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Planet of Adventure #2
Servants of the wankh
Libro usado en buenas condiciones, por su antiguedad podria contener señales normales de uso
211 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1969
18 people are currently reading
529 people want to read
About the author
Jack Vance
777 books1,590 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 - 30 of 124 reviews
December 29, 2018
(Unfortunate title of this entry aside) this is turning out to be a good series. A very, very good series. Looking for a futuristic fantasy adventure reminiscent of the pulps, but with an uneasy bent? Look no further.
The story continues where City of the Chasch left off. Reith hasn’t found a way off Tschai yet, and his search for a solution to this particular problem takes up the bulk of the plot, although there are some other titbits that will occupy the reader’s mind. In here you will find stabbing, back-stabbing and grand theft auto of a space-shippy nature interspersed with some splendidly dry and witty dialogue, weird aliens, even weirder humans, or human derivatives, and truly exotic locations. The motley crew of henchmen Reith has been accumulating since the first book is still a delight. There are one or two surprises, one at least which I did not see coming, as far as the characters are concerned. The world building is still great, as the characters visit areas on Tschai that were only hinted at in the first book. There are more than a few mysteries that remain unexplained – this of course adds to the mysticism of Tschai. Parts of the book undoubtedly read like a travelogue, but the world building is so unique that it is easy to forgive this and go along for the ride. All in all, a great read. Compulsory if you’re a fan of Vance, particularly his Dying Earth series.
I find these books entertaining to the point of being a guilty pleasure. Anything this good has to be bad for you. Fortunately Vance is such a good wordsmith that he pulls the whole thing off with nary a sweat.
The story continues where City of the Chasch left off. Reith hasn’t found a way off Tschai yet, and his search for a solution to this particular problem takes up the bulk of the plot, although there are some other titbits that will occupy the reader’s mind. In here you will find stabbing, back-stabbing and grand theft auto of a space-shippy nature interspersed with some splendidly dry and witty dialogue, weird aliens, even weirder humans, or human derivatives, and truly exotic locations. The motley crew of henchmen Reith has been accumulating since the first book is still a delight. There are one or two surprises, one at least which I did not see coming, as far as the characters are concerned. The world building is still great, as the characters visit areas on Tschai that were only hinted at in the first book. There are more than a few mysteries that remain unexplained – this of course adds to the mysticism of Tschai. Parts of the book undoubtedly read like a travelogue, but the world building is so unique that it is easy to forgive this and go along for the ride. All in all, a great read. Compulsory if you’re a fan of Vance, particularly his Dying Earth series.
I find these books entertaining to the point of being a guilty pleasure. Anything this good has to be bad for you. Fortunately Vance is such a good wordsmith that he pulls the whole thing off with nary a sweat.
April 28, 2017
An orange haired girl, a purple moon, a fairytale cog on a remote ocean: would he trade it all to be back on Earth?
In the first book of the series, space ranger Adam Reith gets stranded on the planet Tschai, home to no less than four alien species and their accompanying humanoid servants/slaves. ( Reith looked through the scanscope and saw the shadow to be a Phung indeed. From where it had come he could not guess. It was over eight feet in height, in its soft black hat and black cloak, like a giant grasshopper in magisterial vestments. ) Reith manages to gain a couple of trusted companions and to save a beautiful damsel from being sacrificed to local gods. His stay on Tschai proves equally dangerous and marvelous and in this second volume he continues on his quest to find a means to capture a spaceship capable of returning him to Earth. But he's not in a hurry, which is a good thing, since there are all kind of troubles and delays to his journey.
There are a lot of similarities between Tschai and the Dying Earth, between Reith and the scoundrel Cugel, starting with the palid, tired amber sun shining over the planet and ending with the lack of scruples, opportunism and casual violence of the so called heroes. But I must say there's never a dull moment on this place so aptly named Planet of Adventure.
The survival kit which Reith had salvaged from the wrecked scout boat included a pellet gun, an energy cell, an electronic telescope, a knife, antiseptics, a mirror, a thousand feet of strong cord.
With these tools and with Anacho the Dirdirman and Traz the steppe raider, Reith sets out to return the alluring Ylin-Ylan to her father, ruler of distant Cath. Why would Reith hope to receive a huge reward for returning 'spoiled' goods is one of the unexplained mysteries in the novel:
The fact that you and the girl have formed an erotic accommodation is of course a complication advises the phlegmatic Anacho.
Beside the dry humor, the cavalier attitude to women is another characteristic of Vance and of so many other writers of classic pulp adventures. Poor Ylin-Ylan of many sensual and secret names soon becomes an anchor dragging our adventuring hero down and she must be somehow disposed of...
I could go on describing the journey, but why spoil the fun? Expect trouble about every other page (fliers crashing, barbarian attacks, insurance scammers, cult assassins, courtiers plotting, storms, sea-monsters, jealous women, duelists, alien soldiers, etc). Expect colorful, exotic places and weird, grotesque, hostile tribes of bizarre religious customs (eaten alive by giant scorpion larvae!!!).
Coad was a busy town. Along the crooked streets, in and out of the ale-colored sunlight, moved men and women of many casts and colors: Yellow Islanders and Black Islanders, Horasin bark-merchants muffled in gray robes; Caucasoids such as Traz from the Aman Steppe; Dirdirmen and Dirdirmen hybrids; Dwarfish Sieps from the eastern slopes of the Ozanalai who played music in the streets, a few flat-faced white men from the far south of Kislovan. The natives, or Tans, were an affable fox faced people, with wide polished cheekbones, pointed chins, russet or dark brown hair cut in a ledge across the ears and foreheads. Their usual garments were knee-length breeches, embroidered vest, a round black pie-plate hat. Palanquins were numerous, carried by short gnarled men with oddly long noses and stringy black hair: apparently a race to themselves; Reith saw them in no other occupation. Later he learned them to be natives of Grenie at the head of the Dwan Zher.
Given the fast-paced and dangerous ride across Tschai, it is admirable that Vance manages to include a few passages of philosophical and religious debate, such as this dialogue between a Yao courtier and Reith:
Yao doctrine, of course, is to some extent a syncresis; or better to say, in the course of the 'round' all aspects of the Ineffable are given opportunity to manifest themselves, so that, as we move with the cycle, we experience all theopathy. a rather pretentious way to say 'what goes around comes around')
- - - -
It occurs to me that the man and his religion are one and the same thing. The unknown exists. Each man projects on the blankness the shape of his own particular world-view. He endows his creation with his personal volitions and attitudes. The religious man stating his case is in essence explaining himself. When a fanatic is contradicted he feels a threat to his own existence; he reacts violently. [Reith's reply]
—«»—«»—«»—
One of the reasons this review is thin on actual plot details is not only the density of events, but also my delay in writing it down (finished the book more than a month ago, but then I moved into a new apartment and put my reading tasks on hold). Nevertheless, I can't wait to dive right back in and find out how Adam Reith and his companions will escape from their latest mishap.
