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Majipoor
Tales of Majipoor
Hailed as “one of the most fully realized worlds of modern science fiction,”(Booklist) Majipoor is a planet unlike any other, with countless untold stories. Now, available for the first time in one volume, science fiction grand master Robert Silverberg presents seven tales that chronicle thousands of years of Majipoor’s history, from the arrival of the settlers of Old Earth, to the expansion of vast cities, to the extraordinary life of Lord Valentine. Within these stories lie the secrets of Majipoor, a wondrous world of incredible imagination...
302 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2013
34 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
About the author
Robert Silverberg
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Robert Silverberg is a highly celebrated American science fiction author and editor known for his prolific output and literary range. Over a career spanning decades, he has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2004. Inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1999, Silverberg is recognized for both his immense productivity and his contributions to the genre's evolution.
Born in Brooklyn, he began writing in his teens and won his first Hugo Award in 1956 as the best new writer. Throughout the 1950s, he produced vast amounts of fiction, often under pseudonyms, and was known for writing up to a million words a year. When the market declined, he diversified into other genres, including historical nonfiction and erotica.
Silverberg’s return to science fiction in the 1960s marked a shift toward deeper psychological and literary themes, contributing significantly to the New Wave movement. Acclaimed works from this period include Downward to the Earth, Dying Inside, Nightwings, and The World Inside. In the 1980s, he launched the Majipoor series with Lord Valentine’s Castle, creating one of the most imaginative planetary settings in science fiction.
Though he announced his retirement from writing in the mid-1970s, Silverberg returned with renewed vigor and continued to publish acclaimed fiction into the 1990s. He received further recognition with the Nebula-winning Sailing to Byzantium and the Hugo-winning Gilgamesh in the Outback.
Silverberg has also played a significant role as an editor and anthologist, shaping science fiction literature through both his own work and his influence on others. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, author Karen Haber.
Robert Silverberg is a highly celebrated American science fiction author and editor known for his prolific output and literary range. Over a career spanning decades, he has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2004. Inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1999, Silverberg is recognized for both his immense productivity and his contributions to the genre's evolution.
Born in Brooklyn, he began writing in his teens and won his first Hugo Award in 1956 as the best new writer. Throughout the 1950s, he produced vast amounts of fiction, often under pseudonyms, and was known for writing up to a million words a year. When the market declined, he diversified into other genres, including historical nonfiction and erotica.
Silverberg’s return to science fiction in the 1960s marked a shift toward deeper psychological and literary themes, contributing significantly to the New Wave movement. Acclaimed works from this period include Downward to the Earth, Dying Inside, Nightwings, and The World Inside. In the 1980s, he launched the Majipoor series with Lord Valentine’s Castle, creating one of the most imaginative planetary settings in science fiction.
Though he announced his retirement from writing in the mid-1970s, Silverberg returned with renewed vigor and continued to publish acclaimed fiction into the 1990s. He received further recognition with the Nebula-winning Sailing to Byzantium and the Hugo-winning Gilgamesh in the Outback.
Silverberg has also played a significant role as an editor and anthologist, shaping science fiction literature through both his own work and his influence on others. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, author Karen Haber.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
July 23, 2023
Majipoor was Silverberg’s greatest series. He wrote some other series but this world building was his great achievement in science fiction / fantasy series writing. He wrote several full length books and many shorter works in this universe. These stories were collected and put together in 2013.
"The End of the Line” - This novelette involves the shapeshifting natives of the massive planet. Other SF writers have included shapeshifting aliens in their writing, Bradbury’s Martians and Frank Herbert’s Tlelaxu Face Dancers come to mind. The shapeshifters I think are most similar to these though are from Gene Wolfe’s The Fifth Head of Cerberus. These aliens are mysterious and dangerous. Also noteworthy is what must be an homage to Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. Silverberg fans will note that he paid tribute to Conrad in his 1970 novel Downward to the Earth. This reference to Conrad come in the form of a very Kurtzesque statement regarding the Metamorphs. A good story about Majipoor if somewhat unsettling.
"The Book of Changes" - A good storyteller could describe a trip to the post office and make it entertaining and maybe even thought provoking. There is more going on here than mailing a letter - we have some political intrigue, a kidnapping, ransom demands - but center stage is a minor aristocrat who has been idle, shiftless and as my grandmother might say “trifling”. When his perpetual day off is interrupted, Silverberg sets into motion a poetic discovery of monumental, though understated designs. Quietly my favorite of this collection. Here as in most of these stories, Majipoor itself, a fantastic landscape reminiscent of the best writing of Jack Vance, is the real subject.
"The Tomb of the Pontifex Dvorn” - As in most of these stories, the real focus is on Majipoor itself, and the real hero is Silverberg, putting all this together for us. In this novella, we find a couple of young historians traveling to the city of Dvorn where the current system of Majipoorian government, existent for thousands of years, began. This also makes a discerning reader consider a comparison to Herbert’s Dune world building as there is literally thousands of years of history upon which fiction can be written. The author explores themes of history and legend and, like Faulkner’s Absalom! Absalom! we also get into the organic and manipulated dissemination of historic records.
"The Sorcerer's Apprentice" - If you’re reading Robert Silverberg there will likely be romance / sex. Here the author mixes things up some and makes it fun and this also demonstrates that Majipoor has many fantasy themes dealing with magic that can be entertaining. Here we can make another comparison to Jack Vance’s writing.
"Dark Times at the Midnight Market” - Excellent world building. Here we see Silverberg flexing his great narrative powers and providing a lesson in fantasy writing. Majipoor hosts a variety of alien races and many also perform magic. This actually somewhat reminded me of China Mieville’s Bas-Lag writing.
"The Way They Wove the Spells in Sippulgar" - Silverberg the great storyteller. Here he displays his great narrative and world building skills and while I again thought of Mieville’s writing, the darker themes here led me to consider a comparison to Gene Wolfe’s work.
"The Seventh Shrine” - A return to the story of Valentine. Majipoor can also be seen as a political allegory. The visible executive lives in a huge sky high mansion and mingles with the citizenry, whereas the senior ruler lives in an underground labyrinth behind the scenes. We also get some background with the shape shifting natives of Majipoor.
A good book for Silverberg fans and especially if you’re also a fan of the Majipoor books. This would not be my first pick for a new Silverberg reader, but it could be to display his exceptional writing ability.
"The End of the Line” - This novelette involves the shapeshifting natives of the massive planet. Other SF writers have included shapeshifting aliens in their writing, Bradbury’s Martians and Frank Herbert’s Tlelaxu Face Dancers come to mind. The shapeshifters I think are most similar to these though are from Gene Wolfe’s The Fifth Head of Cerberus. These aliens are mysterious and dangerous. Also noteworthy is what must be an homage to Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. Silverberg fans will note that he paid tribute to Conrad in his 1970 novel Downward to the Earth. This reference to Conrad come in the form of a very Kurtzesque statement regarding the Metamorphs. A good story about Majipoor if somewhat unsettling.
"The Book of Changes" - A good storyteller could describe a trip to the post office and make it entertaining and maybe even thought provoking. There is more going on here than mailing a letter - we have some political intrigue, a kidnapping, ransom demands - but center stage is a minor aristocrat who has been idle, shiftless and as my grandmother might say “trifling”. When his perpetual day off is interrupted, Silverberg sets into motion a poetic discovery of monumental, though understated designs. Quietly my favorite of this collection. Here as in most of these stories, Majipoor itself, a fantastic landscape reminiscent of the best writing of Jack Vance, is the real subject.
"The Tomb of the Pontifex Dvorn” - As in most of these stories, the real focus is on Majipoor itself, and the real hero is Silverberg, putting all this together for us. In this novella, we find a couple of young historians traveling to the city of Dvorn where the current system of Majipoorian government, existent for thousands of years, began. This also makes a discerning reader consider a comparison to Herbert’s Dune world building as there is literally thousands of years of history upon which fiction can be written. The author explores themes of history and legend and, like Faulkner’s Absalom! Absalom! we also get into the organic and manipulated dissemination of historic records.
"The Sorcerer's Apprentice" - If you’re reading Robert Silverberg there will likely be romance / sex. Here the author mixes things up some and makes it fun and this also demonstrates that Majipoor has many fantasy themes dealing with magic that can be entertaining. Here we can make another comparison to Jack Vance’s writing.
"Dark Times at the Midnight Market” - Excellent world building. Here we see Silverberg flexing his great narrative powers and providing a lesson in fantasy writing. Majipoor hosts a variety of alien races and many also perform magic. This actually somewhat reminded me of China Mieville’s Bas-Lag writing.
"The Way They Wove the Spells in Sippulgar" - Silverberg the great storyteller. Here he displays his great narrative and world building skills and while I again thought of Mieville’s writing, the darker themes here led me to consider a comparison to Gene Wolfe’s work.
"The Seventh Shrine” - A return to the story of Valentine. Majipoor can also be seen as a political allegory. The visible executive lives in a huge sky high mansion and mingles with the citizenry, whereas the senior ruler lives in an underground labyrinth behind the scenes. We also get some background with the shape shifting natives of Majipoor.
A good book for Silverberg fans and especially if you’re also a fan of the Majipoor books. This would not be my first pick for a new Silverberg reader, but it could be to display his exceptional writing ability.
February 17, 2015
I'd be interested to read reviews of this by people who haven't read ANY of the Majipoor books. I suspect it might be occasionally baffling, but still good.
Well, I *have* read most of them, some a very long time ago. And this was a delightful treat.
Please don't come in expecting a major contribution to the Majipoor series, seventeen years after the first one. But a highly enjoyable re-visit, yes, you can expect that. Guys who have five Hugos and five Nebulas can usually be relied on to tell you a good story.
They're stories separated in time, and in setting/style. A couple of them plausibly fill some not-critically-important gaps in Majipoor history.
Majipoor is a wonderful place, although I suspect hard SF fans could tear it apart if they wanted to. But who'd want to? Ten times the size of Earth. A ludicrously tall mountain, requiring force fields and atmosphere generators so people can live on it. But I don't recall any discussion of the actual logistics of living there. Such as "nip down to the Labyrinth and give this to the Pontifex, there's a good chap" being an order that might well take a month to carry out.
I stalled briefly on the idea that Valentine - in the last story - is way out in the boonies, having ridden in on "mounts" to stay in tents protected by swords and sticks ..... taking photographs of the crime scene. Hmm. Film? Digital? Imp in a box? Silverberg did well back in the late 90s to avoid getting sucked into that. Narrativium is used liberally to fill cracks and keep the story moving.
In fact, as I write this, I can't tell you why this is a good collection. Just that it is. Perhaps it's that it's told in carefully-crafted sentences, but there's never, ever the slightest hint of "hey, ain't I a great writer?" Just the story. Just the story. Mmmmm.
Well, I *have* read most of them, some a very long time ago. And this was a delightful treat.
Please don't come in expecting a major contribution to the Majipoor series, seventeen years after the first one. But a highly enjoyable re-visit, yes, you can expect that. Guys who have five Hugos and five Nebulas can usually be relied on to tell you a good story.
They're stories separated in time, and in setting/style. A couple of them plausibly fill some not-critically-important gaps in Majipoor history.
Majipoor is a wonderful place, although I suspect hard SF fans could tear it apart if they wanted to. But who'd want to? Ten times the size of Earth. A ludicrously tall mountain, requiring force fields and atmosphere generators so people can live on it. But I don't recall any discussion of the actual logistics of living there. Such as "nip down to the Labyrinth and give this to the Pontifex, there's a good chap" being an order that might well take a month to carry out.
I stalled briefly on the idea that Valentine - in the last story - is way out in the boonies, having ridden in on "mounts" to stay in tents protected by swords and sticks ..... taking photographs of the crime scene. Hmm. Film? Digital? Imp in a box? Silverberg did well back in the late 90s to avoid getting sucked into that. Narrativium is used liberally to fill cracks and keep the story moving.
In fact, as I write this, I can't tell you why this is a good collection. Just that it is. Perhaps it's that it's told in carefully-crafted sentences, but there's never, ever the slightest hint of "hey, ain't I a great writer?" Just the story. Just the story. Mmmmm.
March 31, 2018
A great addition to the Majipoor trilogy: Lord Valentine's Castle, Majipoor Chronicles, and Valentine Pontifex. This is a book of seven stories, including a Valentine story, all of which more fully illuminates Majipoor's history, from the arrival of humans on Majipoor, to the present, 12,000 years later. I think Majipoor is the most fully developed world in all of SF and Fantasy.
