-Miller under Vance's 'normal' pseudonym Jack Vance and this review is based on these editions. As Underwood-Miller used the original Mystery House hardcover plates for both reprints, the header at the top of each page of _Bird Isle_ is the original title _Isle of Peril_. Does anyone know why Underwood-Miller nevertheless decided to change the title to Bird _Isle_? It is quite obvious that these two novels are from the dawn of Vance's career as a mystery writer. They lack the polish of his later work and are somewhat stilted. _Take My Face_ reminded me at times of _Bad Ronald_, although _Take My Face_ is by no means as bleak as that novel. Robert Struve, aged 13, was hit by a car driven by little Julie Hovard sitting between her fathers legs. His face was ruined by burning gasoline and needed a lot of plastic surgery. However, notwithstanding the fact that Julie's father was guilty by letting his daughter steer, Robert and his mother received no more than a token sum of money, insufficient for the necessary operations. Years later, one of the girls that taunted and humiliated him during his school years is found dead, her face cut up... Robert's character and that of his mother bears a certain resemblance to _Bad Ronald_, although the second part of _Take My Face_ is radically different from _Bad Ronald_. _Take My Face_ is not outstanding. A pleasant read, but not memorable. It lacks most of Vance's humor and his flair for descriptions and the plot as it unfolds is not very convincing. On the other hand, _Bird Isle_ rectifies part of the problems in _Take My Face_, but at the cost of the plot: especially the conclusion of the novel doesn't convince at all. Mr. Coves, our hero, runs a hotel on an island. However, he has insufficient funds to turn the hotel into a place he could advertise as: "Gayety, laughter, romance, in an atmosphere of sumptuous luxury! Exquisite appointments, continental cuisine, the most fashionable watering place this side of the Biarritz! Thrill to the glamour of a vacation at exciting Bird Island Hotel!" So he decides to sell off parts of the island. As time goes by it becomes apparent that one of the new owners is trying to scare off the others and wants to take over the island. _Bird Isle_ is full of humor as some of the new owners are rather eccentric to say the least. _Bird Isle_ also features an increasingly confused hotel cat called Rexie; shows that in 1957 whales were still meant to be butchered and sold; and tells you why you shouldn't grow ginseng roots. All in all, _Bird Isle_ is a humorous romp with vivid descriptions of the island. It bears the Vance stamp much more heavily than _Take My Face_, and it is too bad that the promising plot is executed rather poorly. Both _Take My Face_ and _Bird Isle_ are of interest only to the avid Vance collectors. In my opinion, the plots just do not convince. Of the two, _Bird Isle_ will probably appeal the most to Vance lovers. The Eyes of the Overworld/Cugel's Saga by Kevin D. Hardman My introduction to the wide and wonderful world of Jack Vance began with _Cugel's Saga_, the third novel in his Dying Earth series. One of my older brothers, a SF enthusiast for years, became convinced that he had found a novel worth its weight in gold and insisted that I read it. I acquiesced and, needless to say, found myself totally enthralled. This series, and this book in particular, is now my favorite of all Vance's work, and with good reason. Picture if you will the Earth, billions of years in the future. The sun is now a red, bloated mass of gases about to sputter out. Against this background, Vance creates a world of Machiavellian sorcery and intrigue, where duplicity, cunning, and deceit are the norms of human existance rather than the exceptions. Enter Cugel, aka Cugel the Clever, a devilish rogue of arrogant demeanor, considerable acumen, and monstrous ego. First encountered in _The Eyes of the Overworld_, Cugel is flung half-way around the world by Iucounu, the