\
In the first book of the series, space ranger Adam Reith gets stranded on the planet Tschai, home to no less than four alien species and their accompanying humanoid servants/slaves. ( Reith looked through the scanscope and saw the shadow to be a Phung indeed. From where it had come he could not guess. It was over eight feet in height, in its soft black hat and black cloak, like a giant grasshopper in magisterial vestments. ) Reith manages to gain a couple of trusted companions and to save a beautiful damsel from being sacrificed to local gods. His stay on Tschai proves equally dangerous and marvelous and in this second volume he continues on his quest to find a means to capture a spaceship capable of returning him to Earth. But he's not in a hurry, which is a good thing, since there are all kind of troubles and delays to his journey.
There are a lot of similarities between Tschai and the Dying Earth, between Reith and the scoundrel Cugel, starting with the palid, tired amber sun shining over the planet and ending with the lack of scruples, opportunism and casual violence of the so called heroes. But I must say there's never a dull moment on this place so aptly named Planet of Adventure.
The survival kit which Reith had salvaged from the wrecked scout boat included a pellet gun, an energy cell, an electronic telescope, a knife, antiseptics, a mirror, a thousand feet of strong cord.
With these tools and with Anacho the Dirdirman and Traz the steppe raider, Reith sets out to return the alluring Ylin-Ylan to her father, ruler of distant Cath. Why would Reith hope to receive a huge reward for returning 'spoiled' goods is one of the unexplained mysteries in the novel:
The fact that you and the girl have formed an erotic accommodation is of course a complication advises the phlegmatic Anacho.
Beside the dry humor, the cavalier attitude to women is another characteristic of Vance and of so many other writers of classic pulp adventures. Poor Ylin-Ylan of many sensual and secret names soon becomes an anchor dragging our adventuring hero down and she must be somehow disposed of...
I could go on describing the journey, but why spoil the fun? Expect trouble about every other page (fliers crashing, barbarian attacks, insurance scammers, cult assassins, courtiers plotting, storms, sea-monsters, jealous women, duelists, alien soldiers, etc). Expect colorful, exotic places and weird, grotesque, hostile tribes of bizarre religious customs (eaten alive by giant scorpion larvae!!!).
Coad was a busy town. Along the crooked streets, in and out of the ale-colored sunlight, moved men and women of many casts and colors: Yellow Islanders and Black Islanders, Horasin bark-merchants muffled in gray robes; Caucasoids such as Traz from the Aman Steppe; Dirdirmen and Dirdirmen hybrids; Dwarfish Sieps from the eastern slopes of the Ozanalai who played music in the streets, a few flat-faced white men from the far south of Kislovan. The natives, or Tans, were an affable fox faced people, with wide polished cheekbones, pointed chins, russet or dark brown hair cut in a ledge across the ears and foreheads. Their usual garments were knee-length breeches, embroidered vest, a round black pie-plate hat. Palanquins were numerous, carried by short gnarled men with oddly long noses and stringy black hair: apparently a race to themselves; Reith saw them in no other occupation. Later he learned them to be natives of Grenie at the head of the Dwan Zher.
Given the fast-paced and dangerous ride across Tschai, it is admirable that Vance manages to include a few passages of philosophical and religious debate, such as this dialogue between a Yao courtier and Reith:
Yao doctrine, of course, is to some extent a syncresis; or better to say, in the course of the 'round' all aspects of the Ineffable are given opportunity to manifest themselves, so that, as we move with the cycle, we experience all theopathy. a rather pretentious way to say 'what goes around comes around')
- - - -
It occurs to me that the man and his religion are one and the same thing. The unknown exists. Each man projects on the blankness the shape of his own particular world-view. He endows his creation with his personal volitions and attitudes. The religious man stating his case is in essence explaining himself. When a fanatic is contradicted he feels a threat to his own existence; he reacts violently. [Reith's reply]
—«»—«»—«»—
One of the reasons this review is thin on actual plot details is not only the density of events, but also my delay in writing it down (finished the book more than a month ago, but then I moved into a new apartment and put my reading tasks on hold). Nevertheless, I can't wait to dive right back in and find out how Adam Reith and his companions will escape from their latest mishap.
\
January 29, 2024
The adventures of our surly protagonist continue in this second book in the series. He has acquired new friends and enemies, but his goal remains the same. Of course he wants to return to Earth with the knowledge he has gained - but does he stand to profit more by exploiting the natives of this backwater planet? Not when they intend to mangle and divert him at every turn. After the side-quest of rescuing the damsel in distress in the first book, he now focusses his efforts on escaping assassins, wild creatures, and navigating the complex network of socio-political factions of the planet Tschai, constantly eluding death with unshakeable luck and sheer charisma.
It's hard to fault Vance's sense of atmosphere, in a journey of wonder-inducing sights and jaw-dropping alien locales. He uses fantastical landscapes as a setting for scenes depicting the follies of human nature. Even though these are aliens and human cross-breeds, they act in very human ways, driven by avarice and fear, self-serving and self-sabotaging. The characters are always on the move, always accosting strangers with crazy demands and concocting far-fetched plans you know they will undoubtedly pull off somehow. A nonstop joyride for anyone who takes pleasure out of the brand of strange and dreamlike pulp science fiction of which the author was grandmaster.
Similar to the series Dying Earth, this book allows Vance's character to play with his penchant for bargaining, conniving, and subverting expectations. The whole set up is rather convenient, how he always comes out ahead through his own ingenuity. You would think if you were actually stranded on an alien world something would actually catch you by surprise at some point.
His description of the Wankh writing system was truly inspiring. A series of rectangles, variously shaded and accented. Reading it is akin to listening to a piece of music and drawing ideas from the ideograms, which suggest rather than define meaning. One must accumulate impressions over the length of the whole piece rather than piece together segments of data. Music is comprehensible thanks to the harmony of its components. Similarly, writing is the sum of its parts, but this interplay of associations is one of the beautiful things about composition, how people will interpret a work through the lens of their experience or background. The method he elucidates would make journal writing incredibly easy, since writing paper would first be printed with a geometric array of rectangles which could be variously accented to tweak the base shape and thus impart meaning. It made me want to implement the writing system somehow.
A delightful and addictive series, like most of Vance's work. He remains one of my favorite writers of all time.
It's hard to fault Vance's sense of atmosphere, in a journey of wonder-inducing sights and jaw-dropping alien locales. He uses fantastical landscapes as a setting for scenes depicting the follies of human nature. Even though these are aliens and human cross-breeds, they act in very human ways, driven by avarice and fear, self-serving and self-sabotaging. The characters are always on the move, always accosting strangers with crazy demands and concocting far-fetched plans you know they will undoubtedly pull off somehow. A nonstop joyride for anyone who takes pleasure out of the brand of strange and dreamlike pulp science fiction of which the author was grandmaster.
Similar to the series Dying Earth, this book allows Vance's character to play with his penchant for bargaining, conniving, and subverting expectations. The whole set up is rather convenient, how he always comes out ahead through his own ingenuity. You would think if you were actually stranded on an alien world something would actually catch you by surprise at some point.
