Enjoy the ride as Jack Vance takes you on an informal trip through his life. Starting with his memories of childhood in a privileged San Francisco family, Vance leads us through lean times, picking fruit during the Depression, pranks at Cal, experiences at sea during the War, his early writing, and life in California in general, before marrying Norma; then a hard-working adulthood distinguished by writing, travel, colorfully noisy parties, and through it all- a deep love of traditional jaz...

Een schriel mannetje op leeftijd met witte haren, een zorgvuldig gecultiveerde sik en fattige maniertjes: niet het voorkomen dat je zou verwachten van een interstellaire speurneus, befaamd wiskundige, beruchte schelm en levensgenieter. Maar wee de tegenstander die het geslepen intellect van Magnus Ridolph onderschat... In deze tien verhalen aanvaardt Magnus Ridolph, immer krap bij kas, een aantal verbijsterende opdrachten: van het stopzetten van de rituele oorlogvoering tussen de 81 krijge...

The Dying Earth Omnibus includes some of Vance's most influential work, including "Mazirian the Magician" (originally published as "The Dying Earth", a collection of six short stories "Turjan of Miir", "Mazirian the Magician", "T'sais", "Liane the Wayfarer", "Ulan Dhor Ends a Dream", and "Guyal of Sfere"), "Cugel the Clever" ("Eyes of the Overworld"), "Rhialto the Marvellous" (containing three short stories "The Murthe", "Fader's Waft", and "Morreion"), and "Cugel: the Skybreak Spatterligh...

Zeshonderd jaar geleden werd Grote Planeet ontdekt: een enorme bewoonbare wereld met een omtrek van drie keer die van de Aarde, maar met vergelijkbare massa en zwaartekracht dankzij het ontbreken van metalen en zware elementen in haar samenstelling. Er volgde een exodus: alle minderheden, cultussen en fanatici die zich door de Aardse samenleving gehinderd, beperkt of buitengesloten voelden, emigreerden naar Grote Planeet. Op de weidse landmassa's stichtten ze er hun eigen gemeenschappen di...

The Men Return by Jack Vance is a captivating science fiction novel that continues Vance’s tradition of imaginative storytelling and intricate world-building. Set in a richly detailed future, the story explores themes of civilization, power, and human nature through a blend of speculative intrigue and vivid characterization.The novel follows a group of characters as they navigate a complex and evolving society, facing challenges that test their resolve and morality...

Wilbur Murphy sought romance, excitement, and an impossible Horseman of Space. With polite smiles, the planet frustrated him at every turn—until he found them all the hard way!

For centuries the breathtakingly beautiful planet Cadwal has been held in trust by a centuries-old Charter of Conservancy, created by the now-defunct Naturalist Society on Old Earth.Over time, restrictions on population expansion written into the Charter have become irksome to some who live on Cadwal—those who would take the unexploited wealth of Cadwal for themselves, also those forced to leave the planet to keep population in check.Glawen Clattuc grows to manhood within t...

The four Planet of Adventure volumes chronicle Adam Reith's saga on the planet Tschai, under the amber glow of the star Carina 4269. Reith is a Terran first-in scout stranded on a planet which he learns is now occupied, after an ancient struggle which has come to a standstill, by three technically advanced cultures who now guardedly share the surface while the original inhabitants- the mysterious Pnume- dwell in subterranean depths. On Tschai, Reith discovers to his surprise (and disgust) ...

The Elder Isles - an ancient land where chivalry and the realm of fairie exist side by side. A land of mystery, strange beauty, high adventure and arcane magic. Kings are at war, opposing magicians devise ever more cunning stratagems. It is a land where princesses and changelings both can become embroiled in political rivalries and the quest for the grail.The Gollancz Black Books have proved to be an immensely successful formula for getting well loved stories into the hands of peop...

Jack Vance is a Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Grand Master, and winner of numerous sci-fi and fantasy awards spanning a 60-year career. His unparalleled knack for coining words is recognized among the traits which delight his readership.In 1992, Daniel Temianka compiled Vance's neologisms to date and published these in the Underwood-Miller first edition of 'The Jack Vance Lexicon, from Ahulph to Zipangote'. The 'Lexicon' had limited distribution and has become some...

In a far-off future, criminals have the freedom to pursue their most violent passions among the civilized worlds of the Oikumene, assured that justice cannot follow when they escape into the lawless Beyond—a vast playground where the most elusive and monomaniacal murderers, thieves, and slavers can conquer a world of their own, play out complex fantasies of bloodlust, pursue revenge and immortality over generations, give themselves to a psychotic world of self-absorption, and devalue their...

Prepare to embark on an unforgettable odyssey with Jack Vance's "The Men Return." This epic tale of exploration, discovery, and the human spirit takes readers on a thrilling journey to distant worlds, where danger and adventure await at every turn.Join Vance as he introduces readers to a diverse cast of characters, each with their own motivations and desires, as they set out on a daring mission to explore uncharted territory. From intrepid explorers and seasoned ...