Laughing Magician, and set an impossible task. Braving dangers both unknown and undreamt, Cugel must accomplish his mission and make his way back home by the light of a dying sun. In _Cugel's Saga_, our protagonist once again finds himself stranded on the other side of the Earth by his archenemy, Iucounu. Once more, Cugel must make the perilous trek back to his homeland of Almery - "A far way to go, with curious sights at every step and many a danger as well." Both books are a joy to read and quite capable of standing alone, as are most Vance novels. What makes these books stand far and above many others is the characterization of Cugel and the world in which he lives. He is not the typical hero of old. He is a robber, a thief, and a con-artist, although he can be amiable when it suits his purposes. One of the most daunting (and humorous) encounters in literature occurs when Cugel meets Faucelme, a magician of equal cunning and extreme malevolence, from whom Cugel barely escapes with his life. It is harrowing and unforgettable - and undeniably Cugel! Irascible and egocentric, many readers may find it difficult to empathize with Cugel. What must be understood, however, is that the world and society that Vance has created here is one in which morals are archaic nuances of human behavior. The value of human life respect for property and person - has been cheapened and demeaned. In a world such as this, cunning and caution, not virtue and diligence, are the only means of securing a comfortable life (or life at all) for oneself. This can be seen when Cugel, questioned on the difference between altruist and adversary, casually remarks that it is not an important distinction. Like many of his contemporaries, Cugel finds that only one thing merits having value placed on it: himself. But while others rely on magic to protect them, Cugel relies on his cunning and wits (which makes these novels so adventurous), and usually (though not always, and not always unscathed) succeeds. And he does it with the style, grace, and punctilio that one expects only from Jack Vance. ******************************************************************************** The Vance Phile Marketplace The Ground Rules Here in the Marketplace I list some book stores through which SF in general, and Vance in particular, can be ordered. None of these places has paid me anything to list them here, though I have asked their permission to do so. Vance fans who have an extra edition or so that they wish to sell, or who have Vance books, anthologies, or magazines for which they are looking, may also send me lists for this section. Please include your address for the listing, and please do not send huge lists. I don't want to become a clearing house for someone seeking profit, or a broker for large quantities of books, but I do want to help Vance fans buy and sell Vance material to each other in an informal way. I will always state whether I have done business with anyone listed in this section, but this shouldn't be taken as a guarantee of reliability. My ideas of adequate service and quality aren't necessarily those of others. If I have had any bad experience with any dealer or individual, I will not list them. DEALERS Chris Drumm, Books P.O. Box 445 Polk City, IA 50226 (515) 984-6749 Totally mail order book dealer, mainly SF/Fantasy/Horror, but some mystery. He's been the source of much of my Vance collection (among other books) over the last five years. His catalog 77 (from last spring) listed about 20 hardcover Vance titles. Chris Ryan Alphanor Booksellers 231 Blue Hill Ave Milton, MA 02186 (617) 696-3701 Carries U/M editions, other Vance hardcovers, paperbacks, and magazine appearances; as well as some King, Ellison, Herbert, and others from various small presses (Phantasia, Grant, etc.). He does take wish lists, and many of his U/M editions are still at new prices. Only pleasant surprises when I've ordered from him. COAS/My Bookstore 317 N. Main Las Cruces, NM 88001 (505) 524-8471 The largest used book store in New Mexico, they have a good selection of Science Fiction, and they take wish lists. If you order from there remember to state whether you are looking for 'collectible' books, or just reading copies. Shipping charges (as of September 1994) run $1.50 for the first book in a package, then $0.50 per additional hardcover and $0.25 per additional paperback. If you call, ask for Margaret Hoyt or John Hanson, they're the most interested in the SF section. Right now neither work on Tuesdays. I've never ordered from here myself, so I don't have a personal impression of their grading of books. WISH LISTS Chris Ryan (address and phone in dealer listing) is looking for the following: Malcolm's Mystery Magazine, March 1954 Rhodomagnetic Digest #2, 1952 New Worlds #150, 5/65 (British) To Live Forever, 1956, Ballantine, hardcover Take My Face, 1957, Mystery House, hardcover Light from a Lone Star, 1985, NESFA, signed, slipcased Demon Prince, by Jack Rawlins, Borgo Press, hardcover Any early British editions published by Robert Hale Jerry Hewett (address on page 4) is looking for the following: Take My Face, 1958, Pyramid, paperback, VF only A Room to Die In, Pocket Books #35067, 1st paperback, (35› on cover not 50›), VF only ******************************************************************************** Finnish Bibliography supplied by Jussi T. Vainikainen Year ISBN Original Title Translated Title Translator/Publisher 1954 Vandals of the Void Avaruuden rosvot Hugo L. M„kinen/Tammi 1958 Vandals of the Void Avaruusrosvot Jyrki Ora/Mikrokirjat 1988 951-26-3144-X The Dying Earth Iltaruskon Maa Juhani Koskinen/Kirjayhtym„ Contains: Turjan of Miir Turjan, Miirin valtias Mazirian the Magician Mazirian Maagikko T'sais T'Sais Liane the Wayfarer Liane Maankiert„j„ Ulan Dhor Ends a Dream Ulan Dhor Guyal of Sfere Guyal Sferel„inen Short stories 1991 951-8954-63-1 Pimeyden Linnake /Jalava Contains: The Pilgrims Pyhiinvaeltajat ******************************************************************************** Spanish Bibliography supplied by Francisco Romero Royo Because of the large amount of 'other information' included, I felt it would be better to leave the Spanish bibliography in pretty much the format I received it. I did reorder the information, since I at least wanted to make sure the series ordering matched the way it was done for the other bibliographies. [GTP] The following Jack Vance Works have been awarded with the Spanish Gigamesh award to the best novel published in Spain in a year: _La saga de Cugel_ (Fantasy Gigamesh, 1988), _Los Principes Demonio I_ (Science-Fiction Gigamesh, 1989) and _La perla verde_ (Fantasy Gigamesh, 1991). The following comment was listed under 'other information' for one of the books, but I felt it best mentioned here up front. It was of a rather general nature and didn't seem appropriate to me to be with specific books: The publisher Editorial Bruguera disappeared some years ago. Almost all of their line has since appeared from Ediciones B, so perhaps some other books published by Ediciones B were also previously published by Bruguera. Original title: The Dying Earth Original copyright date: 1950 Spanish title: La tierra moribunda Spanish publication date: 1986 Publisher: Ultramar Editores Series: Grandes exitos bolsillo Number in the series: ? Translator: Domingo Santos? ISBN: ? Other information: Soft cover. Original title: The Eyes of the Overworld Original copyright date: 1966 Spanish title: Los ojos del sobremundo Spanish publication date: dec. 1986 (1st edition), nov. 1989 (2nd edition) Publisher: Ultramar Editores Series: Grandes exitos bolsillo Number in the series: ? Translator: Domingo Santos ISBN: 84-7386-417-4 Other information: Soft cover. Original title: Cugel's Saga Original copyright date: 1983 Spanish title: La saga de Cugel Spanish publication date: 1987 Publisher: Ultramar Editores Series: Grandes exitos bolsillo Number in the series: ? Translator: Domingo Santos? ISBN: ? Other information: Soft cover. Original title: Rhialto the Marvellous Original copyright date: 1985 Spanish title: Rhialto el prodigioso Spanish publication date: 1987 Publisher: Ultramar Editores Series: Grandes exitos bolsillo Number in the series: ? Translator: Domingo Santos? ISBN: ? Other information: Soft cover. Original title: Big Planet Original copyright date: 1957 Spanish title: Planeta gigante Spanish publication date: Oct. 1990 Publisher: Ediciones Tridente Series: Pulsar ficcion Number in the series: 2 Translator: Jose Maria Cruz ISBN: 84-87698-01-8 Other information: (first published in Transito 15 fanzine, Barcelona 1987. Same translation?) Soft cover. Includes an introduction by Sebastian Bosch. Original titles: Star King The Killing Machine The Palace of Love Original copyright date: 1964, 1964, 1967 Spanish title: Los principes demonio (El rey estelar, La maquina de matar, & El palacio del amor) Spanish publication date: 1988 Publisher: Ediciones Martinez Roca Series: Gran Super Ficcion Number in the series: - Translator: Eduardo G. Murillo Francisco Blanco ISBN: 84-270-1221-7 Other information: Includes biographical and bibliographical notes, like some other books by this publisher. Soft cover. Original titles: The Face The Book of Dreams Original copyright date: 1979, 1981 Spanish title: Los principes demonio 2 (El rostro & El libro de los sue¤os) Spanish publication date: 1989 Publisher: Ediciones Martinez Roca Series: Gran Super Ficcion Number in the series: - Translator: Eduardo G. Murillo ISBN: 84-270-1309-4 Other Information: Soft cover. Original title: City of the Chasch Original copyright date: 1968 Spanish title: Los Chasch Spanish publication date: mar. 1986 (1st edition) Publisher: Ultramar Editores Series: Grandes exitos bolsillo Number in the series: B-95, ciencia-ficcion-25 Translator: Domingo Santos ISBN: 84-7386-380-1 Other information: Soft cover. Original title: Servants of the Wankh Original copyright date: 1969 Spanish title: Los Wankh Spanish publication date: apr. 1986 (1st edition) feb. 1988 (2nd edition) Publisher: Ultramar Editores Series: Grandes exitos bolsillo Number in the series: B-96, ciencia-ficcion-26 Translator: Domingo Santos ISBN: 84-7386-391-7 Other information: Soft cover. Original title: The Dirdir Original copyright date: 1969 Spanish title: Los Dirdir Spanish publication date: may 1986 (1st edition) mar. 1988 (2nd edition) Publisher: Ultramar Editores Series: Grandes exitos bolsillo Number in the series: B-97, ciencia-ficcion-27 Translator: Domingo Santos ISBN: 84-7386-394-1 Other information: Soft cover. Original title: The Pnume Original copyright date: 1970 Spanish title: Los Pnume Spanish publication date: jun. 1986 (1st edition) apr. 1988 (2nd edition) Publisher: Ultramar Editores Series: Grandes exitos bolsillo Number in the series: B-98, ciencia-ficcion-28 Translator: Domingo Santos ISBN: 84-7386-385-2 Other information: Soft cover. Original title: The Faceless Man Original copyright date: 1971 Spanish title: El hombre sin rostro Spanish publication date: sep. 1987 First publication 1976. Publisher: Ediciones B Series: Libro Amigo ciencia-ficcion Number in the series: 25 Translator: M. Gimenez-Sales ISBN: 84-7735-274-7 Other information: This translation appeared in "Selecciones de ciencia-ficcion", published by Editorial Bruguera, with a different cover. The translation is from the magazine version. (This information is from the bibliographic notes in los principes demonio. ) Includes an introduction by Miquel Barcelo and biographical an bibliographical notes about Jack Vance. Soft cover. Original title: The Brave Free Men Original copyright date: 1972 Spanish title: Los valerosos hombres libres Spanish publication date: 1987 Publisher: Ediciones B Series: Libro amigo ciencia-ficcion Number in the series: 42 Translator: Jose Maria Pomares ISBN: 84-7735-420-0 Other information: See El hombre sin rostro. Soft cover. Original title: The Brave Free Men Original copyright date: 1972 Spanish title: Los Hombres Libres Spanish publication date: ? Publisher: Edaf Series: - Number in the series: ? Translator: ? ISBN: ? Other information: A different translation from the one by Editorial Bruguera, probably worse. Soft cover. Original title: The Asutra Original copyright date: 1973 Spanish title: Los Asutra Spanish publication date: 1988 Publisher: Ediciones B Series: Libro amigo ciencia-ficcion Number in the series: 59 Translator: Jose Maria Pomares ISBN: 84-7735-692-0 Other information: See El hombre sin rostro. Soft cover. Original titles: Trullion: Alastor 2262 Marune: Alastor 933 Wyst: Alastor 1716 Original copyright date: 1973, 1975, 1978 Spanish title: Alastor Spanish publication date: 1990 Publisher: Ediciones Martinez Roca Series: Gran Super Ficcion Number in the series: - Translator: Eduardo G. Murillo ISBN: 84-270-1445-7 Other information: Soft cover. Includes biographical and bibliographical notes. Original title: Lyonesse: Suldrun's Garden Original copyright date: 1983 Spanish title: Lyonesse I: El jardin de Suldrun Spanish publication date: 1989 (1st edition) Publisher: Ediciones B Series: Nova Fantasia Number in the series: 1 Translator: Carlos Gardini ISBN: 84-406-0753-9 Other information: Nice cover with an illustration by Juan Gimenez. Includes an interesting introduction by Miquel Barcelo and some biographical and bibliographical notes (like all the books from this publisher in the "Nova" series). Soft cover. Original title: Lyonesse II: The Green Pearl Original copyright date: 1985 Spanish title: Lyonesse II: La perla verde Spanish publication date: 1990 (1st edition) Publisher: Ediciones B Series: Nova Fantasia Number in the series: 9 Translator: Carlos Gardini ISBN: 84-406-1251-6 Other information: See Lyonesse: Suldrun's Garden. Hard cover. Original title: Lyonesse III: Madouc Original copyright date: 1990 Spanish title: Lyonesse III: Madouc Spanish publication date: feb. 1992 Publisher: Ediciones B Series: Nova Fantasia Number in the series: 24 Translator: Carlos Gardini ISBN: 84-406-2423-3 Other information: See Lyonesse: Suldrun's Garden. Hard cover. Original title: Araminta Station Original copyright date: 1988 Spanish title: Estacion Araminta 1 Spanish publication date: 1993 Publisher: Ediciones Martinez Roca Series: Gran Super Ficcion Number in the series: - Translator: Eduardo G. Murillo ISBN: 84-270-1800-2 Other information: Published in two books, this one and Estacion Araminta 2. Includes biographical and bibliographical notes. Soft cover. Original title: Araminta Station Original copyright date: 1988 Spanish title: Estacion Araminta 2 Spanish publication date: 1993 Publisher: Ediciones Martinez Roca Series: Gran Super Ficcion Number in the series: - Translator: Eduardo G. Murillo ISBN: 84-270-1821-5 Other information: Published in two books, this one and Estacion Araminta 1. Includes biographical and bibliographical notes. Soft cover. Original title: Ecce and Old Earth Original copyright date: 1991 Spanish title: Ecce y la vieja tierra Spanish publication date: 1994 Publisher: Ediciones Martinez Roca Series: Gran Super Ficcion Number in the series: - Translator: Eduardo G. Murillo ISBN: 84-270-1833-9 Other information: Includes biographical and bibliographical notes. Soft cover. Original title: Throy Original copyright date: 1992 Spanish title: Throy Spanish publication date: 1994 Publisher: Ediciones Martinez Roca Series: Gran Super Ficcion Number in the series: - Translator: Eduardo G. Murillo ISBN: 84-270-1882-7 Other information: Includes biographical and bibliographical notes. Soft cover. Original title: The Dragon Masters Original copyright date: 1962 Spanish title: Hombres y Dragones Spanish publication date: 1987 Publisher: Ediciones Martinez Roca Series: Gran Super Ficcion Number in the series: - Translator: Miguel Jimenez and C. Gelabert ISBN: 84-270-1122-9 Other information: In the compilation The Hugo Winners (Los premios