His description of the Wankh writing system was truly inspiring. A series of rectangles, variously shaded and accented. Reading it is akin to listening to a piece of music and drawing ideas from the ideograms, which suggest rather than define meaning. One must accumulate impressions over the length of the whole piece rather than piece together segments of data. Music is comprehensible thanks to the harmony of its components. Similarly, writing is the sum of its parts, but this interplay of associations is one of the beautiful things about composition, how people will interpret a work through the lens of their experience or background. The method he elucidates would make journal writing incredibly easy, since writing paper would first be printed with a geometric array of rectangles which could be variously accented to tweak the base shape and thus impart meaning. It made me want to implement the writing system somehow.
A delightful and addictive series, like most of Vance's work. He remains one of my favorite writers of all time.
January 21, 2020
The writing of Jack Vance is like macaroni art created by Picasso: at once playful, artistic and thought provoking.
His 1969 novel Servants of the Wankhe takes over immediately after the events covered in City of the Chasch and continues his Tschai series, published all together as Planet of Adventure.
Protagonist Adam Reith is still marooned on the alien planet Tschai, still traveling with his friends Traz Onmale and Anacho, and still trying to figure out a way to get back home. This time he and his troupe of misfits goes after an alien spaceship to fly back to Earth.
This episode follows the group’s visit to the home of uppity female Ylin-Ylan and a closer look at the Wankhe.
Vance has described Tschai as being populated by a diverse set of humans, hybrids and four alien races, all more or less hostile to each other and the humans. There are the Chasch, the Wankhe, the Dirdir and the Pnume. Whereas the first book dealt primarily with one race – the reptilian Chasch, divided into three main groups: Old Chasch, the Blue Chasch, and the barbarian Green Chasch – this second book is about the Wankhe, an amphibious race.
Interestingly, according to an article in Wikipedia, Vance “replaced 'Wankh' with 'Wannek' throughout the text [in later editions]. Vance was convinced to change the name after learning of the meaning of the word 'wank' in British and Commonwealth slang.” Throughout my earlier, pre-change text, I of course smirked frequently in a sophomoric and low-brow pass at humor and yelled out loud “Wankers!”
Throw in a bawdy limerick and I’d be hooked.
Anyway, maybe the most intriguing part to Vance’s Tschai vision is that humans on Tschai (brought to the planet millennia earlier after having been brought from pre-historic Earth) are grouped into sub-races below their master race. So there are “Pnumekin, Chaschmen, Dirdirmen and Wankhmen who follow and resemble their alien patrons due to selective breeding, surgery and the desire of the humans to emulate their respective masters” quoting again Wikipedia.
This one is more cerebral and less action packed than the first book and reminded me of Frank Herbert’s The Dosadi Experiment. Vance fills this entertaining tale with intrigue and palace maneuvering alongside hidden meanings similar in design and setting with his 1976 novel Maske: Thaery.
More good fun from a man who knew how to throw down a SF/F gem, and the train kept a rollin’ on past and on to book 3 The Dirdir.
His 1969 novel Servants of the Wankhe takes over immediately after the events covered in City of the Chasch and continues his Tschai series, published all together as Planet of Adventure.
Protagonist Adam Reith is still marooned on the alien planet Tschai, still traveling with his friends Traz Onmale and Anacho, and still trying to figure out a way to get back home. This time he and his troupe of misfits goes after an alien spaceship to fly back to Earth.
This episode follows the group’s visit to the home of uppity female Ylin-Ylan and a closer look at the Wankhe.
Vance has described Tschai as being populated by a diverse set of humans, hybrids and four alien races, all more or less hostile to each other and the humans. There are the Chasch, the Wankhe, the Dirdir and the Pnume. Whereas the first book dealt primarily with one race – the reptilian Chasch, divided into three main groups: Old Chasch, the Blue Chasch, and the barbarian Green Chasch – this second book is about the Wankhe, an amphibious race.
Interestingly, according to an article in Wikipedia, Vance “replaced 'Wankh' with 'Wannek' throughout the text [in later editions]. Vance was convinced to change the name after learning of the meaning of the word 'wank' in British and Commonwealth slang.” Throughout my earlier, pre-change text, I of course smirked frequently in a sophomoric and low-brow pass at humor and yelled out loud “Wankers!”
Throw in a bawdy limerick and I’d be hooked.
Anyway, maybe the most intriguing part to Vance’s Tschai vision is that humans on Tschai (brought to the planet millennia earlier after having been brought from pre-historic Earth) are grouped into sub-races below their master race. So there are “Pnumekin, Chaschmen, Dirdirmen and Wankhmen who follow and resemble their alien patrons due to selective breeding, surgery and the desire of the humans to emulate their respective masters” quoting again Wikipedia.
This one is more cerebral and less action packed than the first book and reminded me of Frank Herbert’s The Dosadi Experiment. Vance fills this entertaining tale with intrigue and palace maneuvering alongside hidden meanings similar in design and setting with his 1976 novel Maske: Thaery.
More good fun from a man who knew how to throw down a SF/F gem, and the train kept a rollin’ on past and on to book 3 The Dirdir.
August 8, 2018
Can't finish this. There is a lot of rich detail here, but I just can't drill into this. Lemming!
June 17, 2021
The second installment of the Planet of Adventure series picks up right where the last one left off-- our lead Reith, a man from distant Earth, heads toward Cath, the place that sent a message to Earth over 200 years ago. (Earth is over 200 light years away, but when they received the signal, they sent an exploration space ship to check it out, which was promptly shot down upon arrival at Tschai, leaving only Reith alive). SotW (the title must make boys from the Isles titter a bit) moves at a fast pace, replete with Vance's trademark snarky dialogue.
Cath is 1000s of miles from Pera, where the last installment left us. Reith, once again accompanied by his nomad friend and the Dirdirman, and the mysterious woman he saved from the evil cult of women, head out over land and sea to meet their fate. Reith discovered that his space boat has been taken apart beyond repair and hopes someone in Cath can either rebuild it or he can 'borrow' a spaceship from the Wankh.
Mysterious lands, colorfully depicted by Vance, along with an odd but interesting assortment of societies that have evolved on Tschai populate this adventure novel. Each subservient portion of humanity beholden to the alien races has acquired the beliefs and in a way the physical characteristics of the aliens. We also have other 'sub-humans' who basically live wild (or free) outside of the alien enclaves. Nothing too deep here for sure; this is basically a quest/adventure pulp done with style by one of the masters of science fiction pulp space opera. First published in 1969, it still proves to be a fun, fast read. 3.5 stars rounding up!!
Cath is 1000s of miles from Pera, where the last installment left us. Reith, once again accompanied by his nomad friend and the Dirdirman, and the mysterious woman he saved from the evil cult of women, head out over land and sea to meet their fate. Reith discovered that his space boat has been taken apart beyond repair and hopes someone in Cath can either rebuild it or he can 'borrow' a spaceship from the Wankh.
Mysterious lands, colorfully depicted by Vance, along with an odd but interesting assortment of societies that have evolved on Tschai populate this adventure novel. Each subservient portion of humanity beholden to the alien races has acquired the beliefs and in a way the physical characteristics of the aliens. We also have other 'sub-humans' who basically live wild (or free) outside of the alien enclaves. Nothing too deep here for sure; this is basically a quest/adventure pulp done with style by one of the masters of science fiction pulp space opera. First published in 1969, it still proves to be a fun, fast read. 3.5 stars rounding up!!
September 21, 2021
Servants of the Wankh seamlessly continues the tales about the Planet of Adventure, Tschai. Adam Reith goes on with his quest for a space boat to leave the planet. He is still accompanied by his party - consisting of the nomad boy Traz, the Dirdir man Anacho, and Ylin-Ylan, the Flower of Cath - and together they are on their way to Ylin-Ylan's homeland.
Since his lover promised him the assistance of her rich father, Reith approaches Cath with confidence. Then Ylin-Ylan's love for Reith cools down abruptly, and the closer they get to Cath, the more she tries to distance herself from the rest of her party. This cleverly foreshadows the issues that our heroes will run into when they arrive at their destination.
The second novel is significantly more spiritual and psychological than its predecessor. But don't worry, at no point is the story burdened down by it. The depiction of inner emotional turmoil of Ylin-Ylan is never pretentious and doesn't attempt to go beyond its pulpy roots. The thought that she would arrive in Cath with these lowlives - with her lover even showing clear signs of delusion - the shame becomes too much to bear. Eventually, she resorts to awaile, bloodshed that commonly functions as a valve among the Yao people. She may end her life in the roaring sea, but the events are just so over-the-top that the reader is left more with bewildered amusement than with disturbed tragedy.
One reason for this is the Yao cavalier called Dordolio, a hilarious addition to the cast. He was among the men who were send out to search for Ylin-Ylan and he joins our party on their seaside journey to Cath. He is such a ridiculous character, taking much pride in his dignity and status. With him the reader is given the chance to comprehend the customs of Cath by studying this personified nutshell. His audacities when it comes to money and polite favors, his pretense of superiority, his casual backstabbing, it takes a great writer to come up with such a perfectly exaggerated personality. The highlight is probably his affaire d'honneur against Reith. It's so silly, but I really laughed at the humiliation inflicted by aimed strikes that make him loose his pants. Times were so much simpler in the 60s.
As you will have expected by now, Cath doesn't exactly offer what Reith was hoping to find. The Lord of the Blue Jade cannot be trusted and his seemingly obliging assistant, Helsse, is pursuing an insidious agenda. There are no laws in the city, only strong custom. As Reith has to find out, among the traditions is that you cooperate when the guild of assassins is performing its conventionary duty of ending your life (no decency to these outsiders!). In the light of this, stealing the spaceship is a much more promising way to go about it.
Religion is not a core element to the story, but I liked the addition of the Cult of Longing Refugees (is this how they are called in the English original?). Their core dogma is that humankind isn't native to Tschai, which may or may not be of bigger relevance in the books to come. When they discuss religion in the early pages, Reith argues that religion is projecting the human onto the unintelligible, which I found interesting considering that there are non-human cultures in the series as well (I don't think their religion is depicted, yet).
I loved how the setting completely changes in the second half of the novel. For one thing, we meet another culture: the docile Wankh and the vain Wankh people, the strong aversions of the Black and the Purple against each other (even though they come from the same womb), and the technically versed Lokhar (who dye their skin and hair to distance themselves from the pale Wankh people). With the rough translation of their ideogram-based written language we even get an understanding of how they construct meanings out of layers among layers, comparable to how I imagine Chinese symbols to function.
Beyond that, when Reith and his party are finally able to escape from Cath, they find themselves in hostile and dangerous territory. Suddenly, the story reads like the pulp version of Heart of Darkness. They come across the Hoch Har, mountain dwellers who are the enemies of the Yao and who help the party to find their way to the Wankh city of Kabasas. Over rivers in a sailboat, high forests and caves, passing through a gorge, dangerous seaside villages, the seizing of a ship. I really loved the truly adventurous nature of this episode.
I wasn't super stoked about the final act. The failed attempt of stealing a spaceship unfolds in only a couple of pages. I was kind of puzzled that suddenly they already arrived in the space harbor of Ao Hidis and in its hangar. Then their flight finds quite a sudden ending as well. Then they are brought before the Wankh, the twist that they are actually controlled by their human "servants", the deus ex machina of using the captured and hypnotized Helsse to break the spell, the pacing just felt very off. But I still liked that they now broke the connection of two human species and their alien counterparts. Given the above-mentioned cult, this can only lead to a planet-wide rescue, right?
Servants of the Wankh improves upon the first novel in many respects. The portrayal of culture is even more intriguing, the surroundings are richer, there is a clearer sense of danger in the air. It's still a lot of fun and so far I don't feel fatigued with the story at all (I'm already halfway through the third novel). If you like science-fiction of the softer and more traditional variety, this really is as good as it gets.
Rating: 4/5
Since his lover promised him the assistance of her rich father, Reith approaches Cath with confidence. Then Ylin-Ylan's love for Reith cools down abruptly, and the closer they get to Cath, the more she tries to distance herself from the rest of her party. This cleverly foreshadows the issues that our heroes will run into when they arrive at their destination.
The second novel is significantly more spiritual and psychological than its predecessor. But don't worry, at no point is the story burdened down by it. The depiction of inner emotional turmoil of Ylin-Ylan is never pretentious and doesn't attempt to go beyond its pulpy roots. The thought that she would arrive in Cath with these lowlives - with her lover even showing clear signs of delusion - the shame becomes too much to bear. Eventually, she resorts to awaile, bloodshed that commonly functions as a valve among the Yao people. She may end her life in the roaring sea, but the events are just so over-the-top that the reader is left more with bewildered amusement than with disturbed tragedy.
One reason for this is the Yao cavalier called Dordolio, a hilarious addition to the cast. He was among the men who were send out to search for Ylin-Ylan and he joins our party on their seaside journey to Cath. He is such a ridiculous character, taking much pride in his dignity and status. With him the reader is given the chance to comprehend the customs of Cath by studying this personified nutshell. His audacities when it comes to money and polite favors, his pretense of superiority, his casual backstabbing, it takes a great writer to come up with such a perfectly exaggerated personality. The highlight is probably his affaire d'honneur against Reith. It's so silly, but I really laughed at the humiliation inflicted by aimed strikes that make him loose his pants. Times were so much simpler in the 60s.
As you will have expected by now, Cath doesn't exactly offer what Reith was hoping to find. The Lord of the Blue Jade cannot be trusted and his seemingly obliging assistant, Helsse, is pursuing an insidious agenda. There are no laws in the city, only strong custom. As Reith has to find out, among the traditions is that you cooperate when the guild of assassins is performing its conventionary duty of ending your life (no decency to these outsiders!). In the light of this, stealing the spaceship is a much more promising way to go about it.
Religion is not a core element to the story, but I liked the addition of the Cult of Longing Refugees (is this how they are called in the English original?). Their core dogma is that humankind isn't native to Tschai, which may or may not be of bigger relevance in the books to come. When they discuss religion in the early pages, Reith argues that religion is projecting the human onto the unintelligible, which I found interesting considering that there are non-human cultures in the series as well (I don't think their religion is depicted, yet).
