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The House of Iszm and Other Stories
The inhabitants of a planet called Iszm, a species known as the Iszic, have evolved the native giant trees into living homes, with all needs and various luxuries supplied by the trees' own natural growth. The Iszic maintain a jealously-guarded monopoly, exporting only enough trees to keep prices high and make a great profit. The protagonist, Ailie Farr, is a human botanist who goes to Iszm (like many others before him, of many species) to steal a female tree, which might allow the propagation of the species off world and break the monopoly.
- GenresScience Fiction
172 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2011
2 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Jack Vance
778 books1,597 followersAka John Holbrook Vance, Peter Held, Ellery Queen, Alan Wade.
John Holbrook Vance was an American writer widely celebrated for his imaginative contributions to science fiction, fantasy, and mystery literature. Over a career that spanned more than six decades, he became known for richly detailed worlds, inventive language, and stories that combined adventure with sharp social observation. His work influenced generations of speculative fiction writers and helped expand the literary possibilities of the genre. Vance wrote more than sixty books and numerous short stories, many first appearing in science fiction magazines before later being expanded into novels and collections. His fiction was widely translated and developed an international readership.
Vance grew up in California and spent part of his youth on a ranch near the Sacramento River delta, where he developed a love of the outdoors and an appetite for reading. The family experienced financial hardship during the Great Depression, prompting him to take a variety of jobs before completing his studies at the University of California, Berkeley. During these years he worked in several trades and cultivated interests in music, travel, and sailing, experiences that later informed many of the settings and themes in his fiction. Before becoming a full-time writer he held numerous occupations, including shipyard worker, merchant seaman, carpenter, and surveyor.
His earliest published story appeared in the mid 1940s in a science fiction magazine, marking the beginning of a long writing career. Throughout the following decades he produced stories across multiple genres, though he became best known for science fiction and fantasy cycles that combined imaginative settings with elaborate cultures and social systems. Among his most famous works are The Dragon Masters and The Last Castle, both of which received Hugo Awards. The Last Castle also earned the Nebula Award, confirming Vance's reputation as one of the most distinctive voices in speculative fiction. His fantasy trilogy Lyonesse later received the World Fantasy Award, while his memoir This Is Me, Jack Vance! earned another Hugo decades later.
In addition to speculative fiction, Vance wrote several mystery novels, some under pseudonyms including Ellery Queen. These works often blended crime elements with psychological or social themes and sometimes anticipated ideas that later appeared in his science fiction. His storytelling frequently emphasized cultural conflict, moral ambiguity, and intricate social customs rather than large-scale warfare, setting him apart from many contemporaries in the genre.
Vance maintained close friendships with other science fiction writers and participated in literary communities that shaped postwar American speculative fiction. He traveled widely with his family and spent extended periods abroad, experiences that influenced the exotic settings and cosmopolitan tone found in many of his books. Music also played a role in his life and writing, reflecting his long-standing enthusiasm for traditional jazz.
Despite gradually losing his eyesight later in life, Vance continued writing with the aid of specialized software and completed both fiction and autobiography in his later years. Over time his reputation grew steadily, and he received numerous honors, including the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement and recognition as a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Critics and fellow writers often praised his distinctive style, wit, and imagination, and his stories remain widely read within the science fiction and fantasy community.
John Holbrook Vance was an American writer widely celebrated for his imaginative contributions to science fiction, fantasy, and mystery literature. Over a career that spanned more than six decades, he became known for richly detailed worlds, inventive language, and stories that combined adventure with sharp social observation. His work influenced generations of speculative fiction writers and helped expand the literary possibilities of the genre. Vance wrote more than sixty books and numerous short stories, many first appearing in science fiction magazines before later being expanded into novels and collections. His fiction was widely translated and developed an international readership.
Vance grew up in California and spent part of his youth on a ranch near the Sacramento River delta, where he developed a love of the outdoors and an appetite for reading. The family experienced financial hardship during the Great Depression, prompting him to take a variety of jobs before completing his studies at the University of California, Berkeley. During these years he worked in several trades and cultivated interests in music, travel, and sailing, experiences that later informed many of the settings and themes in his fiction. Before becoming a full-time writer he held numerous occupations, including shipyard worker, merchant seaman, carpenter, and surveyor.