May 3, 2013
Disclaimer: I haven’t read Silverberg’s other Majipoor books (this happens when you review books—publishers can send you books from series you haven't read). On the one hand, it’s useful to have a fresh perspective so that new or prospective readers have some idea of where they can and can’t jump into a series. On the other hand, there were setting details that I had issues with, and I freely admit that they might be addressed within the novels. This does mean, however, that this book doesn’t stand entirely on its own.
The prologue briefly establishes the basic premise of Majipoor—how it was settled by humans even though there were natives already present, how the population exploded over time, and how other alien races also eventually came to settle there. It’s a quick introduction, and I thought it would be enough for me to grasp the setting, but after I read a handful of stories I was only more confused.
Where’s the technology? Only sporadic mention or use of any kind of technology is in evidence, and that mostly in the final story. This planet was colonized by settlers from another planet. Various alien races also settled on the planet at various times during its history. A society that should have started with a technological edge and had injections of alien technology at regular intervals somehow took 8,000 years to show much technological advancement at all. (Look at how far humans have come on Earth in that time, and that’s without the advantages the inhabitants of Majipoor should have had.) Most of the stories had a fairly standard fantasy feel with a bizarre little bit of sci-fi tacked on in certain places. Magic seems to come out of nowhere, and it’s never reconciled with the sci-fi aspect of the setting.
Please, someone, tell me that these things are explained in the books! Either way, if you have a tendency to be bothered by world-building holes, I would recommend reading this book after reading the novels, in the hope that they explain these issues.
Overall I found the stories and the sense of time passing to be rather fascinating. I loved seeing the contrast of the depiction of current characters followed by near-mythical views of them in historical contexts. The writing style, however, made me feel detached from most of the characters (perhaps the short form makes it harder for Silverberg to get into his characters? I’d have to read the novels to know for sure), which left me with little emotional investment in the book. Add that to the setting confusions, and overall this wasn’t my favorite book. I’d love to hear from someone who has read the novels and has a sense of whether this is an artifact of reading this as a standalone book, or a pattern from the novels as well.
[NOTE: review book provided by publisher]
For a longer review including a breakdown by story, you can visit my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/reviews/2...
The prologue briefly establishes the basic premise of Majipoor—how it was settled by humans even though there were natives already present, how the population exploded over time, and how other alien races also eventually came to settle there. It’s a quick introduction, and I thought it would be enough for me to grasp the setting, but after I read a handful of stories I was only more confused.
Where’s the technology? Only sporadic mention or use of any kind of technology is in evidence, and that mostly in the final story. This planet was colonized by settlers from another planet. Various alien races also settled on the planet at various times during its history. A society that should have started with a technological edge and had injections of alien technology at regular intervals somehow took 8,000 years to show much technological advancement at all. (Look at how far humans have come on Earth in that time, and that’s without the advantages the inhabitants of Majipoor should have had.) Most of the stories had a fairly standard fantasy feel with a bizarre little bit of sci-fi tacked on in certain places. Magic seems to come out of nowhere, and it’s never reconciled with the sci-fi aspect of the setting.
Please, someone, tell me that these things are explained in the books! Either way, if you have a tendency to be bothered by world-building holes, I would recommend reading this book after reading the novels, in the hope that they explain these issues.
Overall I found the stories and the sense of time passing to be rather fascinating. I loved seeing the contrast of the depiction of current characters followed by near-mythical views of them in historical contexts. The writing style, however, made me feel detached from most of the characters (perhaps the short form makes it harder for Silverberg to get into his characters? I’d have to read the novels to know for sure), which left me with little emotional investment in the book. Add that to the setting confusions, and overall this wasn’t my favorite book. I’d love to hear from someone who has read the novels and has a sense of whether this is an artifact of reading this as a standalone book, or a pattern from the novels as well.
[NOTE: review book provided by publisher]
For a longer review including a breakdown by story, you can visit my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/reviews/2...
May 4, 2013
Silverberg's Majipoor tales make for a gentle read. There's little in the way of genuine peril - one story revolves around the writing of a poem, and two separate stories have archeological disputes at their centre, and yet Majipoor itself is always an interesting place to visit and Silverberg's writing style is straightforwardly entertaining, and his imagination intriguing. Not a collection to set the world alight, but for previous visitors to Majipoor, a welcome return.
June 15, 2019
Very good.
I am ashamed to say that I had somehow missed the fact that the tales are addenda to an older series. But the collection works very well on it's own.
Perhaps too well - I feel I know so much about Majipoor now that it might be not too urgent to explore more as many other yet unknown worlds await.
I am ashamed to say that I had somehow missed the fact that the tales are addenda to an older series. But the collection works very well on it's own.
Perhaps too well - I feel I know so much about Majipoor now that it might be not too urgent to explore more as many other yet unknown worlds await.
June 22, 2020
Majipoor is a huge planet where humans, aliens and natives live together, not always happily, and is the creation of Robert Silverberg and the setting for several of his novels,. The original inhabitants are the Piurivars, shape-shifters who seemed content to share the world when humans arrived. Over time, other aliens have come, the tentacled Vroons, reptilian Ghayrogs and the large four-armed Skandars. For centuries, Majipoor has had joint rule by a Pontifex, remote in his subterranean labyrinth and a Coronal who takes a more active part in government. When the Pontifex dies, the Coronal ascends to that rank and chooses his successor. Majipoor has a long, complex history and is a great fine for tales of fantasy. Here are some.
The End Of The Line’ is not only a great song by the Travelling Wilburys but a fine story by Robert Silverberg. Stiamot, a trusted official in the court of Coronal Lord Strelkimar, has been sent to Domgrave, the biggest town on the continent of Alhanroel, which the Coronal has decided to include on his grand processional tour of the land. Stiamot’s job is to prepare the way. As in mediaeval times on Earth, the locals have to play host to the visiting lord. Stiamot has lately been concerned with reshaping policy towards the shape-shifting Piurivars and the aboriginal species of Majipoor who have been largely supplanted by Earthmen and co-exist uneasily. Complications ensue when he tries to make contact with them. A very good opening story with a neat twist.
‘The Book Of Changes’ is about Aithin Furvain, a minor noble, set for life with a decent stipend and who has a gift for lightweight poetry but in mid-life starts to wonder if he should have done more with his talent. Sure, he can knock off a clever rhyme at the drop of a hat and astound his friends but they are all trivial. This is somewhat autobiographical as young Silverberg could knock off two short stories a day to fill magazines in the 1950s and earn his keep but later wanted to get more meaningful. It’s character driven as the plot is merely a frame for the thinking. As a story, it’s not exciting but as a meditation on art, it’s interesting.
