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Chateau d'If and Other Stories
Book by Vance, Jack
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
41 people want to read
About the author
Jack Vance
779 books1,603 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 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 5, 2018
4 stars for "Abercrombie Station". reviewed in Dust of Far Suns.
2 stars for "Cholwell's Chickens". Jean Parlier of "Abercrombie Station" returns, no longer a mercenary and now a wealthy young woman, but still just as deadly. the novella details Jean's journey back to her home planet to investigate who she is and why her unknown mother abandoned her as an infant at some dirty saloon. the first half was great: the planet Codiron is a fun pastiche of an Old West town; strange mysteries are hinted at; and best of all, Jean nonchalantly dispatches a handsome but violent douchebag who had the nerve to get in her way. unfortunately the second half rushes past a highly disturbing scenario involving beautiful clones bred and held captive by a creepy old perv. perhaps Vance didn't want to explore such ugliness; I don't blame him, but he probably should have never used that plotline in the first place. it all comes to an abrupt halt via a clumsy deus ex machina. or more precisely, two vengeful harridans ex machina. even more precisely: two vengeful harridans springing out from a broom closet. which sounds a lot more fun than it actually was.
3 stars for "The Gift of Gab". reviewed in Dust of Far Suns.
5 stars for "Rumfuddle". reviewed in The Best of Jack Vance.
4 stars for "Chateau d'If". I loved this one. Roland Mario is a good guy, healthy, smart, but rather bored with his life... just like his pals. they are all intrigued by this mysterious place known as the Chateau d'If, which promises a unique adventure. what follows could be surprising, if one had never read the author before... the tale twists and turns, moving from weird mystery to fiendish body swapping to cold revenge sworn to corporate espionage to the partial rehabilitation of a useless life. Vancean standards such as an impassive and mysterious young woman, a worthless but entertaining egomaniac (in this case, the villain of the piece), brief musings on the nature of existence, and a focus on long-game planning all make welcome appearances. also features a 3 mile high building that has stadium-sized floors dedicated to various epochs of the past, because why not. this early Vance novella was exciting, perfectly paced, and completely satisfying. plus some sweet schadenfreude!
2 stars for "Cholwell's Chickens". Jean Parlier of "Abercrombie Station" returns, no longer a mercenary and now a wealthy young woman, but still just as deadly. the novella details Jean's journey back to her home planet to investigate who she is and why her unknown mother abandoned her as an infant at some dirty saloon. the first half was great: the planet Codiron is a fun pastiche of an Old West town; strange mysteries are hinted at; and best of all, Jean nonchalantly dispatches a handsome but violent douchebag who had the nerve to get in her way. unfortunately the second half rushes past a highly disturbing scenario involving beautiful clones bred and held captive by a creepy old perv. perhaps Vance didn't want to explore such ugliness; I don't blame him, but he probably should have never used that plotline in the first place. it all comes to an abrupt halt via a clumsy deus ex machina. or more precisely, two vengeful harridans ex machina. even more precisely: two vengeful harridans springing out from a broom closet. which sounds a lot more fun than it actually was.
3 stars for "The Gift of Gab". reviewed in Dust of Far Suns.
5 stars for "Rumfuddle". reviewed in The Best of Jack Vance.
4 stars for "Chateau d'If". I loved this one. Roland Mario is a good guy, healthy, smart, but rather bored with his life... just like his pals. they are all intrigued by this mysterious place known as the Chateau d'If, which promises a unique adventure. what follows could be surprising, if one had never read the author before... the tale twists and turns, moving from weird mystery to fiendish body swapping to cold revenge sworn to corporate espionage to the partial rehabilitation of a useless life. Vancean standards such as an impassive and mysterious young woman, a worthless but entertaining egomaniac (in this case, the villain of the piece), brief musings on the nature of existence, and a focus on long-game planning all make welcome appearances. also features a 3 mile high building that has stadium-sized floors dedicated to various epochs of the past, because why not. this early Vance novella was exciting, perfectly paced, and completely satisfying. plus some sweet schadenfreude!
December 26, 2012
This was an adequate read. There are better Vances. After reading it I was surprised to see that it was published in 1990.
Quick check showed that indeed at least two of the five novellas are from 1952, and it shows.
The stories are dated, then, but still quite creative and decently written in styles that were not unusual then. They move along, have some good plot developments, and generally entertain.
But there's nothing here that I will remember fondly.
Quick check showed that indeed at least two of the five novellas are from 1952, and it shows.
The stories are dated, then, but still quite creative and decently written in styles that were not unusual then. They move along, have some good plot developments, and generally entertain.
But there's nothing here that I will remember fondly.
April 16, 2011
I think I must have read this before, only mildly surprising.
Read
February 28, 2013I gave up after the first story, because I wasn't in the mood to be creeped out quite that much. I may eventually come back to this.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews