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Los mundos de Jack Vance
Nacido en 1916, JACK VANCE empezó a escribir en 1945 y pasó un largo aprendizaje como autor de ciencia ficción de aventuras. Por eso, y pese a haber merecido un premio Hugo por su novela corta "The Dragon Masters", publicada en 1962, nunca ha sido un escritor demasiado considerado por la crítica.
Sin embargo, sus relatos de aventuras tienen un sorprendente verismo, y acreditan una fantasía siempre renovada y fascinante. Las escuelas y las modas pasan, pero VANCE ha quedado como uno de los "viejos maestros" del género, cuyo modelo imitan los que ahora empiezan.
Sin embargo, sus relatos de aventuras tienen un sorprendente verismo, y acreditan una fantasía siempre renovada y fascinante. Las escuelas y las modas pasan, pero VANCE ha quedado como uno de los "viejos maestros" del género, cuyo modelo imitan los que ahora empiezan.
265 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1973
1 person is currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Jack Vance
778 books1,594 followersAka John Holbrook Vance, Peter Held, John Holbrook, Ellery Queen, John van See, Alan Wade.
The author was born in 1916 and educated at the University of California, first as a mining engineer, then majoring in physics and finally in journalism. During the 1940s and 1950s, he contributed widely to science fiction and fantasy magazines. His first novel, The Dying Earth , was published in 1950 to great acclaim. He won both of science fiction's most coveted trophies, the Hugo and Nebula awards. He also won an Edgar Award for his mystery novel The Man in the Cage . He lived in Oakland, California in a house he designed.
The author was born in 1916 and educated at the University of California, first as a mining engineer, then majoring in physics and finally in journalism. During the 1940s and 1950s, he contributed widely to science fiction and fantasy magazines. His first novel, The Dying Earth , was published in 1950 to great acclaim. He won both of science fiction's most coveted trophies, the Hugo and Nebula awards. He also won an Edgar Award for his mystery novel The Man in the Cage . He lived in Oakland, California in a house he designed.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 4, 2016
Jack Vance es un escritor que siempre me ha entretenido y fascinado, por su gran capacidad para crear mundos exóticos. Sin duda, es uno de los grandes escritores de la ciencia ficción. Si hay un calificativo que defina a Vance, este es sentido de la maravilla. Con Vance, la aventura y la sorpresas siempre están presentes.
Estos son los ocho relatos incluidos en ‘Los mundos de Jack Vance’ (The Worlds of Jack Vance, 1973):
El mundo intermedio. (****) Dos civilizaciones se disputan un sistema solar desconocido. Muy buen relato, que hace pensar en el clima de Guerra Fría que imperaba en la época en que fue escrito.
La polilla lunar. (*****) El embajador Edwer Thissell hace poco que llegó a Sirene, donde todavía se está adaptando a las costumbres. Entonces recibe el encargo de atrapar a un conocido delincuente. Extraordinario relato, mi favorito de la antología. Resulta fascinante la idea de este mundo en el que todo el mundo lleva máscara, y se comunica con extraños instrumentos musicales.
El cerebro de la galaxia. (***) Donde asistimos a diferentes escenas, pruebas, que el lector entenderá al final. Buen relato.
El diablo de Salvation Bluff. (***) Los protagonistas sobreviven en un mundo caótico. Buen relato.
Los hombres regresan. (***) La acción se sitúa en un extraño mundo en el que viven diferentes criaturas en estado salvaje. Interesante relato.
El rey de los ladrones. (****) Relato protagonizado por Magnus Ridolph, especie de aventurero y detective, que intentará hacerse con el contrato de un preciado mineral. Buen relato.
Golpe de gracia. (****) Nuevo relato protagonizado por Magnus Ridolph, que hará las veces de criminólogo para encontrar a un asesino en una estación espacial. Muy buen relato.
Cerebros de la Tierra. (****) Novela corta en la que un físico de la Tierra se verá envuelto en una aventura en la que están implicadas varias especies alienígenas. Gran historia.
Estos son los ocho relatos incluidos en ‘Los mundos de Jack Vance’ (The Worlds of Jack Vance, 1973):
El mundo intermedio. (****) Dos civilizaciones se disputan un sistema solar desconocido. Muy buen relato, que hace pensar en el clima de Guerra Fría que imperaba en la época en que fue escrito.
La polilla lunar. (*****) El embajador Edwer Thissell hace poco que llegó a Sirene, donde todavía se está adaptando a las costumbres. Entonces recibe el encargo de atrapar a un conocido delincuente. Extraordinario relato, mi favorito de la antología. Resulta fascinante la idea de este mundo en el que todo el mundo lleva máscara, y se comunica con extraños instrumentos musicales.