In ‘The Tomb Of The Pontifex Dvorn’, Simmilgord, a nice learned young man who has always been enthralled by that historic ruler of Majipoor gets to study his pet subject up close. Clever for a farmer’s son, he obtains a professorship at a minor university and assumes that will be the extent of his achievement but is suddenly offered a post at the tomb of his hero. The politics of academia feature large here, as the big shot bureaucrat steals all glory. Again, it’s an interesting look at different characters in a certain situation.
‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ is a callow youth madly in love with the sorcerer, a lean woman who gives him the blues by ignoring his attempts at romance or even punishing him for them. Good characters again and quite amusing as unrequited love always is, as long as it’s not you.
Ghambivole Zwoll, many-tentacled person of the Vroonish race, is a sorcerer in Bombifale, a town where trade has slumped lately after what was a golden age. In ‘Dark Times At The Midnight Market’, things improve for him when a fairly important male noble comes in and wants a love potion in order to snare a very important lady. A neat plot and a clever ending make this very like the work of that glib old Silverberg who turned out two stories day in the 1950s. I rather liked him.
‘The Way They Wove the Spells In Sippulgar’ is too long for the content but still a pleasure to read. Silverberg’s prose is always a pleasure and usually a master class in writing as well. Here a businessman investigating the presumed death of his brother-in-law travels a long way to do so, for he loves his wife. A practical soul, he doesn’t believe in demons and so forth but that seems to be what’s afoot. It was okay but the dramatic irony of the subject not knowing what is clear to the reader perhaps goes on too long.
‘The Seventh Shrine’ made me feel like a wedding guest at Cana. Silverberg was saving the best ‘til last. A renowned archaeologist has been murdered while investigating the ruins of Velalisier, the ancient sacred city of the shape-shifter native to Majipoor. Pontifex Valentine, bored as usual with life in the Labyrinth, decides to take his entourage and investigate personally. This is a detective story with many insights into the history of Majipoor and the mysterious Piurivars. At eighty pages, it’s virtually a novelette, which is Silverberg’s favourite length for a fantasy story. Like his idol, Conrad, he does them well.
Tales set in Majipoor might have been a more accurate description of this book. Some of the stories might have been set in any fantasy world and some of them could have been done in ours. Problems with aboriginal peoples, the writer wondering about his worth, the historian and archaeologist being bullied by bureaucrats, to name three, are all themes capable of mainstream treatment. But fantasy is where Silverberg has set his stall and Majipoor already exists with a rich background, so he put the stories there. Why not? They are certainly not diminished thereby and the setting gives him scope for more invention of landscapes, flora, fauna and history to decorate the plot. He’s good at that stuff. He’s good at everything authorial and this is a fine, entertaining collection and a good introduction to Majipoor. It will give the reader a chance to size up that large world before embarking on one of the large novels set there. I haven’t read them myself but I was impressed enough with the characters in the last story to consider getting Lord Valentine’s Castle and maybe the others, too.
Eamonn Murphy
This review first appeared at https://www.sfcrowsnest.info/
The End Of The Line’ is not only a great song by the Travelling Wilburys but a fine story by Robert Silverberg. Stiamot, a trusted official in the court of Coronal Lord Strelkimar, has been sent to Domgrave, the biggest town on the continent of Alhanroel, which the Coronal has decided to include on his grand processional tour of the land. Stiamot’s job is to prepare the way. As in mediaeval times on Earth, the locals have to play host to the visiting lord. Stiamot has lately been concerned with reshaping policy towards the shape-shifting Piurivars and the aboriginal species of Majipoor who have been largely supplanted by Earthmen and co-exist uneasily. Complications ensue when he tries to make contact with them. A very good opening story with a neat twist.
‘The Book Of Changes’ is about Aithin Furvain, a minor noble, set for life with a decent stipend and who has a gift for lightweight poetry but in mid-life starts to wonder if he should have done more with his talent. Sure, he can knock off a clever rhyme at the drop of a hat and astound his friends but they are all trivial. This is somewhat autobiographical as young Silverberg could knock off two short stories a day to fill magazines in the 1950s and earn his keep but later wanted to get more meaningful. It’s character driven as the plot is merely a frame for the thinking. As a story, it’s not exciting but as a meditation on art, it’s interesting.
In ‘The Tomb Of The Pontifex Dvorn’, Simmilgord, a nice learned young man who has always been enthralled by that historic ruler of Majipoor gets to study his pet subject up close. Clever for a farmer’s son, he obtains a professorship at a minor university and assumes that will be the extent of his achievement but is suddenly offered a post at the tomb of his hero. The politics of academia feature large here, as the big shot bureaucrat steals all glory. Again, it’s an interesting look at different characters in a certain situation.
‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ is a callow youth madly in love with the sorcerer, a lean woman who gives him the blues by ignoring his attempts at romance or even punishing him for them. Good characters again and quite amusing as unrequited love always is, as long as it’s not you.
Ghambivole Zwoll, many-tentacled person of the Vroonish race, is a sorcerer in Bombifale, a town where trade has slumped lately after what was a golden age. In ‘Dark Times At The Midnight Market’, things improve for him when a fairly important male noble comes in and wants a love potion in order to snare a very important lady. A neat plot and a clever ending make this very like the work of that glib old Silverberg who turned out two stories day in the 1950s. I rather liked him.
‘The Way They Wove the Spells In Sippulgar’ is too long for the content but still a pleasure to read. Silverberg’s prose is always a pleasure and usually a master class in writing as well. Here a businessman investigating the presumed death of his brother-in-law travels a long way to do so, for he loves his wife. A practical soul, he doesn’t believe in demons and so forth but that seems to be what’s afoot. It was okay but the dramatic irony of the subject not knowing what is clear to the reader perhaps goes on too long.
‘The Seventh Shrine’ made me feel like a wedding guest at Cana. Silverberg was saving the best ‘til last. A renowned archaeologist has been murdered while investigating the ruins of Velalisier, the ancient sacred city of the shape-shifter native to Majipoor. Pontifex Valentine, bored as usual with life in the Labyrinth, decides to take his entourage and investigate personally. This is a detective story with many insights into the history of Majipoor and the mysterious Piurivars. At eighty pages, it’s virtually a novelette, which is Silverberg’s favourite length for a fantasy story. Like his idol, Conrad, he does them well.
Tales set in Majipoor might have been a more accurate description of this book. Some of the stories might have been set in any fantasy world and some of them could have been done in ours. Problems with aboriginal peoples, the writer wondering about his worth, the historian and archaeologist being bullied by bureaucrats, to name three, are all themes capable of mainstream treatment. But fantasy is where Silverberg has set his stall and Majipoor already exists with a rich background, so he put the stories there. Why not? They are certainly not diminished thereby and the setting gives him scope for more invention of landscapes, flora, fauna and history to decorate the plot. He’s good at that stuff. He’s good at everything authorial and this is a fine, entertaining collection and a good introduction to Majipoor. It will give the reader a chance to size up that large world before embarking on one of the large novels set there. I haven’t read them myself but I was impressed enough with the characters in the last story to consider getting Lord Valentine’s Castle and maybe the others, too.
Eamonn Murphy
This review first appeared at https://www.sfcrowsnest.info/
March 31, 2024
This book is a master class in world building and story telling. Silverberg immerses us in the fictional world of Majipoor through a collection of short stories which touch on a multitude of different subjects relating to this world. These stories cover so much ground, including history, geography, religion, mythic folklore, occult practices, anthropology, archeology, politics, sociology, commerce, etc, etc... And within all of this, he somehow manages to weave captivating and imaginative plots that carry us across the planet and across time. This was my first introduction to the Majipoor Cycle, and it has dug its hooks into me. I highly recommend this to any fan of sci-fi fantasy, and I honestly think it's the perfect starting point if you want to get into this massive franchise of Silverberg books.
September 27, 2015
This is a collection of short stories set in Robert Silverberg's world of Majipoor. It is the 8th full-length book in the series. There is no reason to read this before the other seven. In other words, it is a collection for those already familiar and enchanted by Majipoor, but perhaps not the best introduction.
I first read Lord Valentine's Castle in the eighties, and it fascinated me. Sometimes when I'm traveling to wondrous places, I am put in mind of the wonders of Majipoor, which, of course, outshine those of Earth and other planets. It is sad to think this book represents my final visit to Majipoor.
As always, Majipoor itself is the star of the book, so those stories which rely on the setting are more successful than those which don't. The stories span thousands of years, but fittingly end with one featuring Valentine, who opened the first book.
Before George R. R. Martin wowed people with the larger-than-life history of Westeros, there was Silverberg's Majipoor. Majipoor is a much gentler place, however, which is some of its charm. Veteran travelers will cherish one last chance to see the ancient planet.
I first read Lord Valentine's Castle in the eighties, and it fascinated me. Sometimes when I'm traveling to wondrous places, I am put in mind of the wonders of Majipoor, which, of course, outshine those of Earth and other planets. It is sad to think this book represents my final visit to Majipoor.
As always, Majipoor itself is the star of the book, so those stories which rely on the setting are more successful than those which don't. The stories span thousands of years, but fittingly end with one featuring Valentine, who opened the first book.
Before George R. R. Martin wowed people with the larger-than-life history of Westeros, there was Silverberg's Majipoor. Majipoor is a much gentler place, however, which is some of its charm. Veteran travelers will cherish one last chance to see the ancient planet.
March 28, 2025
I'm sad to finish this series. I really fell in love with Majipoor.
May 3, 2024
Psychological Historical SF on a Sublime Planet
Tales of Majipoor (2013) consists of seven novellas and novelettes published originally between 1998 and 2011. It may be the last book of Majipoor Robert Silverberg will write. There are several earlier ones, starting with the picaresque Lord Valentine’s Castle (1980). I really liked that novel and Chronicles of Majipoor (1982) for their big sf imagination, absorbing character psychology, and lack of typical space operatic violent action scenes.
Majipoor is an enormous planet with a population of over 20 billion people living in varied mega-cities amid sublime geographical features and exotic flora and fauna. It gives Silverberg an unlimited source of places, people, and plots for his stories. In them, he ranges through the vast history of Majipoor (humans go back 12,000 years, indigenous Metamorphs well over 20,000) and among different genres and moods and modes.
In "The End of the Line" (2011), a young, ineffectual prince councilor for the Coronal of Majipoor tries to learn about the indigenous Metamorphs so as to find a way for humans to live in peace with them and uncovers a terrible secret about his Lord and a terrible truth about race relations. 4 stars
In "The Book of Changes" (2003), a princely poet of superficial verse travels into the hinterlands on a quest for a new life path only to be captured by a bandit lord who happens to be a passionate but undiscriminating aficionado of poetry. Could Furvain ever write a profound, great work encompassing the vast history of human settlement on Majipoor? And if so, would it derive from his trivial self or from divine inspiration? Whatever you write, you need to tell a tale in a way that illuminates its inner meaning (like Silverberg and Tales of Majipoor?). 4.5 stars
"The Tomb of the Pontifex Dvorn" (2011) depicts a pair of young academic friends (a romantic historian and a phlegmatic archeologist) getting sent to the supposed hometown of the legendary founder of Majipoor’s 12,000-year-old human governmental system, the first Pontifex Dvorn, to curate his supposed tomb. Sublime discovery and crushing disappointment ensue amid questions of integrity, scholarship, tourism, and truth. And a roman a clef appearance by Egypt’s controversial antiquities “expert” promoter Zahi Hawass, “played” here by Hawid Zayayil, the four-armed Skandar Superintendent of Antiquities. 4.5 stars
In "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (2004), a callow failure at various trades becomes the apprentice of a stern and sexy female fifth-level adept. Against expectation, he finds himself thirstily absorbing magical knowledge while trying to divert his enflaming lust for his teacher into house cleaning. Do the numerous sand roaches under foot imply that she’s a Circe? The wizardly rom com feels a little out of place in such a hitherto science fictional world. 3.5 stars
In "Dark Times at the Midnight Market" (2010), a diminutive, tentacled Vroon (who dominates his sensible two-headed Su-Suheris business partner and scorns his hulking four-armed furry-smelly Skandar cleaning woman) tries to save his formerly thriving magical item shop by making a love potion for a scoundrel, wastrel, and idler of a human Marquis. Will the Vroon learn “the great peril in meddling in the romantic affairs of the aristocracy”? 3.5 stars
"The Way They Wove the Spells in Sippulgar" (2009) is told by the collection’s only first-person narrator, a “practical man of business” who, scorning the current boom in religions and paranormal belief, travels to Sippulgar, famed for “its abundance of superstitious creeds and cults,” to investigate the mysterious disappearance of his brother-in-law, who apparently had tried to start a new religion there. Will the “plain worldly man” learn that there are more things in heaven and earth than dreamt of in his mercantile worldview? 4 stars
In "The Seventh Shrine" (1998), Pontifex Valentine (the protagonist of the first Majipoor novel) visits a 20,000-year-old cursed and ruined (“parched and broken”) Metamorph city where a Metamorph archeologist has been ritually murdered. Valentine must solve the mystery in order to have any hope of integrating Metamorphs into mainstream Majipoor society. Can aliens and aliens ever understand one another or live in peace together? 4 stars
The stories may be read individually in any order without having read the other Majipoor works, but would benefit from familiarity with the others. The stories feature different protagonists, some of whom are referred to as historical figures in other stories. He organizes this collection such that the first story reveals the origin of Stiamot, the Coronal who started the war with the Metamoprhs resulting in their banishment to a reservation, while the last story features Valentine Pontifex trying to resolve the Metamorph-Human conflict 8000 years later.
Like his other Majipoor stories, these climax with the protagonist learning something that rocks his world.
Like his other Majipoor stories, these are marked by vivid sf descriptions and moments, like “The air was parched and crisp with a brittle quality to it, as though it could be torn in one’s hands like dry paper and crumbled to dust in one’s fingers,” and “His vision wavered; his tentacles trembled.”
Like his other Majipoor stories, these feature some Jack Vance-like dry wit, like “The logic did not seem entirely impeccable,” and “He finally mistook diminished indifference for actual warmth.”
There is much to like here for fans of SF set on other worlds, but it should be noted that there are very few (almost no) large- or small-scale violent action scenes.
Stefan Rudnicki reads the audiobook with his usual professional manner and resonant voice.
Tales of Majipoor (2013) consists of seven novellas and novelettes published originally between 1998 and 2011. It may be the last book of Majipoor Robert Silverberg will write. There are several earlier ones, starting with the picaresque Lord Valentine’s Castle (1980). I really liked that novel and Chronicles of Majipoor (1982) for their big sf imagination, absorbing character psychology, and lack of typical space operatic violent action scenes.
Majipoor is an enormous planet with a population of over 20 billion people living in varied mega-cities amid sublime geographical features and exotic flora and fauna. It gives Silverberg an unlimited source of places, people, and plots for his stories. In them, he ranges through the vast history of Majipoor (humans go back 12,000 years, indigenous Metamorphs well over 20,000) and among different genres and moods and modes.
In "The End of the Line" (2011), a young, ineffectual prince councilor for the Coronal of Majipoor tries to learn about the indigenous Metamorphs so as to find a way for humans to live in peace with them and uncovers a terrible secret about his Lord and a terrible truth about race relations. 4 stars
In "The Book of Changes" (2003), a princely poet of superficial verse travels into the hinterlands on a quest for a new life path only to be captured by a bandit lord who happens to be a passionate but undiscriminating aficionado of poetry. Could Furvain ever write a profound, great work encompassing the vast history of human settlement on Majipoor? And if so, would it derive from his trivial self or from divine inspiration? Whatever you write, you need to tell a tale in a way that illuminates its inner meaning (like Silverberg and Tales of Majipoor?). 4.5 stars
"The Tomb of the Pontifex Dvorn" (2011) depicts a pair of young academic friends (a romantic historian and a phlegmatic archeologist) getting sent to the supposed hometown of the legendary founder of Majipoor’s 12,000-year-old human governmental system, the first Pontifex Dvorn, to curate his supposed tomb. Sublime discovery and crushing disappointment ensue amid questions of integrity, scholarship, tourism, and truth. And a roman a clef appearance by Egypt’s controversial antiquities “expert” promoter Zahi Hawass, “played” here by Hawid Zayayil, the four-armed Skandar Superintendent of Antiquities. 4.5 stars
In "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (2004), a callow failure at various trades becomes the apprentice of a stern and sexy female fifth-level adept. Against expectation, he finds himself thirstily absorbing magical knowledge while trying to divert his enflaming lust for his teacher into house cleaning. Do the numerous sand roaches under foot imply that she’s a Circe? The wizardly rom com feels a little out of place in such a hitherto science fictional world. 3.5 stars
In "Dark Times at the Midnight Market" (2010), a diminutive, tentacled Vroon (who dominates his sensible two-headed Su-Suheris business partner and scorns his hulking four-armed furry-smelly Skandar cleaning woman) tries to save his formerly thriving magical item shop by making a love potion for a scoundrel, wastrel, and idler of a human Marquis. Will the Vroon learn “the great peril in meddling in the romantic affairs of the aristocracy”? 3.5 stars
"The Way They Wove the Spells in Sippulgar" (2009) is told by the collection’s only first-person narrator, a “practical man of business” who, scorning the current boom in religions and paranormal belief, travels to Sippulgar, famed for “its abundance of superstitious creeds and cults,” to investigate the mysterious disappearance of his brother-in-law, who apparently had tried to start a new religion there. Will the “plain worldly man” learn that there are more things in heaven and earth than dreamt of in his mercantile worldview? 4 stars
In "The Seventh Shrine" (1998), Pontifex Valentine (the protagonist of the first Majipoor novel) visits a 20,000-year-old cursed and ruined (“parched and broken”) Metamorph city where a Metamorph archeologist has been ritually murdered. Valentine must solve the mystery in order to have any hope of integrating Metamorphs into mainstream Majipoor society. Can aliens and aliens ever understand one another or live in peace together? 4 stars
The stories may be read individually in any order without having read the other Majipoor works, but would benefit from familiarity with the others. The stories feature different protagonists, some of whom are referred to as historical figures in other stories. He organizes this collection such that the first story reveals the origin of Stiamot, the Coronal who started the war with the Metamoprhs resulting in their banishment to a reservation, while the last story features Valentine Pontifex trying to resolve the Metamorph-Human conflict 8000 years later.
Like his other Majipoor stories, these climax with the protagonist learning something that rocks his world.
Like his other Majipoor stories, these are marked by vivid sf descriptions and moments, like “The air was parched and crisp with a brittle quality to it, as though it could be torn in one’s hands like dry paper and crumbled to dust in one’s fingers,” and “His vision wavered; his tentacles trembled.”
Like his other Majipoor stories, these feature some Jack Vance-like dry wit, like “The logic did not seem entirely impeccable,” and “He finally mistook diminished indifference for actual warmth.”
There is much to like here for fans of SF set on other worlds, but it should be noted that there are very few (almost no) large- or small-scale violent action scenes.
Stefan Rudnicki reads the audiobook with his usual professional manner and resonant voice.
January 1, 2016
This is a very good book, composed of short stories, loosely interlinked, all set in Majipoor.
The 7th and last story promised to be the best of them all, featuring as it did Lord Valentine as protagonist, but despite a great start and a good development, its ending was illogical, weak and unsatisfying, and is the reason why I rate this book with only 3 stars.
The 7th and last story promised to be the best of them all, featuring as it did Lord Valentine as protagonist, but despite a great start and a good development, its ending was illogical, weak and unsatisfying, and is the reason why I rate this book with only 3 stars.
March 14, 2014
Talented writing, but aimless.
October 19, 2016
I like to revisit Majipoor at least once a year. This collection explores legend, history, and archaeology on the vast wonderful planet.
August 2, 2015
More information about one of my favorite worlds.
July 28, 2022
Another fantastic book from Robert Silverberg, this kept me enthralled even though I have not read any of the other Majipoor stories. Excellent.
October 29, 2022
I'm a big fan of classic sci-fi but this was my first time reading Silverberg. And honestly, I was quite surprised when I realized that it was written in 2013. I got through the first few stories mistakenly thinking these were old and forgiving them their perspective on that front.
You can get through most of the stories in this book with the impression that women do absolutely nothing of consequence on Majipoor. And this is strange, given that they've colonized space from "Old Earth" and established a civilization that has lasted thousands and thousands of years. All of that time and, there's an absolute monarch? It's a little bit inventive for a monarchy, but still - a king over the entire world appoints his successor, and everyone in the world is ok with that, with being ruled by human men one after another, and no one ever thinks it might be time for a change.
In one of the stories, a woman does appear. She's a past lover of the protagonist who was too smart and interesting so he lost interest in having sex with her and now she's "like a sister" to him. Nice. Great to know where we rank in 12,000 years where men are still the ones who are expected to rule things, think, and write poetry and women are nice to have in bed as long as they don't talk too much.
And then we get to "Sorcerer's Apprentice." Oh yay! A female character, this should be interesting, right? Nope - it's a cringe fest about a dude who absolutely cannot understand the concept of consent. That's it; that's the whole story. She's so hot he has to sleep with her or else he just wants to die, or doesn't matter that she's told him repeatedly that's not an option.
FINALLY, in the last story there's a woman archaeologist who is a fairly interesting character. But this story, while it's the best one in the collection, falls flat in its potential to deal with the way multiple intelligent species can coexist. It comes the closest to engaging with what should be done about huge weighty themes about colonization and cultural domination and it just kind of ends on the note of - good thing the human man is still in charge. Every time we've seen the perspective of the multiple species that inhabit Majipoor it's reinforced that they're ugly, weird, different. There's been the joke at the expense of a huge, dim-witted woman of another species who's the accidental target of a love potion. Where do we end up after reading all of this? What's been the mental exercise? Whose shoes have we had to put ourselves in? "What if there were love potions and you accidentally fell in love with the ugly cleaning lady, oh my god."
Why did we write all of this in 2013?
I can't help but compare this collection to another book I've recently read - Ursula LeGuin's Rocannon's World. They're very similar in a lot of ways; sci-fi setting but fantasy in structure. Multiple species trying to coexist on an exotic world. LeGuin even has mostly male characters. But the women who do exist in her world do so got a reason - and their lives are poignant! The other species interact with the human and he grapples with their humanity, learns from them, befriends them. It's a book that makes you feel very, very human, even though it's so fantastical and far-fetched. And she wrote it in the late 60s!
I'm not sure who Silverberg is writing for. Other men, I guess. People who want a little glimpse at an exotic other world without the discomfort of having to think too hard about it. There's nothing here that compels me to come back to Majipoor.
You can get through most of the stories in this book with the impression that women do absolutely nothing of consequence on Majipoor. And this is strange, given that they've colonized space from "Old Earth" and established a civilization that has lasted thousands and thousands of years. All of that time and, there's an absolute monarch? It's a little bit inventive for a monarchy, but still - a king over the entire world appoints his successor, and everyone in the world is ok with that, with being ruled by human men one after another, and no one ever thinks it might be time for a change.
In one of the stories, a woman does appear. She's a past lover of the protagonist who was too smart and interesting so he lost interest in having sex with her and now she's "like a sister" to him. Nice. Great to know where we rank in 12,000 years where men are still the ones who are expected to rule things, think, and write poetry and women are nice to have in bed as long as they don't talk too much.
And then we get to "Sorcerer's Apprentice." Oh yay! A female character, this should be interesting, right? Nope - it's a cringe fest about a dude who absolutely cannot understand the concept of consent. That's it; that's the whole story. She's so hot he has to sleep with her or else he just wants to die, or doesn't matter that she's told him repeatedly that's not an option.
FINALLY, in the last story there's a woman archaeologist who is a fairly interesting character. But this story, while it's the best one in the collection, falls flat in its potential to deal with the way multiple intelligent species can coexist. It comes the closest to engaging with what should be done about huge weighty themes about colonization and cultural domination and it just kind of ends on the note of - good thing the human man is still in charge. Every time we've seen the perspective of the multiple species that inhabit Majipoor it's reinforced that they're ugly, weird, different. There's been the joke at the expense of a huge, dim-witted woman of another species who's the accidental target of a love potion. Where do we end up after reading all of this? What's been the mental exercise? Whose shoes have we had to put ourselves in? "What if there were love potions and you accidentally fell in love with the ugly cleaning lady, oh my god."
Why did we write all of this in 2013?
I can't help but compare this collection to another book I've recently read - Ursula LeGuin's Rocannon's World. They're very similar in a lot of ways; sci-fi setting but fantasy in structure. Multiple species trying to coexist on an exotic world. LeGuin even has mostly male characters. But the women who do exist in her world do so got a reason - and their lives are poignant! The other species interact with the human and he grapples with their humanity, learns from them, befriends them. It's a book that makes you feel very, very human, even though it's so fantastical and far-fetched. And she wrote it in the late 60s!
I'm not sure who Silverberg is writing for. Other men, I guess. People who want a little glimpse at an exotic other world without the discomfort of having to think too hard about it. There's nothing here that compels me to come back to Majipoor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2017
A clever set of short stories - many interconnected over a broad time, distance and perspective. This Silverberg offers most: a sense of the hugeness of history and the impact of events on the future. Majipoor has many attributes that evoke a sense of awe: its scale (as it belongs in the 'big planet romance' sub-genre) but also the theme of many of these stories, the huge impact of some individuals on the course of events. On the other hand - I don't appreciate enjoy drama of nobility and royalty. As rich and marvelous as these Tales came together, too many of them floundered in (what to my taste is) a swamp of courtly pomp, procedure, privilege, yawn. My favorite, a humbler story titled The Sorcerer's Apprentice, concerned a man struggling to come to terms with his life, finding meaning and finding a trade while in a unique relationship with his teacher, lover, landlord...
June 10, 2021
Nice Collection
This anthology of stories us set on the planet Majipoor, the same planet where the adventures of Lord/Pontifex Valentine take place. Unfortunately whoever assembled these short stories into this book put them in random rather than chronological order. The story directly sequel to the three Valentine novels comes last. The first story is set long after the death of Valentine and from there they jump randomly over thousands of years to different events in the 12000 year long history of the planet. Personally I would have arranged the stories in chronological order to show how the culture ebbed and flowed over time. The random order makes reading the stories as a set discordant.
This anthology of stories us set on the planet Majipoor, the same planet where the adventures of Lord/Pontifex Valentine take place. Unfortunately whoever assembled these short stories into this book put them in random rather than chronological order. The story directly sequel to the three Valentine novels comes last. The first story is set long after the death of Valentine and from there they jump randomly over thousands of years to different events in the 12000 year long history of the planet. Personally I would have arranged the stories in chronological order to show how the culture ebbed and flowed over time. The random order makes reading the stories as a set discordant.
July 9, 2024
This is the last book in a very long series about the colonisation by humans, and then other species, of the planet Majipoor. The seven stories appear to cover about 12000 years of history. The world building is amazing. The descriptions are very well worded. The characters are quickly defined as these are short stories, however they are real and three dimensional. I found the fact that technology seemed to be limited to socrecy and archeology seem odd considering the time span. There had to be space travel to get to the planet, but then I've not read any of the other books. Also there were times when my brain positively skipped over names that were literally unpronounceable. Apart from these two quibbles a very worthwhile read. Oh, and I wish there was a map.
December 11, 2018
This is an excellent addition to the canon of Majipoor, revealing some significant and some less significant parts of the world's history. It even includes a story about Valentine, who I have not read about in 25 years. The writing is excellent, as I would expect from Silverberg.
My only complaint is that the main character of each story, and most of the other inportant characters, are male. I read the original three Majipoor books so long ago that I don't remeber if they were so thoroughly male-dominated.
My only complaint is that the main character of each story, and most of the other inportant characters, are male. I read the original three Majipoor books so long ago that I don't remeber if they were so thoroughly male-dominated.
January 12, 2024
This collection of stories are incredibly atmospheric and instantly take you back to the world of Majipoor. The characters are rich and the world interesting. I often found myself unhappy to move onto the next story because I was invested in finding out more about what happened to the characters I had settled into. While I’m not sure each story was successful the book was enjoyable. The pace of these books creates a laid back, hypnotic dream like atmosphere that is unique, original and very alien in some places.
December 5, 2018
I very much enjoyed these sensitive, human, humane stories. Majipoor is a remarkably well-imagined world, and Silverberg does a good job of peopling it with credible folks with daily lives beyond great wars and intrigue. A poet held captive and forced to write, archaeologists grappling with academic pressures or with indigenous ill-will, and a man looking into the disappearance of his brother-in-law; these make for earthy, fun, and satisfying reads.
March 2, 2021
Robert Silverberg has woven many a tale about the giant terrestrial world Majipoor and its many thousands of years of human and alien history. A lack of metals in the crust leads to a medieval type of civilization, and Majipoor’s utter vastness yields a palette for many varied and poignant stories.
I read the beginnings of this chronicle when it began in the early 1980’s but then lost touch. I’m happy to have come back to it!
I read the beginnings of this chronicle when it began in the early 1980’s but then lost touch. I’m happy to have come back to it!
July 12, 2021
All of the stories were entertaining, and I especially enjoyed the last story "The Seventh Shrine", as it was a continuation on on the Valentine story and was a compelling, well written story. I believe that story alone is worth the price of the book. Although I enjoyed all of the other stories, I particularly enjoyed the stories "The End of the Line" & "The Tomb of Pontifex Dvorn". The narrator, Stefan Rudnicki, is by far the best narrator I've ever encountered from any audiobook, ever.
December 29, 2019
Science fiction series - I have finally reached the end of the Majipoor Chronicles. A collection of seven short stories, finishing off with one about Lord Valentine. He was the focus of many of the novels Silverberg had written previously. Not a bad finish to a large series.
No Canadian references.
Pharmacy reference - a Hjort deals with pharmaceutical herbs.
No Canadian references.
Pharmacy reference - a Hjort deals with pharmaceutical herbs.
February 22, 2024
I listened to this book because I love the narrator. The author invents a totally new world and gives it so much detail. The descriptions reminded me of World of Warcraft landscapes. There wasn't a lot of plot and it jumped around in time and point of view. But still quite interesting. I would listen to more stories set on Majipoor.
July 1, 2024
This is a collection of short stories, based on the giant world Majipoor created by Silverberg, starting with the novel 'Lord Valentine's Castle'. The series of novels are brilliant, but I found the short stories less enthralling - perhaps rather long-winded and with a less extensive scope. For Majipoor fans, they are certainly worth reading.
October 5, 2025
I adore Silverberg's Majipoor series and this collection of stories is a delightful addition. I particularly enjoyed the Vroon love potion story and the murder mystery with Valentine himself. Silverberg's prose is so smooth and stylish and is extremely impressive despite his age when this was published. Any fan of his or Lord Valentine's Castle should most definitely read this.
June 27, 2019
Still have no memory of purchasing this book, but ok. It showed up on my shelves so I read it. I’ve not previously read any of Silver Bob’s work and I enjoyed it and am curious to read the actual books in this series, not just the short stories.
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