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Chateau D'If
Book by Vance, Jack
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
42 people want to read
About the author
Jack Vance
777 books1,593 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 - 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.
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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