Hugo. 1962-1967), presented by Isaac Asimov. Soft cover. Original title: Emphyrio Original copyright date: 1969 Spanish title: Emphyrio Spanish publication date: 1988 Publisher: Miraguano ediciones Series: Futuropolis Number in the series: 6 Translator: Francisco Arellano ISBN: 84-7813-007-1 Other information: Soft cover. Original title: The Gray Prince Original copyright date: 1974 Spanish title: El principe gris Spanish publication date: 1992 Publisher: Ediciones Grijalbo Series: La puerta de plata Number in the series: - Translator: Maria Vidal ISBN: 84-253-2412-2 Other information: Soft (and really ugly) cover. Original title: The Languages of Pao Original copyright date: 1958 Spanish title: Los lenguajes de Pao Spanish publication date: 1987 Publisher: Ediciones B Series: Libro amigo ciencia-ficcion Number in the series: 10 Translator: Cesar Terron ISBN: 84-7735-048-5 Other information: Intoduction by Miquel Barcelo. Includes biographical and bibliographical notes. Soft cover. Original title: The Last Castle Original copyright date: 1966 Spanish title: El ultimo castillo Spanish publication date: 1987 Publisher: Ediciones Martinez Roca Series: Gran Super Ficcion Number in the series: - Translator: Miguel Jimenez and C. Gelabert ISBN: 84-270-1122-9 Other information: In the compilation The Hugo Winners (Los premios Hugo. 1962-1967), presented by Isaac Asimov. Soft cover. Original title: The Last Castle Original copyright date: 1972 Spanish title: Hombres y dragones Spanish publication date: 1986 Publisher: Orbis Series: Biblioteca de Ciencia Ficcion Number in the series: 68 Translator: ? ISBN: ? Other information: This appears to be the two stories The Last Castle & The Dragon Masters which were included in Los premios Hugo. 1962-1967, and probably in the same translation, because Orbis published many books previously published by Martinez Roca in the "Biblioteca de Ciencia Ficcion" series . Soft cover. Original title: Future Tense Original copyright date: 1964 Spanish title: Tiempo futuro Spanish publication date: 1967 Publisher: Ediciones Diana Series: Halcon Number in the series: 80 Translator: ? ISBN: ? Other information: This is a Mexican publisher. Contains: Dodkin's Job The Gift of Gab Sail 25 Ullward's Retreat Original title: The Worlds of Jack Vance Original copyright date: 1973 Spanish title: Los mundos de Jack Vance Spanish publication date: 1982 Publisher: Ediciones Martinez Roca Series: Super Ficcion (1a. epoca) Number in the series: 69 Translator: Carlos Peralta ISBN: 84-270-0704-3 Other information: Soft cover. This translation may have also been published by Orbis in the "biblioteca de ciencia-ficcion" series. Contains: The World Between El mundo intermedio The Moon Moth La polilla lunar The Brain of the Galaxy El cerebro de la galaxia The Devil on El diablo e Salvation Bluff Salvation Bluff The Men Return Los hombres regresan The King of Thieves El rey de los ladrones Coup de Grace Golpe de gracia The Brains of Earth Cerebros de la tierra Original title: The Best of Jack Vance Original copyright date: 1977 Spanish title: Lo mejor de Jack Vance Spanish publication date: 1977 Publisher: Editorial Bruguera Series: Libro amigo Number in the series: 515 Translator: ? ISBN: ? Other information: Published in two books, this one and Estacion Abercrombie. Soft cover. Original title: The Best of Jack Vance Original copyright date: 1977 Spanish title: Estacion Abercrombie Spanish publication date: 1977 Publisher: Editorial Bruguera Series: Libro amigo Number in the series: 547 Translator: ? ISBN: ? Other information: Published in two books, this one and Lo mejor de Jack Vance. Soft cover. Original title: The Four Johns Original copyright date: 1964 Spanish title: Los cuatro Johns Spanish publication date: 1975 Publisher: Ediciones Picazo Series: Polismen Number in the series: 32 Translator: ? ISBN: ? Other information: Author "Ellery Queen" ********************************************************************************