El cerebro de la galaxia. (***) Donde asistimos a diferentes escenas, pruebas, que el lector entenderá al final. Buen relato.
El diablo de Salvation Bluff. (***) Los protagonistas sobreviven en un mundo caótico. Buen relato.
Los hombres regresan. (***) La acción se sitúa en un extraño mundo en el que viven diferentes criaturas en estado salvaje. Interesante relato.
El rey de los ladrones. (****) Relato protagonizado por Magnus Ridolph, especie de aventurero y detective, que intentará hacerse con el contrato de un preciado mineral. Buen relato.
Golpe de gracia. (****) Nuevo relato protagonizado por Magnus Ridolph, que hará las veces de criminólogo para encontrar a un asesino en una estación espacial. Muy buen relato.
Cerebros de la Tierra. (****) Novela corta en la que un físico de la Tierra se verá envuelto en una aventura en la que están implicadas varias especies alienígenas. Gran historia.
May 28, 2024
Vance-Worlds of Jack Vance
This is a collection of nine stories, five of them short stories, one a novella (The Brains of the Earth) and three novelettes (The World Between, The World Between and The Kodod Warriors) The original publication dates range from 1949 to 1966. Vance puts so much in such a few pages that I have found it helpful to read each of these stories at least twice and some three times. Here is a brief description and rating of each story.
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
"The World Between," a 29 page novelette written in 1953, is also known as "The Ecological Onslaught." A potentially habitable planet is discovered by beings from Blue Star who are in direct competition with residents of another planet called Kay. When the Blue Star explorers try to introduce organisms to the planet to eventually make it habitable, the Kay citizens, who want the planet for themselves, decide to release diseases and predators to disrupt things. This quickly becomes an ecological battle between two planets. It is an interesting story and easy to read. I rated it a 4
"The Moon Moth," is a novelette of 39 pages that was initially published in 1961. Edwer Thissell, who arrived on the planet Sirene only three months ago, is suddenly appointed as the new Consular Representative from Earth after his predecessor is assassinated. He must quickly assume the responsibilities of this new position while learning how to behave in that role in the very strange culture on Sirene where everyone wears special masks, communicates through playing musical instruments (while singing) and will kill by sword anyone who violates the strict customs and protocol which seem almost incomprehensible. Thissell is assigned the duty of capturing an assassin from Earth who will soon to arrive on Sirene. But in the process of trying to track him down he has to interact with the Sirenes and seriously and perhaps fatally violates Sirene customs while doing so. The story is well thought out, skillfully written and quite complex. It is essential reading. My rating: 5
"Brain of the Galaxy," also known as "The New Prime," was first published in 1951 and is novelette of 26 pages. It consists of five vignettes with different characters and settings. In the first vignette a man with no memory finds himself naked at a 19th century Boston coming out party and has to decide what to do. In the second a different character is in the midst of a losing battle with insect like creatures and decides to order his men to attack the main hive of the creatures he is fighting. In the third a man is in an ancient city of ruins seeking a parchment that can save his lords life. In the fourth a person finds himself in competition to mentally project imaginative images on a screen. In the last scene our fifth character is captured and tortured by his enemy. It is unclear how these vignettes are related until toward the end of the story where it all comes together. I rated it a 2: "Okay"
"The Devil on Salvation Bluff," a short story of 21 pages was published initially in 1955. Two missionaries, a married couple, live outside the main city on a planet called "Glory" where their ancestors from Earth crash landed 500 years ago. They maintain a huge clock (which is very symbolic) and adhere to Earth time (and customs) even though it does not apply to this planet which has a number of suns that seem to rise unpredictably. The two missionaries are responsible for "civilizing" the local natives, who live in the wild, by teaching them about manners, social behavior, adherence to schedules, and the importance of time and clocks. The locals raise goats, run around half naked, live in filthy conditions, refuse to live in the houses that the missionaries built for them, copulate in public and destroy the canals the missionaries make. The chief of the tribe is the only one who speaks their language, but he won't cooperate and calls the giant clock the devil, threatening to roll boulders down on it. The couple are concerned how an upcoming inspection will reflect on them and think the chief must be mentally ill to be so uncivilized, so they decide to take him to one of their hospitals for mental health treatment. Things do not work out as they expect, however. This is very easy to read, rather fun and fairly interesting. I rated it a 3.5: "Liked it +"
"The Men Return" was first published in 1957 and is a 9 page short story. It is like two universes overlapping after the law of causality, physics and reality on Earth is rendered somewhat inoperable and matter now fades in and out of existence. Humans evolved into two different creatures, one rooted in the laws of science and the other having developed in the coexisting world of randomness and surrealism where nothing seems real. Both groups spend all their time seeking food and are not above eating each other. As food becomes more scarce, the groups become more desperate. It is all very bizarre, but I found it rather fascinating and rated it 3: "Liked it."
"The Kodod Warriors," a 34 page novelette first published in 1951, is one of the Magnus Ridolph series. The "Women's League Committee for the Preservation of Moral Values" hires Ridolph to investigate and stop ritualistic battles on another planet (Kodod) where tribes of dwarf like creatures have bloody fights with each other that tourists find entertaining. The hotel in the region makes huge profits from the tourists who visit to watch the killings. Ridolph devises a clever scheme in this fun and easy to read story. I rated it 3.5 "Liked it +."
"The King of Thieves" is an 18 page short story that was first published in 1949 and is another Magnus Ridolph story. This one is pure fun and puts Ridolph on a planet where the inhabitants worship thievery and honor the most successful thieves. Ridolph bets with another visitor that he can maintain more of his possessions, and they both will do anything to win. My rating: 3 "Liked it."
"Coup de Grace" is a 21 page short story published initially in 1958. It, too, is Magnus Ridolph story. Here Ridolph is on a private space station where many beings from other planets are passing through and only local law applies. He is asked to investigate a murder and does so by researching the culture of each being to see who the most likely suspects might be. It is a murder mystery with various aliens as suspects, all cleverly investigated by our hero. My rating: 3 "Liked it."
Brains of the Earth is a 99 page novella that was first released in book form in 1966 in an Ace Double with The Many Worlds of Magnus Ridolph. The title was changed to Nopalgarth in 1980 when DAW issued it. A scientist, Paul Burke, from Earth is kidnapped by aliens (Xaxans) and is charged with saving Earth by helping eliminate a parasite called "nopals." The nopals attach themselves to Xaxans and also to humans and can influence the feelings, thoughts, perceptions and behavior of their host. Nopals are usually invisible because they are not composed of matter and are from the "para-cosmos." The Xaxans call Earth "Nopalgarth" because all people on Earth are infected with nopals. The nopals use Earth as a breeding grounds and then travel to other planets to infect the Xaxans and other. The Xaxans are planning a mass assault on Earth to kill all nopals if Burke does not succeed. They provide him with gold and a machine that painfully detaches nopals one at a time from those infected. But will he meet their deadline? My rating: 3 "Liked it"
This is a collection of nine stories, five of them short stories, one a novella (The Brains of the Earth) and three novelettes (The World Between, The World Between and The Kodod Warriors) The original publication dates range from 1949 to 1966. Vance puts so much in such a few pages that I have found it helpful to read each of these stories at least twice and some three times. Here is a brief description and rating of each story.
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
"The World Between," a 29 page novelette written in 1953, is also known as "The Ecological Onslaught." A potentially habitable planet is discovered by beings from Blue Star who are in direct competition with residents of another planet called Kay. When the Blue Star explorers try to introduce organisms to the planet to eventually make it habitable, the Kay citizens, who want the planet for themselves, decide to release diseases and predators to disrupt things. This quickly becomes an ecological battle between two planets. It is an interesting story and easy to read. I rated it a 4
"The Moon Moth," is a novelette of 39 pages that was initially published in 1961. Edwer Thissell, who arrived on the planet Sirene only three months ago, is suddenly appointed as the new Consular Representative from Earth after his predecessor is assassinated. He must quickly assume the responsibilities of this new position while learning how to behave in that role in the very strange culture on Sirene where everyone wears special masks, communicates through playing musical instruments (while singing) and will kill by sword anyone who violates the strict customs and protocol which seem almost incomprehensible. Thissell is assigned the duty of capturing an assassin from Earth who will soon to arrive on Sirene. But in the process of trying to track him down he has to interact with the Sirenes and seriously and perhaps fatally violates Sirene customs while doing so. The story is well thought out, skillfully written and quite complex. It is essential reading. My rating: 5
"Brain of the Galaxy," also known as "The New Prime," was first published in 1951 and is novelette of 26 pages. It consists of five vignettes with different characters and settings. In the first vignette a man with no memory finds himself naked at a 19th century Boston coming out party and has to decide what to do. In the second a different character is in the midst of a losing battle with insect like creatures and decides to order his men to attack the main hive of the creatures he is fighting. In the third a man is in an ancient city of ruins seeking a parchment that can save his lords life. In the fourth a person finds himself in competition to mentally project imaginative images on a screen. In the last scene our fifth character is captured and tortured by his enemy. It is unclear how these vignettes are related until toward the end of the story where it all comes together. I rated it a 2: "Okay"
"The Devil on Salvation Bluff," a short story of 21 pages was published initially in 1955. Two missionaries, a married couple, live outside the main city on a planet called "Glory" where their ancestors from Earth crash landed 500 years ago. They maintain a huge clock (which is very symbolic) and adhere to Earth time (and customs) even though it does not apply to this planet which has a number of suns that seem to rise unpredictably. The two missionaries are responsible for "civilizing" the local natives, who live in the wild, by teaching them about manners, social behavior, adherence to schedules, and the importance of time and clocks. The locals raise goats, run around half naked, live in filthy conditions, refuse to live in the houses that the missionaries built for them, copulate in public and destroy the canals the missionaries make. The chief of the tribe is the only one who speaks their language, but he won't cooperate and calls the giant clock the devil, threatening to roll boulders down on it. The couple are concerned how an upcoming inspection will reflect on them and think the chief must be mentally ill to be so uncivilized, so they decide to take him to one of their hospitals for mental health treatment. Things do not work out as they expect, however. This is very easy to read, rather fun and fairly interesting. I rated it a 3.5: "Liked it +"
"The Men Return" was first published in 1957 and is a 9 page short story. It is like two universes overlapping after the law of causality, physics and reality on Earth is rendered somewhat inoperable and matter now fades in and out of existence. Humans evolved into two different creatures, one rooted in the laws of science and the other having developed in the coexisting world of randomness and surrealism where nothing seems real. Both groups spend all their time seeking food and are not above eating each other. As food becomes more scarce, the groups become more desperate. It is all very bizarre, but I found it rather fascinating and rated it 3: "Liked it."
"The Kodod Warriors," a 34 page novelette first published in 1951, is one of the Magnus Ridolph series. The "Women's League Committee for the Preservation of Moral Values" hires Ridolph to investigate and stop ritualistic battles on another planet (Kodod) where tribes of dwarf like creatures have bloody fights with each other that tourists find entertaining. The hotel in the region makes huge profits from the tourists who visit to watch the killings. Ridolph devises a clever scheme in this fun and easy to read story. I rated it 3.5 "Liked it +."
"The King of Thieves" is an 18 page short story that was first published in 1949 and is another Magnus Ridolph story. This one is pure fun and puts Ridolph on a planet where the inhabitants worship thievery and honor the most successful thieves. Ridolph bets with another visitor that he can maintain more of his possessions, and they both will do anything to win. My rating: 3 "Liked it."
"Coup de Grace" is a 21 page short story published initially in 1958. It, too, is Magnus Ridolph story. Here Ridolph is on a private space station where many beings from other planets are passing through and only local law applies. He is asked to investigate a murder and does so by researching the culture of each being to see who the most likely suspects might be. It is a murder mystery with various aliens as suspects, all cleverly investigated by our hero. My rating: 3 "Liked it."
Brains of the Earth is a 99 page novella that was first released in book form in 1966 in an Ace Double with The Many Worlds of Magnus Ridolph. The title was changed to Nopalgarth in 1980 when DAW issued it. A scientist, Paul Burke, from Earth is kidnapped by aliens (Xaxans) and is charged with saving Earth by helping eliminate a parasite called "nopals." The nopals attach themselves to Xaxans and also to humans and can influence the feelings, thoughts, perceptions and behavior of their host. Nopals are usually invisible because they are not composed of matter and are from the "para-cosmos." The Xaxans call Earth "Nopalgarth" because all people on Earth are infected with nopals. The nopals use Earth as a breeding grounds and then travel to other planets to infect the Xaxans and other. The Xaxans are planning a mass assault on Earth to kill all nopals if Burke does not succeed. They provide him with gold and a machine that painfully detaches nopals one at a time from those infected. But will he meet their deadline? My rating: 3 "Liked it"
December 11, 2017
The Worlds of Jack Vance is probably blessed with one of the single worst covers I have ever seen-happily that is the extent of the criticism that can be levied against it. This book is an anthology of early Vance stories-most of it was a reread for me but it was still a shortcut to wonder. Jack Vance never became a household name like the "big Four" which is a damn shame as he (in my humble opinion) outstripped Clarke, Asimov, Bradbury, and Heinlein. This collection featured the perennial favorite "The Moon Moth" which I believe I have read three times. (I also especially enjoyed "The Devil on Salvation Bluff" as I had not read it before. But everything here is worth perusal.) So what makes Jack Vance so special? Well let's take a minute so that I can wax rhapsodic about this fantastic author. I was introduced to Vance via Christmas gift (we'll call the gift giver Mr White) and I still have that slim paperback copy of Star King to this day. I read that book twice, and immediately started hunting for more. Why? Vance was possessed of a sardonic wit such as I had never before experienced. I also found with time that his protagonists were different that that of any other author out there. They were not supermen but they were rarely plagued with any type of self doubt. They were men of action who were problem solvers, direct and self assured. Also Vance was highly educated and erudite and his writings reflected this. I can always count on picking up a few new words whenever I read something by Vance. (Today's offerings were bonze and architrave.) I am uncertain if anyone under thirty even remembers who Jack Vance was which is a pity. He won every major award the science fiction and fantasy field had to offer while alive and wrote in such a way that his tales are timeless-I enjoyed today what I originally read over three decades ago. Vance is a treasure everyone should know about-so I am screaming at the top of my lungs, Constant Reader: go to a garage sale, go to Half Price Books, go online, do what you have to but if you truly treasure well written science fiction or fantasy get yourself something by Jack Vance.
January 9, 2020
3,5/5
Los mundos de Jack Vance recopila ocho relatos, nueve en la edición original, de ciencia ficción del autor californiano. Su habilidad para crear mundos en tan solo un puñado de páginas puede ser apreciada en esta antología llena de aventuras originales y entretenidas. Buscaba aproximarme a la prosa del autor antes de leer su trilogía Lyonesse que tanto capta mi atención. En general, ha sido una primera toma de contacto bastante satisfactoria, que detallo relato por relato a continuación:
- El mundo intermedio. (4/5). Dos civilizaciones enemigas luchan por el control ecológico de un planeta.
- La Polilla Lunar. (4,5/5). En una sociedad tan sofisticada que para comunicarse deben hacerlo a través de instrumentos musicales y portando máscaras, puesto que estas pueden ser elegidas al contrario que el rostro de una persona, un asesino anda suelto. Sin duda, para mí, el mejor relato del libro, prueba de la capacidad de Jack Vance para configurar todo un mundo único.
- El cerebro de la galaxia. (2/5). Diferentes acontecimientos que, aparentemente, no tienen unión serán comprendidos al final de la historia. El relato que menos me ha satisfecho.
-El diablo en Salvation Bluff. (4/5). Una pareja es responsable de civilizar a la población nativa de un planeta. Los contactos entre el matrimonio y los locales invitan a reflexionar sobre los inconvenientes y las ventajas que implica el progreso.
- Los hombres regresan. (3/5). Los últimos restos de la especie humana luchan por comida.
- El rey de los ladrones. (3,5/5). Dos hombres apuestan por ver quién es capaz de conservar más enseres en una civilización cuya vida gira en torno al robo, que está más que normalizado.
- Golpe de Gracia. (4/5). Investigan a los sospechosos de un asesinato a través de un análisis cultural en función del planeta de origen.
- Cerebros de la TIerra. (3/5). Novela corta. Un científico recibe es raptado por unos extraterrestres y recibe la misión de eliminar un parásito de la tierra.
Los mundos de Jack Vance recopila ocho relatos, nueve en la edición original, de ciencia ficción del autor californiano. Su habilidad para crear mundos en tan solo un puñado de páginas puede ser apreciada en esta antología llena de aventuras originales y entretenidas. Buscaba aproximarme a la prosa del autor antes de leer su trilogía Lyonesse que tanto capta mi atención. En general, ha sido una primera toma de contacto bastante satisfactoria, que detallo relato por relato a continuación:
- El mundo intermedio. (4/5). Dos civilizaciones enemigas luchan por el control ecológico de un planeta.
- La Polilla Lunar. (4,5/5). En una sociedad tan sofisticada que para comunicarse deben hacerlo a través de instrumentos musicales y portando máscaras, puesto que estas pueden ser elegidas al contrario que el rostro de una persona, un asesino anda suelto. Sin duda, para mí, el mejor relato del libro, prueba de la capacidad de Jack Vance para configurar todo un mundo único.
- El cerebro de la galaxia. (2/5). Diferentes acontecimientos que, aparentemente, no tienen unión serán comprendidos al final de la historia. El relato que menos me ha satisfecho.
-El diablo en Salvation Bluff. (4/5). Una pareja es responsable de civilizar a la población nativa de un planeta. Los contactos entre el matrimonio y los locales invitan a reflexionar sobre los inconvenientes y las ventajas que implica el progreso.
- Los hombres regresan. (3/5). Los últimos restos de la especie humana luchan por comida.
- El rey de los ladrones. (3,5/5). Dos hombres apuestan por ver quién es capaz de conservar más enseres en una civilización cuya vida gira en torno al robo, que está más que normalizado.
- Golpe de Gracia. (4/5). Investigan a los sospechosos de un asesinato a través de un análisis cultural en función del planeta de origen.
- Cerebros de la TIerra. (3/5). Novela corta. Un científico recibe es raptado por unos extraterrestres y recibe la misión de eliminar un parásito de la tierra.
January 10, 2022
Jack Vance short stories are little treasures and it will be a sad day when I run out of new ones. Nice to start the year off with a anthology like this.
This collection contains a novella and 8 shorter stories, three featuring the character Magnus Ridolph which apparently was dear to Vance; something I can’t entirely agree on.
The theme of this anthology is to feature Vance’s incredible ability to conjure up vibrant, bizarre worlds and populate them with equally unique and interesting cultures and peoples. Most of these stories are great examples of his craft and, while I did not enjoy all of them, are varied and intriguing, if at times a bit dated.
The Moon Moth
I had read this one several times already; it remains on of Vance’s best stories and one of the best sci-fi short stories, period. The way the culture of masked identity and complex musical communication is given life is amazing; the way it is both crucial to the plot as well as its characters is masterfully put together.
The World Between
While the plot isn’t that great it is a great excuse for a wild ride through a changing world as it is being terraformed, each time blossoming into entirely alien and vividly described landscapes.
The Brain of the Galaxy
A nice and weird romp of fragmented, quickly changing, scenes that are both well thought out and bewildering. It starts of kind of Star Wars like and ends to be a battle of fantasies. The twist at the end being fittingly bizarre. I quite enjoyed it!
The Devil on Salvation Bluff
A fun little tale of a chaotic planet and how it molds and forms its inhabitants. A story of rigid conformity vs utter anarchistic chaos. Once again, the story was okay, but the world itself very creative.
The Men Return
Another chaotic planet where the laws of nature have broken down and two strains of human evolution remain.
Very poetic and surreal in writing.
The Kokod Warriors, King of Thieves and Coup de Grace
Three of the Magnus Ridolph stories. All have decently interesting cultures brought up, but they are more focused on the main character's wits and escapades. The worlds and their inhabitants more in service to the plot/character than being a lived-in canvas for the story to play out in. Both Kokod Warriors and King of Thieves suffer from a very colonial approach to cultures, not very enjoyable. Coup the Grace is more of my liking; a murder mystery that, though pretty devoid of clear logic, at least displays a garish hand of wildly varying cultures.
The Brains of the Earth
What a great experience! While the plot kind of bogs down toward the end, the first half is a tense play of unravelling horrifying events with incredibly alien worlds, beings and concepts. The idea of invisible, malign things influencing thoughts and emotions beyond control and rationality is something quite terrifying yet real for someone with ASS like me.
The Cold War themes are decently obvious but don’t hinder the story. There’s some lengthy metaphysical discussions and philosophical arguments over swift war vs getting to grips with an enemy and the morality of total destruction/annihilation in pursuit of cleansing of a perceived threat.
I wish it took more time, perhaps in a full novel, to truly let the horror sink in and not make the revelations and discoveries follow each other quite so fast.
Overall a wonderful collection with a few brilliant gems in there but, to me, mainly marred by the Ridolph stories. Definitely recommended to anyone looking to get into Vance or wanting more.
As a side note: my version contains some wonderfully preserved full color advertisement for menthol cigarettes, awesome for a '70's fan like me.
This collection contains a novella and 8 shorter stories, three featuring the character Magnus Ridolph which apparently was dear to Vance; something I can’t entirely agree on.
The theme of this anthology is to feature Vance’s incredible ability to conjure up vibrant, bizarre worlds and populate them with equally unique and interesting cultures and peoples. Most of these stories are great examples of his craft and, while I did not enjoy all of them, are varied and intriguing, if at times a bit dated.
The Moon Moth
I had read this one several times already; it remains on of Vance’s best stories and one of the best sci-fi short stories, period. The way the culture of masked identity and complex musical communication is given life is amazing; the way it is both crucial to the plot as well as its characters is masterfully put together.
The World Between
While the plot isn’t that great it is a great excuse for a wild ride through a changing world as it is being terraformed, each time blossoming into entirely alien and vividly described landscapes.
The Brain of the Galaxy
A nice and weird romp of fragmented, quickly changing, scenes that are both well thought out and bewildering. It starts of kind of Star Wars like and ends to be a battle of fantasies. The twist at the end being fittingly bizarre. I quite enjoyed it!