I loved how the setting completely changes in the second half of the novel. For one thing, we meet another culture: the docile Wankh and the vain Wankh people, the strong aversions of the Black and the Purple against each other (even though they come from the same womb), and the technically versed Lokhar (who dye their skin and hair to distance themselves from the pale Wankh people). With the rough translation of their ideogram-based written language we even get an understanding of how they construct meanings out of layers among layers, comparable to how I imagine Chinese symbols to function.
Beyond that, when Reith and his party are finally able to escape from Cath, they find themselves in hostile and dangerous territory. Suddenly, the story reads like the pulp version of Heart of Darkness. They come across the Hoch Har, mountain dwellers who are the enemies of the Yao and who help the party to find their way to the Wankh city of Kabasas. Over rivers in a sailboat, high forests and caves, passing through a gorge, dangerous seaside villages, the seizing of a ship. I really loved the truly adventurous nature of this episode.
I wasn't super stoked about the final act. The failed attempt of stealing a spaceship unfolds in only a couple of pages. I was kind of puzzled that suddenly they already arrived in the space harbor of Ao Hidis and in its hangar. Then their flight finds quite a sudden ending as well. Then they are brought before the Wankh, the twist that they are actually controlled by their human "servants", the deus ex machina of using the captured and hypnotized Helsse to break the spell, the pacing just felt very off. But I still liked that they now broke the connection of two human species and their alien counterparts. Given the above-mentioned cult, this can only lead to a planet-wide rescue, right?
Servants of the Wankh improves upon the first novel in many respects. The portrayal of culture is even more intriguing, the surroundings are richer, there is a clearer sense of danger in the air. It's still a lot of fun and so far I don't feel fatigued with the story at all (I'm already halfway through the third novel). If you like science-fiction of the softer and more traditional variety, this really is as good as it gets.
Rating: 4/5
May 28, 2024
Servants of the Wankh was first published as a paperback novel in 1969. It has also been called Planet of Adventure #2, The Wannek and Tschai. In the Vance Integral Edition the name Wankh was changed to Wannek because of the meaning of the British slang words wank or wanker. This is the second of four novels in the Planet of Adventure series about the planet Tschai. It appears to still be in print in the four novel omnibus titled Planet of Adventure. My copy of Servants of the Wankh is 131 pages long. This is the second time I have read it recently and I rated it a 4 both times. It is well worth reading. I preferred it slightly to the earlier novel City of the Chasch. But I found the final two of the four novels to be the finest and most interesting of the series, namely The Dirdir and The Pnume. I highly recommend that all four novels be read and in order.
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
The novel continues the story of Adam Reith who is marooned on the planet Tschai where four intelligent civilizations exist, each a different species and an enemy of the others. In the first novel Reith interacted mostly with the three types of Chasch. In Servants of the Wankh he engages mostly with the Yaos in the city of Cath and then with the Wankh and their underlings the Wankhmen. In the previous novel he was accompanied by two recent friends, Traz Onmale (an Emblem Man) and Ankhe at afram Anacho (a Dirdirman). He had rescued, and was accompanied by, a Yao woman named Ylin-Ylan who had been kidnapped by a religious cult. Reith was informed by Ylin-Ylan that her father was very wealthy Yao who lived in Cath and would reward Reith for rescuing her. Reith wants the money to try to obtain or build a spaceship to return to Earth. So he makes plans to take Ylin-Ylan back to Cath where she is known as The Flower of Cath. On the way they encounter a flamboyant Yao cavalier named Dordolio who plays a significant role. There is an adventurous and tragic journey by sea followed by encounters with the Yao and their intricate and rigid customs.
Reith thinks that to present himself to Ylin-Ylan's father and obtain his thanks and a reward, all he has to do is explain how he rescued his daughter after she had been abducted. But he finds out that the type of clothes he wears when he meets the father and what his social status is considered to be in Yao culture is far more important than the act of saving a daughter's life. It is a satirical critique of a society that is reminiscent of some cultures that have existed here on Earth. What Reith considers rational and normal is frequently dismissed because of the laws and social rules that vary widely from one culture to another. It is very unpredictable. Dordolio, for example, threatens to hire a Guild assassin if Reith does not pick up Dordolio's hat. Reith does pick it up but Dordolio's threats and the ongoing conflict between the two make us suspect Dordolio as the instigator when an assassin is hired to kill Reith. The person who actually hired the assassin, however, turns out to be not Dordolio but a person Reith would never suspect. I can easily imagine myself in Reith's place doing what is sensible in an alien culture only to find that what is considered reasonable, rational, and fair behavior in one culture is considered offensive, illegal or dangerous in another society. How easy it is to offend others, to get into trouble or to be ridiculed when you don't know the expectations and social ground rules of an unfamiliar culture. Reith even finds that by claiming to be a human and not a sub-human and by admitting he is from Earth, he suddenly is a heretic and considered a dangerous cult member who is a threat to society
The second part of the novel involves Reith's interaction with the Wankh culture and his attempt to steal a space ship. Reith hires a Lokhar (a type of human) named Zarfo who is to assist him with the stealing of a Wankh space ship. Other Lokhars work as technicians at the space yards at Ao Hidis where the Wankh keep and maintain their space ship fleet. Zarfo acts as an intermediary with other Lokhars to try to recruit them to work with Reith to steal and operate a space ship. No space ship has ever been stolen so the yards are only lightly guarded.
The Wankh are amphibious, plump reptilian like creatures who are at war with the Dirdirs and Dirdirmen. They are a very intelligent, mysterious alien creature who use chime like sounds to communicate. The only other beings on the planet who can understand Wankh communication are their underlings, the Wankhmen. The Wankhmen are humans who with costumes, props, surgery and possible genetic manipulation look somewhat similar to the Wankh. The Wankhmen represent the Wankh at diplomatic functions and are intermediaries in all communication between the Wankh and others. They have a life that is much easier and more rewarding than the humans who serve the Dirdirs, Chasch and Pnume. They also have much more power because they serve as the sole translators for the Wankh. The Wankhmen oppose all changes because they want to maintain everything the way it is. The Wankh culture and interactions between the Wankh and Wankhmen is fascinating, and Reith's encounters with them become an intriguing adventure. It is difficult to provide many details, however, without using spoilers.
As often the case, Vance not only builds detailed, amazing worlds and cultures with fascinating alien creatures, but he uses the settings for humor and satire, often reminding me of Jonathan Swift or even Mark Twain or Terry Pratchett. Here we have a dazzling display of social anthropological insights punctuated with satire and ironic humor. It is a delicious treat for those who love or appreciate such imaginative brilliance. And then we have Vance's magical use of language, phrases and words and his often brilliant, frequently humorous dialog. Vance takes all of this to even greater heights in The Dirdir and The Pnume.
The previous novel City of the Chasch is a lighter, easier read with less of the elaborate, intricate, world building that we find in Servants of the Wankh. Both are highly entertaining books that I did not want to put down. Each can easily be read in one or two days and both are highly recommended Vance novels.
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
The novel continues the story of Adam Reith who is marooned on the planet Tschai where four intelligent civilizations exist, each a different species and an enemy of the others. In the first novel Reith interacted mostly with the three types of Chasch. In Servants of the Wankh he engages mostly with the Yaos in the city of Cath and then with the Wankh and their underlings the Wankhmen. In the previous novel he was accompanied by two recent friends, Traz Onmale (an Emblem Man) and Ankhe at afram Anacho (a Dirdirman). He had rescued, and was accompanied by, a Yao woman named Ylin-Ylan who had been kidnapped by a religious cult. Reith was informed by Ylin-Ylan that her father was very wealthy Yao who lived in Cath and would reward Reith for rescuing her. Reith wants the money to try to obtain or build a spaceship to return to Earth. So he makes plans to take Ylin-Ylan back to Cath where she is known as The Flower of Cath. On the way they encounter a flamboyant Yao cavalier named Dordolio who plays a significant role. There is an adventurous and tragic journey by sea followed by encounters with the Yao and their intricate and rigid customs.
Reith thinks that to present himself to Ylin-Ylan's father and obtain his thanks and a reward, all he has to do is explain how he rescued his daughter after she had been abducted. But he finds out that the type of clothes he wears when he meets the father and what his social status is considered to be in Yao culture is far more important than the act of saving a daughter's life. It is a satirical critique of a society that is reminiscent of some cultures that have existed here on Earth. What Reith considers rational and normal is frequently dismissed because of the laws and social rules that vary widely from one culture to another. It is very unpredictable. Dordolio, for example, threatens to hire a Guild assassin if Reith does not pick up Dordolio's hat. Reith does pick it up but Dordolio's threats and the ongoing conflict between the two make us suspect Dordolio as the instigator when an assassin is hired to kill Reith. The person who actually hired the assassin, however, turns out to be not Dordolio but a person Reith would never suspect. I can easily imagine myself in Reith's place doing what is sensible in an alien culture only to find that what is considered reasonable, rational, and fair behavior in one culture is considered offensive, illegal or dangerous in another society. How easy it is to offend others, to get into trouble or to be ridiculed when you don't know the expectations and social ground rules of an unfamiliar culture. Reith even finds that by claiming to be a human and not a sub-human and by admitting he is from Earth, he suddenly is a heretic and considered a dangerous cult member who is a threat to society
The second part of the novel involves Reith's interaction with the Wankh culture and his attempt to steal a space ship. Reith hires a Lokhar (a type of human) named Zarfo who is to assist him with the stealing of a Wankh space ship. Other Lokhars work as technicians at the space yards at Ao Hidis where the Wankh keep and maintain their space ship fleet. Zarfo acts as an intermediary with other Lokhars to try to recruit them to work with Reith to steal and operate a space ship. No space ship has ever been stolen so the yards are only lightly guarded.
The Wankh are amphibious, plump reptilian like creatures who are at war with the Dirdirs and Dirdirmen. They are a very intelligent, mysterious alien creature who use chime like sounds to communicate. The only other beings on the planet who can understand Wankh communication are their underlings, the Wankhmen. The Wankhmen are humans who with costumes, props, surgery and possible genetic manipulation look somewhat similar to the Wankh. The Wankhmen represent the Wankh at diplomatic functions and are intermediaries in all communication between the Wankh and others. They have a life that is much easier and more rewarding than the humans who serve the Dirdirs, Chasch and Pnume. They also have much more power because they serve as the sole translators for the Wankh. The Wankhmen oppose all changes because they want to maintain everything the way it is. The Wankh culture and interactions between the Wankh and Wankhmen is fascinating, and Reith's encounters with them become an intriguing adventure. It is difficult to provide many details, however, without using spoilers.
As often the case, Vance not only builds detailed, amazing worlds and cultures with fascinating alien creatures, but he uses the settings for humor and satire, often reminding me of Jonathan Swift or even Mark Twain or Terry Pratchett. Here we have a dazzling display of social anthropological insights punctuated with satire and ironic humor. It is a delicious treat for those who love or appreciate such imaginative brilliance. And then we have Vance's magical use of language, phrases and words and his often brilliant, frequently humorous dialog. Vance takes all of this to even greater heights in The Dirdir and The Pnume.
The previous novel City of the Chasch is a lighter, easier read with less of the elaborate, intricate, world building that we find in Servants of the Wankh. Both are highly entertaining books that I did not want to put down. Each can easily be read in one or two days and both are highly recommended Vance novels.
June 14, 2023
3,5/5
Este segundo libro es una buena continuación de Los Chasch, aunque me ha gustado un poco menos. Antes de leer la saga, pensaba que el contacto del protagonista con las diferentes especies que dan nombre a los libros iba a ser mayor, incluso pensaba que conviviría con ellas, pero estas no tienen un gran protagonismo durante la mayor parte del libro, solo en determinados momentos.
La historia sigue por donde se quedó en el primero. Surgen nuevos compañeros de viaje de Reith, cada uno más particular que el anterior, y se dirigen hacia un objetivo claro: intentar encontrar el modo de abandonar Tschai. El cierre del libro es tan brusco como el del anterior, dando pie a una continuación. Creo que estos libros deberían haber sido presentados en un único volumen, pues se trata de una gran obra de varias partes. En fin, uno se queda con ganas de más, la sensación de aventura al leerlos es única.
Este segundo libro es una buena continuación de Los Chasch, aunque me ha gustado un poco menos. Antes de leer la saga, pensaba que el contacto del protagonista con las diferentes especies que dan nombre a los libros iba a ser mayor, incluso pensaba que conviviría con ellas, pero estas no tienen un gran protagonismo durante la mayor parte del libro, solo en determinados momentos.
La historia sigue por donde se quedó en el primero. Surgen nuevos compañeros de viaje de Reith, cada uno más particular que el anterior, y se dirigen hacia un objetivo claro: intentar encontrar el modo de abandonar Tschai. El cierre del libro es tan brusco como el del anterior, dando pie a una continuación. Creo que estos libros deberían haber sido presentados en un único volumen, pues se trata de una gran obra de varias partes. En fin, uno se queda con ganas de más, la sensación de aventura al leerlos es única.
November 5, 2013
This book is less interesting than the title would suggest.
February 11, 2019
Reviewed in my review for Planet of Adventure. The Wankh are referred to as "the Wannek" in later editions.
October 8, 2023
Just as fun as the first book. I really like this series. Classic Vance prose. The main character and his friends continue their journey to find a spaceship. Many new characters and adventures unfold. Excellent.
December 30, 2016
Adam explores more of Tschai as he attempts to carry out a rather eye-rolling plan to gain a starship and flee back to Earth. he takes in many sights along the way via various water vehicles, and falls afoul of two cultures: the insanely stylized Yao and the sinister Wankhmen, who may have a very different relationship to their alien masters than outsiders realize. are these Wankhmen actually topping from the bottom?
summary: A travelogue featuring haunting journeys along haunting waterways as various communities are noted and often avoided.
this is my favorite of the four. I think that Vance is at his best when he describes relaxed water journeys full of contemplation on the topics of the strangeness of life and the fascinating oddness and diversity of human cultures.
review for the Planet of Adventure series is here
summary: A travelogue featuring haunting journeys along haunting waterways as various communities are noted and often avoided.
this is my favorite of the four. I think that Vance is at his best when he describes relaxed water journeys full of contemplation on the topics of the strangeness of life and the fascinating oddness and diversity of human cultures.
review for the Planet of Adventure series is here
May 6, 2017
This is the second novel in the Planet of Adventure tetralogy. Jack Vance could build very original and complex alien worlds and cultures. The first book in the series concentrated on the Chasch and our protagonist, Adam Reith of Earth, and his journey to aquire a space ship to return him home. This second book involves Reith's side journey to return the beautiful Princess, Ylin Ylan, "The Flower of Cath" back to her father after he rescued her from a strange religious cult in the first book. Along the way he runs afoul of the human servants of the Wankh. The Wankh are a very interesting alien race that communicates through musical sounds and chords that create an image. This limits the communication they can have with other races so they are dependent on their servants who have their own agenda.
July 19, 2009
While I described Tschai, Vol 1, City of the Chasch, as pure escapist fun, I found Servants of the Wankh less light-hearted, more somber and even profound.
Marooned Space scout Adam Reith continues his quest to acquire a spaceship to take him back to Earth, encountering more strange alien races and bizare alien human cultures. The intrigue is deeper and more perplexing, as we confront a Byzantine society whose elaborate mores and customs are only partly amusing, partly distressing in the aberrations and suffering they impose on people.
The climax though is once again thrilling, as Reith, seemingly cornered at last, pulls another trick out of his hat and once again turns the tables on his adversaries.
Excellent science fiction adventure.
Marooned Space scout Adam Reith continues his quest to acquire a spaceship to take him back to Earth, encountering more strange alien races and bizare alien human cultures. The intrigue is deeper and more perplexing, as we confront a Byzantine society whose elaborate mores and customs are only partly amusing, partly distressing in the aberrations and suffering they impose on people.
The climax though is once again thrilling, as Reith, seemingly cornered at last, pulls another trick out of his hat and once again turns the tables on his adversaries.
Excellent science fiction adventure.
Want to read
January 17, 2012Saw this in a 'Worst cover ever' competition - probably could have won 'Worst title ever' too. But Vance is a great writer & it has good reviews, so I'm gonna try it!
Don't interupt me I'm reading about the Wankh.
Don't interupt me I'm reading about the Wankh.
May 1, 2012
It changes gears from City of the Chasch, for whatever that's worth. The action is primarily in the city of Cath, among the Yao people. While this is interesting and entertaining in the Vancian style, it's a shift from the previous book and feels more appropriate to the Alastor or Gaian Reach series rather than here. Cath is an ornate and idiosyncratic civilization made up of the usual weirdos but seems mismatched to the more ramshackle tramp steamers, convoys, trading outposts, and wild lands of the previous book and the later parts of this one.
The involvement of the Wankh, the second of the four alien races of Tschai, is less straightforward than in the previous story, so those expecting a repeat might be disappointed.
I had an unaccountable resistance to starting it, and had a hard time getting going for the first thirty or so pages. This seems to happen occasionally when reading Vance: it's like there's some huge inertia to overcome, as though he needs to spin up some giant flywheel. After the initial problems--was it the Flower of Cath's personality change, or the roguish element brought by the cavalier Dordalio?--it flowed more smoothly.
The involvement of the Wankh, the second of the four alien races of Tschai, is less straightforward than in the previous story, so those expecting a repeat might be disappointed.
I had an unaccountable resistance to starting it, and had a hard time getting going for the first thirty or so pages. This seems to happen occasionally when reading Vance: it's like there's some huge inertia to overcome, as though he needs to spin up some giant flywheel. After the initial problems--was it the Flower of Cath's personality change, or the roguish element brought by the cavalier Dordalio?--it flowed more smoothly.
March 20, 2014
-Baja la velocidad y se profundiza.-
Género. Ciencia-Ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. Reith ya ha comprendido que las diferentes razas y culturas del planeta Tschai se deben a la convivencia de antiguos pobladores, invasores de otros planetas y humanos capturados por los Dirdir en diferentes visitas a la tierra. Decide acompañar a su amiga y pareja Derl en el viaje de vuelta a su hogar, en Cath y después de atravesar estepas, páramos y costas, tanto por el cariño que le profesa como porque sabe que desde allí salieron las emisiones de radio que atrajeron a su nave a Tschai para luego ser derribada por un torpedo, por lo que espera encontrar respuestas allí acompañado de su amigo Anacho, el Hombre-Dirdir. Segundo libro de la tetralogía conocida como Ciclo de Tschai o también como El Planeta de la Aventura.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Ciencia-Ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. Reith ya ha comprendido que las diferentes razas y culturas del planeta Tschai se deben a la convivencia de antiguos pobladores, invasores de otros planetas y humanos capturados por los Dirdir en diferentes visitas a la tierra. Decide acompañar a su amiga y pareja Derl en el viaje de vuelta a su hogar, en Cath y después de atravesar estepas, páramos y costas, tanto por el cariño que le profesa como porque sabe que desde allí salieron las emisiones de radio que atrajeron a su nave a Tschai para luego ser derribada por un torpedo, por lo que espera encontrar respuestas allí acompañado de su amigo Anacho, el Hombre-Dirdir. Segundo libro de la tetralogía conocida como Ciclo de Tschai o también como El Planeta de la Aventura.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
August 17, 2014
-Pistas de las evoluciones futuras del autor.-
Género. Ciencia-Ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. Adam Reith, Anacho y Traz se han escondido en la ciudad de Smargash, en Kachan, territorio de los Lokhar en el que en estos momentos se celebra el Balul Zac Ag. Reith comienza a notar que está siendo vigilado y cuando descubre que es objetivo de la caza de los Dirdir, tendrá que huir de la localidad junto a sus amigos hacia el este de las Tierras Altas. Tercer libro de la saga El Planeta de la Aventura, también conocida como Ciclo Tschai.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Ciencia-Ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. Adam Reith, Anacho y Traz se han escondido en la ciudad de Smargash, en Kachan, territorio de los Lokhar en el que en estos momentos se celebra el Balul Zac Ag. Reith comienza a notar que está siendo vigilado y cuando descubre que es objetivo de la caza de los Dirdir, tendrá que huir de la localidad junto a sus amigos hacia el este de las Tierras Altas. Tercer libro de la saga El Planeta de la Aventura, también conocida como Ciclo Tschai.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
June 21, 2017
It feels like Vance hit his stride with this second installment in the Planet of Adventure series. The prose and story line flow a bit smoother, and his beautiful, if terse, poetic descriptions of the Tschai landscape, the alien planet where the protagonist is marooned.
November 2, 2025
Suficientemente entretenido como para saber como acaban las correrías del protagonista principal. Vamos con el siguiente.
January 3, 2011
Servants of the Wankh was more serious book and not as much fun adventure as City of the Chasch, but i found it to be better and more entertaining. What I found most intriguing about it were the Wankh and their language, as described by Vance. Also Yao,Cath culture was fascinating. As usual Vance describe so many different kind of human,alien cultures that is so different,truly alien. Not just copy of modern human cultures in the future.
September 12, 2018
This could be worth 4 stars, but it's not my favorite type of story.
November 26, 2025
Servants of the Wankh
★★½☆
A slight step up from City of the Chasch, with a tighter plot and some genuinely interesting cultural touches. The etiquette games and the strange honor codes of Tschai’s peoples are the best part, and there are moments of very dark humor, especially when shame and status turn into sudden mass killing. Those scenes feel disturbingly close to modern forms of public violence, where humiliation explodes into spectacle.
The rest of the book is serviceable planetary adventure. Fun in places, talky in others, and never quite as gripping as the premise suggests. A decent middle entry with a few ideas that linger longer than the story itself. Two and a half stars.
★★½☆
A slight step up from City of the Chasch, with a tighter plot and some genuinely interesting cultural touches. The etiquette games and the strange honor codes of Tschai’s peoples are the best part, and there are moments of very dark humor, especially when shame and status turn into sudden mass killing. Those scenes feel disturbingly close to modern forms of public violence, where humiliation explodes into spectacle.
The rest of the book is serviceable planetary adventure. Fun in places, talky in others, and never quite as gripping as the premise suggests. A decent middle entry with a few ideas that linger longer than the story itself. Two and a half stars.
April 6, 2018
Jack Vance. Un capo entre capos, aunque no el primer nombre que uno escucha cuando pregunta por autores de Ciencia Ficción o Fantasía. Yo lo conocí primero por cuentos sueltos en antologías y luego conseguí "Lo mejor de Jack Vance" editado por Bruguera, luego "Estación Abercrombie" (el que regalé y jamás recuperé, como un idiota) y listo, fue amor para siempre. Tenía este guardado hace años, porque es la segunda parte de una saga más extensa (El Ciclo de Tschai) y quería leerlo en orden. Pero me vine a enterar que "La saga de Cugel" (hasta ahora y de lo que he leído de él, su obra maestra) es la tercera parte de una saga y yo leí sólo ese y lo pasé increíble, de modo que podía arriesgar a leer "Los Wankh" -como así se tradujo en la edición de Ultramar que tengo- sin inconvenientes. Y resultó que sí, ningún problema más allá de que se referencia -por arriba- lo que pasa en la primera entrega ("City of the Chasch" o "Los Chasch"). El punto de partida es muy caro a la ciencia ficción y fantasia -resuenan ecos del Planeta de los Simios o incluso de John Carter- con un astronauta (Adam Reith) que queda varado en un planeta desconocido luego de que su nave espacial sea destruida. Único sobreviviente de la expedición, descubre aquí una innumerable lista de especies alienígenas, pero que en algún momento "importaron" humanos desde la Tierra, por lo que existen también razas mestizas y humanoides como para tirar para arriba. Recorriendo ciudad tras ciudad buscando alguna manera de volver a casa, Reith y sus compañeros -Traz, Anacho e Ylin-Ylan, cada uno de ellos perteneciente a una especie distinta- van viviendo diversas aventuras -el mundo es bastante sword and sorcery- y encontrando las más variadas civilizaciones (de verdad, la imaginación de Vance es inagotable) todo sazonado, además, por el mejor sentido del humor ya que el autor es de esos capaces de arrancarte las más ruidosas carcajadas. No hay duda de que voy a volver a buscar a Adam Reith y sus compañeros en los siguientes (y el anterior) libros de la saga.
December 4, 2013
This is more like it. In this second book, I'm getting what I expect out of a Vance novel. Odd background details, characters that speak in stilted, baroque language, and lots of subterfuge. The characters frequently attempt to outmaneuver each other and cheat on financial transactions. Alliance are formed and broken, with plenty of betrayal to go around. And all with a world setting that is casually strange. And the title is unintentionally funny.
May 15, 2019
This series belongs to my absolute all time favorites. I think I've read these books ten times or more and they are still interesting, great to read and fun.
For people who would like to try and start reading science fiction: please choose something by Jack Vance.
For people who would like to try and start reading science fiction: please choose something by Jack Vance.
January 1, 2009
This is a different kind of Sword and Planet story. Other than the unfortunate title, this one is pretty good.
Want to read
June 19, 2013Seen at one of the Plainpalais book stalls a few days ago. No idea what it's about (we were in a hurry), but you have to admit it's an eye-catching title...
January 28, 2026
Same as the last, 4.8 territory.
Servants of the Wankh picks up immediately after City of the Chasch, following Adam Reith, Anacho the Dirdirman, Traz, and Ylin-Ylan as they make their way back to Ylin-Ylan’s home city of Cath.
Like the first book, it feels familiar in that classic, Barsoom-esque planetary romance way—yet it still manages to surprise me. Things happen here that I didn’t expect (though I have suspicions)
Once again, Vance’s world-and alien-building is a major highlight. We get a little more information about the various races and “sub-men”, The Cult (I found very interesting), the customs of Cath, etc. as the story unfolds, and I love how restrained it is. It’s almost frustratingly sparse, but in the best way. The details arrive in steady, deliberate doses, just enough to make you want more and more. It’s like adding cinnamon to chili: subtle, unexpected, and somehow perfect.
Despite the title, the Wankh themselves don’t really factor into the story until fairly late, and even then only in limited ways (seemingly less so than the Wankhmen). Still, they clearly have an important role in the ecosystem and geopolitical landscape of Tschai, and it all adds to the sense of a fully realized world. I'm curious if they will play a bigger part in the next book, The Dirdir because of their relationship to them...who knows, but I can't wait!
Servants of the Wankh picks up immediately after City of the Chasch, following Adam Reith, Anacho the Dirdirman, Traz, and Ylin-Ylan as they make their way back to Ylin-Ylan’s home city of Cath.
Like the first book, it feels familiar in that classic, Barsoom-esque planetary romance way—yet it still manages to surprise me. Things happen here that I didn’t expect (though I have suspicions)
Once again, Vance’s world-and alien-building is a major highlight. We get a little more information about the various races and “sub-men”, The Cult (I found very interesting), the customs of Cath, etc. as the story unfolds, and I love how restrained it is. It’s almost frustratingly sparse, but in the best way. The details arrive in steady, deliberate doses, just enough to make you want more and more. It’s like adding cinnamon to chili: subtle, unexpected, and somehow perfect.
Despite the title, the Wankh themselves don’t really factor into the story until fairly late, and even then only in limited ways (seemingly less so than the Wankhmen). Still, they clearly have an important role in the ecosystem and geopolitical landscape of Tschai, and it all adds to the sense of a fully realized world. I'm curious if they will play a bigger part in the next book, The Dirdir because of their relationship to them...who knows, but I can't wait!
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