His earliest published story appeared in the mid 1940s in a science fiction magazine, marking the beginning of a long writing career. Throughout the following decades he produced stories across multiple genres, though he became best known for science fiction and fantasy cycles that combined imaginative settings with elaborate cultures and social systems. Among his most famous works are The Dragon Masters and The Last Castle, both of which received Hugo Awards. The Last Castle also earned the Nebula Award, confirming Vance's reputation as one of the most distinctive voices in speculative fiction. His fantasy trilogy Lyonesse later received the World Fantasy Award, while his memoir This Is Me, Jack Vance! earned another Hugo decades later.
In addition to speculative fiction, Vance wrote several mystery novels, some under pseudonyms including Ellery Queen. These works often blended crime elements with psychological or social themes and sometimes anticipated ideas that later appeared in his science fiction. His storytelling frequently emphasized cultural conflict, moral ambiguity, and intricate social customs rather than large-scale warfare, setting him apart from many contemporaries in the genre.
Vance maintained close friendships with other science fiction writers and participated in literary communities that shaped postwar American speculative fiction. He traveled widely with his family and spent extended periods abroad, experiences that influenced the exotic settings and cosmopolitan tone found in many of his books. Music also played a role in his life and writing, reflecting his long-standing enthusiasm for traditional jazz.
Despite gradually losing his eyesight later in life, Vance continued writing with the aid of specialized software and completed both fiction and autobiography in his later years. Over time his reputation grew steadily, and he received numerous honors, including the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement and recognition as a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Critics and fellow writers often praised his distinctive style, wit, and imagination, and his stories remain widely read within the science fiction and fantasy community.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 19, 2025
Houses of Iszm The and Other Stories Kindle Edition
Contents:
1. The Houses of Iszm
2. The Gift of Gab, Nopalgarth (The Brains of Earth)
3. The Narrow Land
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
The Houses of Iszm
This is a novella of 126 pages that was written by Jack Vance in 1953 and first published in 1954 in Startling Stories magazine. It is currently in print in a high quality paperback edition from Spatterlight Press along with Vance's novella Son of the Tree. The Houses of Iszm is sometimes listed as part two of the Nopalgarth series but this is incorrect. Although there is a novella by this title, there is no such series. This novella is not part of any series. Initially the setting is on the planet called Iszm where trees are carefully grown from seeds (with proper care and secret incantations) and end up developing into houses with integrated rooms, walls, ceilings, plumbing, decor, etc. Some develop into simple one room dwellings, but others are luxurious homes with multi levels, bathing pools, and atmospheres charged with oxygen. The people on the planet sell these "houseplants" to distributors on other planets and have a monopoly on them because they never sell a female tree or seeds, and the plants cannot be propagated by cuttings. On Earth all plants are sold exclusively to K. Penche who is allowed to purchase a limited quantity of trees of only one type. On Iszm they have been developing and perfecting these trees that turn into houses for two hundred thousand years. They even have some that grow into being wooden boats, although the rigging must be added artificially. The trees are also sentient beings and have personalities. Some trees are called sentry trees and will strike out and even kill trespassers if they don't know the password. Even if a female seed should ever be stolen there is a very complex, secret process for growing the plants and only the Iszics know how to do this. Each tree also requires many hours of training called house breaking. "It must be entered, mastered, trained. The webbings must be cut; the nerves of ejaculation must be located and paralyzed. The sphincters must open and close at a touch. The art of house-breaking is almost as important as house-breeding. Without correct breaking a house is an unmanageable nuisance--a menace." Our main character, Aile Farr, is a botanist from Earth who decides to visit Iszm and study these plants. He also hopes to persuade the Iszics to allow exports of smaller, more affordable houses to help with housing problems on Earth. Farr learns, however, that it costs the same to grow and ship a simple tree house as it does a multilevel one so the Iszics have no incentive to export cheaper houses. All visitors to Iszm are also suspected of wanting to steal some seeds of female trees and Farr is especially suspect because he is a botanist. The government on Iszm is constantly trying to monitor and thwart theft by using elaborate security systems, screenings and procedures. Those who try to steal are usually killed or captured. If captured they are sent to a tree prison called the Mad House. This is a suspenseful, humorous, easy to read novella involving police, undercover agents, smugglers, murderers and a central character who tries to stay alive while figuring out what is going on. Vance fans will want to read The Houses of Iszm even though it is not one of his finest works. Those looking for an odd, easy to read novella might also find this enjoyable. I've read this four times so far and rate it a 4-.
The Gift of Gab
"The Gift of Gab" is a 56 page novella that was first published in Amazing Science Fiction in 1955. Fletcher works on a barge on an alien planet where they harvest barnacles and sea slugs from the ocean to make chemical compounds. One of his men turns up missing and a strange creature grabs Fletcher by the leg and tries to pull him into the sea. This is a planet where there are suppose to be nothing that is predatory toward people. All of the animals on the planet seem harmless, including the very common seal like marine creature called a dekabrach. But much more is going on with the habitants of the planet and also with his coworkers on another barge. The intrigue builds as Fletcher, who is stuck on the planet with his crew until relief arrives, tries to investigate the mystery. "Gab," incidentally, refers to communication between different species. I found this enjoyable to read and I rated it a 4.
The Narrow Land
This is a 23 page novelette that was first published in 1967 in Fantastic magazine. It is a fascinating story that I found totally engaging and thought provoking. One thing that makes it very unusual is that the protagonist is an alien creature that hatches on a beach and then crawls to the water where it tries to survive while exploring its environment. Vance is a superb master at creating other worlds. In this story he creates a world from the perspective of an alien creature who must learn about his new world while trying to figure out who and what he is. Through Vance's masterly use of language, I actually felt like I was viewing the world from the consciousness of this creature. It is amazing how much Vance can create in so few pages. Our main character, Ern, learns that he is one of what he refers to as "water children" and that there are different types of children, some with single crests and others with double crests. They are born with some minimal ability to speak. Ern finds out that he must be wary of predatory birds, a large dangerous creature he calls an "ogre" and "men" who come to the beach to capture water children. Ern learns to speak fluently and to eventually walk on land where he discovers what he is and encounters a frightening world were "children" are eugenically culled and where the single and double crested adult creatures kill each other as enemies. A number of sociological and social psychological issues are presented as the story develops. I found this short work to be a masterpiece and one of Vance's finest writings. It is best read more than once to be fully appreciated. My rating: 5
Contents:
1. The Houses of Iszm
2. The Gift of Gab, Nopalgarth (The Brains of Earth)
3. The Narrow Land
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
The Houses of Iszm
This is a novella of 126 pages that was written by Jack Vance in 1953 and first published in 1954 in Startling Stories magazine. It is currently in print in a high quality paperback edition from Spatterlight Press along with Vance's novella Son of the Tree. The Houses of Iszm is sometimes listed as part two of the Nopalgarth series but this is incorrect. Although there is a novella by this title, there is no such series. This novella is not part of any series. Initially the setting is on the planet called Iszm where trees are carefully grown from seeds (with proper care and secret incantations) and end up developing into houses with integrated rooms, walls, ceilings, plumbing, decor, etc. Some develop into simple one room dwellings, but others are luxurious homes with multi levels, bathing pools, and atmospheres charged with oxygen. The people on the planet sell these "houseplants" to distributors on other planets and have a monopoly on them because they never sell a female tree or seeds, and the plants cannot be propagated by cuttings. On Earth all plants are sold exclusively to K. Penche who is allowed to purchase a limited quantity of trees of only one type. On Iszm they have been developing and perfecting these trees that turn into houses for two hundred thousand years. They even have some that grow into being wooden boats, although the rigging must be added artificially. The trees are also sentient beings and have personalities. Some trees are called sentry trees and will strike out and even kill trespassers if they don't know the password. Even if a female seed should ever be stolen there is a very complex, secret process for growing the plants and only the Iszics know how to do this. Each tree also requires many hours of training called house breaking. "It must be entered, mastered, trained. The webbings must be cut; the nerves of ejaculation must be located and paralyzed. The sphincters must open and close at a touch. The art of house-breaking