The Devil on Salvation Bluff
A fun little tale of a chaotic planet and how it molds and forms its inhabitants. A story of rigid conformity vs utter anarchistic chaos. Once again, the story was okay, but the world itself very creative.
The Men Return
Another chaotic planet where the laws of nature have broken down and two strains of human evolution remain.
Very poetic and surreal in writing.
The Kokod Warriors, King of Thieves and Coup de Grace
Three of the Magnus Ridolph stories. All have decently interesting cultures brought up, but they are more focused on the main character's wits and escapades. The worlds and their inhabitants more in service to the plot/character than being a lived-in canvas for the story to play out in. Both Kokod Warriors and King of Thieves suffer from a very colonial approach to cultures, not very enjoyable. Coup the Grace is more of my liking; a murder mystery that, though pretty devoid of clear logic, at least displays a garish hand of wildly varying cultures.
The Brains of the Earth
What a great experience! While the plot kind of bogs down toward the end, the first half is a tense play of unravelling horrifying events with incredibly alien worlds, beings and concepts. The idea of invisible, malign things influencing thoughts and emotions beyond control and rationality is something quite terrifying yet real for someone with ASS like me.
The Cold War themes are decently obvious but don’t hinder the story. There’s some lengthy metaphysical discussions and philosophical arguments over swift war vs getting to grips with an enemy and the morality of total destruction/annihilation in pursuit of cleansing of a perceived threat.
I wish it took more time, perhaps in a full novel, to truly let the horror sink in and not make the revelations and discoveries follow each other quite so fast.
Overall a wonderful collection with a few brilliant gems in there but, to me, mainly marred by the Ridolph stories. Definitely recommended to anyone looking to get into Vance or wanting more.
As a side note: my version contains some wonderfully preserved full color advertisement for menthol cigarettes, awesome for a '70's fan like me.
June 4, 2022
3'5/5
En esta antología hay relatos muy buenos como La polilla lunar, El diablo en Salvation Bluff o Cerebros de la Tierra; pero también hay relatos que no me han dicho nada como El regreso del hombre o Golpe de gracia.
Me quedo con muy buenas sensaciones al leer a Jack Vance y me asombra que pueda desarrollar una sociedad entera, unas normas éticas y unos estándares claros en tan pocas páginas. La calidad imaginativa es muy notoria en todos sus relatos, pero no todos llegan a buen puerto ni lo hacen de la mejor manera.
Sin duda seguiré leyendo cosas de Jack Vance, ha sido un buen primer contacto con su obra.
En esta antología hay relatos muy buenos como La polilla lunar, El diablo en Salvation Bluff o Cerebros de la Tierra; pero también hay relatos que no me han dicho nada como El regreso del hombre o Golpe de gracia.
Me quedo con muy buenas sensaciones al leer a Jack Vance y me asombra que pueda desarrollar una sociedad entera, unas normas éticas y unos estándares claros en tan pocas páginas. La calidad imaginativa es muy notoria en todos sus relatos, pero no todos llegan a buen puerto ni lo hacen de la mejor manera.
Sin duda seguiré leyendo cosas de Jack Vance, ha sido un buen primer contacto con su obra.
February 20, 2014
Quite a remarkable collection of stories!
They should truly be considered as SF, but Jack Vance somehow transcends those boundaries. I would call them his stories as fantastic SF, as they are heavily populated with such colourful characters, backgrounds and 'fantastic' settings that the distinction is always blurred.
I guess that the setting is not what counts, but it is just the mainframe to paint the story. It could be that even his 'Fantasy' works are far less than his 'SF' ones, Jack Vance will always be a Fantasy writer for me. I can smell it and it is something as clear as saying that Arthur C. Clarke was a hard core SF writer.
As I read somewhere, Vance has "an astonishing range of inventiveness, versatility and sheer storytelling power, as well as a gift for language and world-building second to none."
I think that is all to be said about a Grand Master.
In this collection we do have Vance playing with many topics, but as usual their characters plays with wits and resourcefulness to get out of their troubles rather than brute force. And always, always there are the wonderful words and societies he draw, endlessly to our amusement. I have a special place for 'The Moon Moth', for its extraordinary setting and the 'The Brains Of Earth' as an unsettling alien 'invasion'.
But do not read me wrong: all of them are terrific.
They should truly be considered as SF, but Jack Vance somehow transcends those boundaries. I would call them his stories as fantastic SF, as they are heavily populated with such colourful characters, backgrounds and 'fantastic' settings that the distinction is always blurred.
I guess that the setting is not what counts, but it is just the mainframe to paint the story. It could be that even his 'Fantasy' works are far less than his 'SF' ones, Jack Vance will always be a Fantasy writer for me. I can smell it and it is something as clear as saying that Arthur C. Clarke was a hard core SF writer.
As I read somewhere, Vance has "an astonishing range of inventiveness, versatility and sheer storytelling power, as well as a gift for language and world-building second to none."
I think that is all to be said about a Grand Master.
In this collection we do have Vance playing with many topics, but as usual their characters plays with wits and resourcefulness to get out of their troubles rather than brute force. And always, always there are the wonderful words and societies he draw, endlessly to our amusement. I have a special place for 'The Moon Moth', for its extraordinary setting and the 'The Brains Of Earth' as an unsettling alien 'invasion'.
But do not read me wrong: all of them are terrific.
December 29, 2018
7/10. Media de los 30 libros leídos del autor : 7/10.
Nada menos que 30 libros leí de Vance, la mayoría de joven lector de CF en editoriales míticas: Orbis, Edhasa, Ultramar, Nova,...
De imaginación desbordante, creaba mundos y sociedades como churros, desbordando imaginación y superando nuestra capacidad de asombro. Una media de 7/10 en tantos libros no es fácil de mantener.
Creó muchas sagas (ninguna mala o aburrida) y me quedo con la de "Tschai", que son 4 libros. Si hubiera de escoger uno que no sea saga, pues "Lámpara de Noche".
Un gran clásico.
Nada menos que 30 libros leí de Vance, la mayoría de joven lector de CF en editoriales míticas: Orbis, Edhasa, Ultramar, Nova,...
De imaginación desbordante, creaba mundos y sociedades como churros, desbordando imaginación y superando nuestra capacidad de asombro. Una media de 7/10 en tantos libros no es fácil de mantener.
Creó muchas sagas (ninguna mala o aburrida) y me quedo con la de "Tschai", que son 4 libros. Si hubiera de escoger uno que no sea saga, pues "Lámpara de Noche".
Un gran clásico.
August 31, 2018
En "Los mundos de Jack Vance", el autor da lo que el título promete: un mundo peculiar e imaginativo en cada relato. Hay aquí persecuciones, terraformaciones saboteadas, extraterrestres que se comunican cantando y extraños parásitos de otra dimensión. Sin duda un derroche de ideas que se lee con sumo interés.
Me han quedado ganas de leer más de este autor tan original, por lo que se lo recomiendo a cualquier seguidor de la ciencia ficción. Un muy buen libro del género.
Me han quedado ganas de leer más de este autor tan original, por lo que se lo recomiendo a cualquier seguidor de la ciencia ficción. Un muy buen libro del género.
November 30, 2017
The Moon Moth is the best sci-fi/detective short story ever written.
January 31, 2014
A collection of Vance's SF stories, the best being "The Brains of Earth" about a struggle for human minds between two races of ET psychic parasites, and "The Moon Moth" which offers a very alien but very believable ET culture. This reminds me of why I liked the late Vance so much.
December 29, 2013
Piquant, elusive, dilatory.
January 9, 2014
Great collection of stories.
June 3, 2017
El libro es una recopilación de ocho cuentos que aborda distintas temáticas y géneros dentro de la CF. En “El mundo intermedio” dos civilizaciones contrapuestas ideológica y culturalmente se disputan un sistema solar desconocido para ambas. En “La polilla lunar” el embajador de un mundo fronterizo recibe el encargo de capturar un peligroso delincuente con poco tiempo de anticipación. “El cerebro de la galaxia” y “El diablo en Salvation Bluff” son una reflexión sobre como cómo nuestros planteamientos iniciales, o nuestros prejuicios, condicionan la tarea que se nos encomienda. En “Los hombres regresan” asistimos a la restauración de las leyes de la naturaleza en un mundo que se ha vuelto caótico repentinamente. “El rey de los ladrones” y “Golpe de gracia” tienen como protagonista al criminólogo Magnus Ridolph. En el primer relato Magnus Ridolph debe hacerse con un importante contrato de telex, un mineral que permite la comunicación espacial, y en el segundo resolver un caso clásico de asesinato. En “Cerebros de la Galaxia” un importante físico teórico debe poner fin una guerra entre dos facciones alienígenas, una guerra que puede extenderse a la Tierra.
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May 5, 2019I have the german edition: Das Gehirn der Galaxis
according to the german edition, this is part 1 of the original
according to the german edition, this is part 1 of the original
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