is almost as important as house-breeding. Without correct breaking a house is an unmanageable nuisance--a menace." Our main character, Aile Farr, is a botanist from Earth who decides to visit Iszm and study these plants. He also hopes to persuade the Iszics to allow exports of smaller, more affordable houses to help with housing problems on Earth. Farr learns, however, that it costs the same to grow and ship a simple tree house as it does a multilevel one so the Iszics have no incentive to export cheaper houses. All visitors to Iszm are also suspected of wanting to steal some seeds of female trees and Farr is especially suspect because he is a botanist. The government on Iszm is constantly trying to monitor and thwart theft by using elaborate security systems, screenings and procedures. Those who try to steal are usually killed or captured. If captured they are sent to a tree prison called the Mad House. This is a suspenseful, humorous, easy to read novella involving police, undercover agents, smugglers, murderers and a central character who tries to stay alive while figuring out what is going on. Vance fans will want to read The Houses of Iszm even though it is not one of his finest works. Those looking for an odd, easy to read novella might also find this enjoyable. I've read this four times so far and rate it a 4-.
The Gift of Gab
"The Gift of Gab" is a 56 page novella that was first published in Amazing Science Fiction in 1955. Fletcher works on a barge on an alien planet where they harvest barnacles and sea slugs from the ocean to make chemical compounds. One of his men turns up missing and a strange creature grabs Fletcher by the leg and tries to pull him into the sea. This is a planet where there are suppose to be nothing that is predatory toward people. All of the animals on the planet seem harmless, including the very common seal like marine creature called a dekabrach. But much more is going on with the habitants of the planet and also with his coworkers on another barge. The intrigue builds as Fletcher, who is stuck on the planet with his crew until relief arrives, tries to investigate the mystery. "Gab," incidentally, refers to communication between different species. I found this enjoyable to read and I rated it a 4.
The Narrow Land
This is a 23 page novelette that was first published in 1967 in Fantastic magazine. It is a fascinating story that I found totally engaging and thought provoking. One thing that makes it very unusual is that the protagonist is an alien creature that hatches on a beach and then crawls to the water where it tries to survive while exploring its environment. Vance is a superb master at creating other worlds. In this story he creates a world from the perspective of an alien creature who must learn about his new world while trying to figure out who and what he is. Through Vance's masterly use of language, I actually felt like I was viewing the world from the consciousness of this creature. It is amazing how much Vance can create in so few pages. Our main character, Ern, learns that he is one of what he refers to as "water children" and that there are different types of children, some with single crests and others with double crests. They are born with some minimal ability to speak. Ern finds out that he must be wary of predatory birds, a large dangerous creature he calls an "ogre" and "men" who come to the beach to capture water children. Ern learns to speak fluently and to eventually walk on land where he discovers what he is and encounters a frightening world were "children" are eugenically culled and where the single and double crested adult creatures kill each other as enemies. A number of sociological and social psychological issues are presented as the story develops. I found this short work to be a masterpiece and one of Vance's finest writings. It is best read more than once to be fully appreciated. My rating: 5
March 8, 2016
Early Vance. Mystery plots but unmistakably science fiction. He hadn't developed his mature style yet. I hadn't read the 2 short stories, "Gift of Gab" and "The Narrow Land" before. The 2 novelettes--the other is "Nopalgarth--" and the 2 shorts all have Vance's unique fascination with alien psychology and culture. A bonus, for me any way, is that "Nopalgarth" has one of the few accurate descriptions of the heat treatment of steel I've seen in any sort of literature. Vance knew metal working.
The stories are all flawed, but are chock full of interesting ideas. No mention of roots music, but you can't have everything.
The stories are all flawed, but are chock full of interesting ideas. No mention of roots music, but you can't have everything.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews