What do you think?
Rate this book
Durdane #3
The Asutra
From the furthest borders of the Durdane, strange rumours are spreading. For in Caraz's land of exiles and murderers, deeds are being done more terrible than any of its most ruthless dwellers could commit. And so it is to the mountains of Caraz that Gastel Etzwane must turn, certain in his heart that his old foe is not yet finished. And sure enough, amidst the rocky wastes there moves a menace whose horror the men of Durdane can scarce imagine. For as Gastel Etzwane has long since guessed, their enemy, the monstrous Asutra, is simply not of their world...
187 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
13 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
About the author
Jack Vance
777 books1,586 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 28, 2024
The Asutra was first published in digest form in The Magazine of Science Fiction and Fantasy in May and June of 1973. It was released as a 204 page paperback novel by Dell in 1975. It is currently available in an excellent trade paperback edition from Spatterlight Press. The Durdane Series is not the best series Vance wrote but Vance fans should find it well worth reading, especially if is read carefully and multiple times.
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
This is the third volume of the Durdane Chronicles and it builds upon the first two novels. The two initial books in the series (The Anome and The Brave Free Men) should be read one after the other because they are really one novel in two books. The story line continues in The Asutra so it is best read after reading the other two, but I read it the first time as a stand-alone novel, and it made sense by itself because the beginning of The Asutra briefly summarizes the previous two novels. The Asutra was for me the most interesting of the three Durdane but I did not appreciate this the first time I read it. (I’ve now read it three times.)
In The Asutra the main character, Gastel Etzwane, has withdrawn from public life to devote himself to playing music, but he becomes restless for some new adventures. Gastel again encounters Ifness the mysterious man from Earth whom he met in the first novel, The Anome. Earth is a much more technologically advanced world than Durdane. Ifness is a Research Fellow for the Historical Institute on Earth. He is assigned to the planet of Durdane where his role is to observe the people and events like a cultural anthropologist but not to intervene in any way unless there is some threat to Earth and prior permission is granted. But Ifness finds that never getting involved is not always the ethical or prudent thing to do.
After meeting Ifness again Gastel learns more about the Asutra, an intelligent, alien creature that controlled the Roguskhoi soldiers who had attacked Shant. It appears that the Asutra, a technologically advanced species, could have used very sophisticated weapons but were experimenting by using the Roguskhoi with their primitive weapons. The location of the home planet of the Asutra and their reason for their experiments are unknown.
Etzwane hears rumors from mariners that on a continent called Caraz a large horde of Roguskhoi have reportedly appeared. He and Ifness decide to use Ifness’ power vehicle from Earth to visit Caraz to investigate. Nine thousand years ago when humans from Earth first came to Durdane it was settled mostly by “fugitives, recalcitrant and dissidents.” “The wildest and most irredeemable had fled to Caraz to lose themselves forever.” After arriving in Caraz a new adventure begins involving nomadic desert tribes, strange kidnappings, fighting spaceships, creatures called the Ka, and a risky rescue attempt that involves advanced alien cultures and other planets. It is difficult to discuss anymore without giving too much of the adventurous story away.
I found The Asutra to be the most intriguing and complex of the three novels in the Durdane Chronicles. Each time I read it I liked it even better and noticed new details that made it more fascinating. The Asutra also brought a more satisfying conclusion to the Durdane Chronicles. What seemed like an ending after The Brave Free Men was actually only an intermission before the storyline took some twists and continued to develop until the underlying mystery was finally revealed and we arrived at a more complete resolution. A number of readers seem to dislike the conclusion in The Asutra, but I found it very satisfying. Etwane’s two major interests or loves in life are playing music and engaging in adventure and he must choose between the two. The choice, however, is not necessarily up to him.
I am well aware that some Vance fans also think the Durdane Chronicles are not among his very best writings. I won't argue with that because some of Vance's novels reach pretty lofty heights. But I have found the three books in this series to be well worth reading and I liked them even more upon slow and careful rereading them. I rated The Asutra a 4 the first time I read it but rated it a 5 the second and third time I read it.
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
This is the third volume of the Durdane Chronicles and it builds upon the first two novels. The two initial books in the series (The Anome and The Brave Free Men) should be read one after the other because they are really one novel in two books. The story line continues in The Asutra so it is best read after reading the other two, but I read it the first time as a stand-alone novel, and it made sense by itself because the beginning of The Asutra briefly summarizes the previous two novels. The Asutra was for me the most interesting of the three Durdane but I did not appreciate this the first time I read it. (I’ve now read it three times.)
In The Asutra the main character, Gastel Etzwane, has withdrawn from public life to devote himself to playing music, but he becomes restless for some new adventures. Gastel again encounters Ifness the mysterious man from Earth whom he met in the first novel, The Anome. Earth is a much more technologically advanced world than Durdane. Ifness is a Research Fellow for the Historical Institute on Earth. He is assigned to the planet of Durdane where his role is to observe the people and events like a cultural anthropologist but not to intervene in any way unless there is some threat to Earth and prior permission is granted. But Ifness finds that never getting involved is not always the ethical or prudent thing to do.
After meeting Ifness again Gastel learns more about the Asutra, an intelligent, alien creature that controlled the Roguskhoi soldiers who had attacked Shant. It appears that the Asutra, a technologically advanced species, could have used very sophisticated weapons but were experimenting by using the Roguskhoi with their primitive weapons. The location of the home planet of the Asutra and their reason for their experiments are unknown.
Etzwane hears rumors from mariners that on a continent called Caraz a large horde of Roguskhoi have reportedly appeared. He and Ifness decide to use Ifness’ power vehicle from Earth to visit Caraz to investigate. Nine thousand years ago when humans from Earth first came to Durdane it was settled mostly by “fugitives, recalcitrant and dissidents.” “The wildest and most irredeemable had fled to Caraz to lose themselves forever.” After arriving in Caraz a new adventure begins involving nomadic desert tribes, strange kidnappings, fighting spaceships, creatures called the Ka, and a risky rescue attempt that involves advanced alien cultures and other planets. It is difficult to discuss anymore without giving too much of the adventurous story away.
I found The Asutra to be the most intriguing and complex of the three novels in the Durdane Chronicles. Each time I read it I liked it even better and noticed new details that made it more fascinating. The Asutra also brought a more satisfying conclusion to the Durdane Chronicles. What seemed like an ending after The Brave Free Men was actually only an intermission before the storyline took some twists and continued to develop until the underlying mystery was finally revealed and we arrived at a more complete resolution. A number of readers seem to dislike the conclusion in The Asutra, but I found it very satisfying. Etwane’s two major interests or loves in life are playing music and engaging in adventure and he must choose between the two. The choice, however, is not necessarily up to him.
I am well aware that some Vance fans also think the Durdane Chronicles are not among his very best writings. I won't argue with that because some of Vance's novels reach pretty lofty heights. But I have found the three books in this series to be well worth reading and I liked them even more upon slow and careful rereading them. I rated The Asutra a 4 the first time I read it but rated it a 5 the second and third time I read it.
May 14, 2021
A very satisfying conclusion to the trilogy to be sure. This series reminded me of Harry Harrison trilogies as well as Jack Chalker and I mean that in a good way. Etzwane, our lead protagonist once again, ended the last book by finding the origins of the Roguskhoi-- basically biological weapons produced by aliens in an attempt to crush humanity on Dardane. He returns to Shant and quickly establishes a new government for Shant, somewhat democratic and representative, and then quits public life. Now, he is a little at ends for what to do. He stumbles across Ifness (the Earth human researcher on Durdane) at the pub and also hears rumors of more Roguskhoi and a great battle on the last great continent on Durdane-- Caraz.
When Durdane was first settled, by dissidents fleeing from human occupied space, only the most outrageous went to Caraz. Caraz is a huge continent, dwarfing Shant, but populated today with exiles, nomads, slavers and all kinds of riff-raff. Etzwane once again teams up with Ifness and they head out to investigate the rumors...
All in all, this was a fun series. We have our 'common man' rebellion against the status quo who becomes the de facto ruler of Shant, but at his heart he simply wants to be a musician. Vances builds quite an array of societies and their quirks adroitly on Shant; something needed as each of the 62 cantons has their own rules and ways. In volume two, we get to explore another continent of people, however briefly, and finally, the third volume takes us to the great continent of Caraz, rounding out Durdane as a whole. Fun adventure, if not too deep, and Etzwane is a good lead to guide us along our explorations. I really liked the detail Vance put into describing the system of balloon travel on Shant and how societies adapted to the metal poor world of Durdane. Clever and engaging, like Harrison and Chalker's trilogies. 4 stars.
When Durdane was first settled, by dissidents fleeing from human occupied space, only the most outrageous went to Caraz. Caraz is a huge continent, dwarfing Shant, but populated today with exiles, nomads, slavers and all kinds of riff-raff. Etzwane once again teams up with Ifness and they head out to investigate the rumors...
All in all, this was a fun series. We have our 'common man' rebellion against the status quo who becomes the de facto ruler of Shant, but at his heart he simply wants to be a musician. Vances builds quite an array of societies and their quirks adroitly on Shant; something needed as each of the 62 cantons has their own rules and ways. In volume two, we get to explore another continent of people, however briefly, and finally, the third volume takes us to the great continent of Caraz, rounding out Durdane as a whole. Fun adventure, if not too deep, and Etzwane is a good lead to guide us along our explorations. I really liked the detail Vance put into describing the system of balloon travel on Shant and how societies adapted to the metal poor world of Durdane. Clever and engaging, like Harrison and Chalker's trilogies. 4 stars.
September 27, 2022
„Přiznávám, že radši cítím na krku vítr místo kovového obojku, ale teď po mně chtějí za tu svobodu platit. Vážně, co je lepší: levné poddanství nebo drahá svoboda?“
Myslím, že tohle je otázka, na kterou se lidstvu stále ještě nepodařilo najít uspokojivou odpověď. A je to taky otázka, kterou se uzavírá Vanceho trilogie Durdane. Hlavní hrdina v první knize dosáhl moci, v druhé porazil útočníky, a ve třetí se vydal ve vesmíru. Sice jako otrok, ale i to se počítá. Ostatně, otrokářství Vance pojímá jako celkem košer, byť trochu namáhavé a riskantní zaměstnání. Což ovšem hrdinovi nebrání, aby provedl menší vzpouru a vrátil se zpátky.
Skutečností je, že Vance se moc s nástrahami nepárá a jeho postavy vyhrávají či prohrávají nikoliv podle situace a schopností, ale spíš podle toho, co autor zrovna potřebuje, aby posunul dál děj. Normálně by mě to štvalo, ale Vanceho archaické balení (asi jako kdyby dobrodružné příběhy Harryho Harrisona na Planetě smrti psal Charles Dickens) tomu dodává pohádkovou věrohodnost.
Tenhle příběh je spíš průměrnější, ovšem Vance si to u mě vynahradil úplným finále, který je podehrané až pod dno Macochy. Místo oslavy se začnou řešit věci jako úvodní otázka... a ukazuje se, že silnější než hrdinství jednotlivce je bezpečné až byrokratické vítězství systému. Vůbec je finále spíš v ironickém a lehce cynickém duchu - ostatně kniha vznikla v sedmdesátých letech, která snad ani jiný pohled neznala. Ukázkou stylu je příběh otrokyně, která strávila svůj život v zajetí na mimozemské planetě, kde byla nucena věnovat se studiu jejich písňo-ságy, která má přes tisíc slok a skládá se z nemelodické hudby a zvuků… což je jí po osvobození, na rodné planetě, úplně na pendrek.
Finále je prostě v duchu lakonického nihilismu – a to je přesně to, co se mi na Vancem líbí.
Myslím, že tohle je otázka, na kterou se lidstvu stále ještě nepodařilo najít uspokojivou odpověď. A je to taky otázka, kterou se uzavírá Vanceho trilogie Durdane. Hlavní hrdina v první knize dosáhl moci, v druhé porazil útočníky, a ve třetí se vydal ve vesmíru. Sice jako otrok, ale i to se počítá. Ostatně, otrokářství Vance pojímá jako celkem košer, byť trochu namáhavé a riskantní zaměstnání. Což ovšem hrdinovi nebrání, aby provedl menší vzpouru a vrátil se zpátky.
Skutečností je, že Vance se moc s nástrahami nepárá a jeho postavy vyhrávají či prohrávají nikoliv podle situace a schopností, ale spíš podle toho, co autor zrovna potřebuje, aby posunul dál děj. Normálně by mě to štvalo, ale Vanceho archaické balení (asi jako kdyby dobrodružné příběhy Harryho Harrisona na Planetě smrti psal Charles Dickens) tomu dodává pohádkovou věrohodnost.
Tenhle příběh je spíš průměrnější, ovšem Vance si to u mě vynahradil úplným finále, který je podehrané až pod dno Macochy. Místo oslavy se začnou řešit věci jako úvodní otázka... a ukazuje se, že silnější než hrdinství jednotlivce je bezpečné až byrokratické vítězství systému. Vůbec je finále spíš v ironickém a lehce cynickém duchu - ostatně kniha vznikla v sedmdesátých letech, která snad ani jiný pohled neznala. Ukázkou stylu je příběh otrokyně, která strávila svůj život v zajetí na mimozemské planetě, kde byla nucena věnovat se studiu jejich písňo-ságy, která má přes tisíc slok a skládá se z nemelodické hudby a zvuků… což je jí po osvobození, na rodné planetě, úplně na pendrek.
Finále je prostě v duchu lakonického nihilismu – a to je přesně to, co se mi na Vancem líbí.
June 18, 2017
It was O.K., mostly.
August 1, 2012
This third book of the Durdane trilogy provides a satisfying and somewhat surprising conclusion to the story, which I will not give away because it’s worth reading.
Gatzel Etzwane again provides the single point of view. He would like to return to his relatively free and simple life as a musician, but his country and his planet need him, or so he believes.
He hears rumors of aliens and spaceships battling in a distant land, and he goes to investigate. Ifness, the man from Earth he met in the previous books, assists his journey by providing a flying boat. Etzwane discovers much but not quite the way he planned to.
I don’t want to give away much more of the plot, but I will point out that the book concludes with a unique and interesting twist, which almost makes the protagonist’s entire adventure beside the point. All the things Etzwane has done, while important in his mind, become minor, almost inconsequential footnotes in the implied story behind the story being told.
Etzwane glimpses the larger story, one that involves Earth and other human settled planets and alien species, the fate of mankind and its place in the universe. By asking Ifness if he can accompany him when he leaves Durdane, his is asking him to make him part of this larger story. But he cannot be. That story isn’t his. This twist is what, in my mind, makes the conclusion of this trilogy stand out.
This is a short book, 204 pages in hardcover. It is no longer in print. The limited edition hardcover copy I read came from my local library. It is available for Kindle, though.
The prose is sparse, stiff, formal, almost Edwardian sounding. Vance seldom uses a short, common word when a longer, more obscure one is available, and I’m fairly certain he made up a few of these. To be honest, I rather liked it because it was so different from the prose style of most books I read.
I recommend this trilogy because the setting and plot are original and interesting. The style may take some getting used to, but this is another good reason for reading it. It’s not your typical, modern science fiction action adventure. It’s different.
Gatzel Etzwane again provides the single point of view. He would like to return to his relatively free and simple life as a musician, but his country and his planet need him, or so he believes.
He hears rumors of aliens and spaceships battling in a distant land, and he goes to investigate. Ifness, the man from Earth he met in the previous books, assists his journey by providing a flying boat. Etzwane discovers much but not quite the way he planned to.
I don’t want to give away much more of the plot, but I will point out that the book concludes with a unique and interesting twist, which almost makes the protagonist’s entire adventure beside the point. All the things Etzwane has done, while important in his mind, become minor, almost inconsequential footnotes in the implied story behind the story being told.
Etzwane glimpses the larger story, one that involves Earth and other human settled planets and alien species, the fate of mankind and its place in the universe. By asking Ifness if he can accompany him when he leaves Durdane, his is asking him to make him part of this larger story. But he cannot be. That story isn’t his. This twist is what, in my mind, makes the conclusion of this trilogy stand out.
This is a short book, 204 pages in hardcover. It is no longer in print. The limited edition hardcover copy I read came from my local library. It is available for Kindle, though.
The prose is sparse, stiff, formal, almost Edwardian sounding. Vance seldom uses a short, common word when a longer, more obscure one is available, and I’m fairly certain he made up a few of these. To be honest, I rather liked it because it was so different from the prose style of most books I read.
I recommend this trilogy because the setting and plot are original and interesting. The style may take some getting used to, but this is another good reason for reading it. It’s not your typical, modern science fiction action adventure. It’s different.
December 23, 2015
It's impossible to talk about the book without referring to the ending. The resolution of all things--defeat of the alien Asutra, rescue of the kidnapped Durdane humans--lies with Ifness, the cold and self-interested Institute member for whom all this is an opportunity for advancement in the mysterious Institute.
In hindsight, events were perfectly appropriate. Ifness resolves matters his own way while Etzwane leaps into the fray and takes a months (years? It's unclear) long adventure to the depressing planet Kahei. His adventure is ultimately rendered hollow because Ifness has dealt with it safely and bureaucratically. That Ifness holds no personal regard for Etzwane--in fact, barely notices his absence--is true to his character and should have been obvious from the start.
Vance wrought a beautifully ironic, cynical conclusion to the Durdane trilogy that is intellectually satisfying (how could it have ended otherwise?) but emotionally sour, all the more so because the planet Kahei is so gray and unspeakably bleak compared to the Vance-typical Durdane: a frontier world of limited means, multiple bizarre cultures and strange conventions, sort of A Princess of Mars by way of Wodehouse, say, where even the basest drudge is eloquent and enemies duel with impeccable manners. Even worse, Etzwane's trip to Kahei is rife with passivity and sitting-still, that enemy of Vance stories that sucks away the marrow of energy like a preschooler revoltingly slurping a Go-gurt tube.
In hindsight, events were perfectly appropriate. Ifness resolves matters his own way while Etzwane leaps into the fray and takes a months (years? It's unclear) long adventure to the depressing planet Kahei. His adventure is ultimately rendered hollow because Ifness has dealt with it safely and bureaucratically. That Ifness holds no personal regard for Etzwane--in fact, barely notices his absence--is true to his character and should have been obvious from the start.
Vance wrought a beautifully ironic, cynical conclusion to the Durdane trilogy that is intellectually satisfying (how could it have ended otherwise?) but emotionally sour, all the more so because the planet Kahei is so gray and unspeakably bleak compared to the Vance-typical Durdane: a frontier world of limited means, multiple bizarre cultures and strange conventions, sort of A Princess of Mars by way of Wodehouse, say, where even the basest drudge is eloquent and enemies duel with impeccable manners. Even worse, Etzwane's trip to Kahei is rife with passivity and sitting-still, that enemy of Vance stories that sucks away the marrow of energy like a preschooler revoltingly slurping a Go-gurt tube.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2016
Lo que más me cautiva de las historias de Jack Vance es su capacidad de imaginar mundos y sociedades muy diferentes a la nuestra. En el ciclo de Durdane, -del que esta novela cierra la trilogía- nos muestra, como no podía ser de otra manera, las muchas culturas del planeta Durdane, cada una con su propia religión, leyes y costumbres.
Nuestro protagonista es Gartzel Ertzuane, quien deberá escapar del fanatismo religioso que tiraniza su cantón para empezar a correr mundo como músico. Sin embargo, el futuro que deparará una vida de aventuras muy alejada de la despreocupada vida del artista. En la trilogía descubriremos quien es el misterioso Anome, que somete a todos los habitantes a una ley común. Y después el planeta entero se verá amenazado por una misteriosa raza, los Asutra.
El desarrollo de la acción no es el fuerte de este autor, pero a cambio nos regala con un maravilloso worldbuilding y unos personajes muy "sui generis", marca de la casa Vance.
Me quedo con más ganas de este hacedor de mundos que es Jack Vance.
Nuestro protagonista es Gartzel Ertzuane, quien deberá escapar del fanatismo religioso que tiraniza su cantón para empezar a correr mundo como músico. Sin embargo, el futuro que deparará una vida de aventuras muy alejada de la despreocupada vida del artista. En la trilogía descubriremos quien es el misterioso Anome, que somete a todos los habitantes a una ley común. Y después el planeta entero se verá amenazado por una misteriosa raza, los Asutra.
El desarrollo de la acción no es el fuerte de este autor, pero a cambio nos regala con un maravilloso worldbuilding y unos personajes muy "sui generis", marca de la casa Vance.
Me quedo con más ganas de este hacedor de mundos que es Jack Vance.
December 2, 2025
The best one in the trilogy. Truly teaches you not to put pussy on a pedestal.
November 14, 2020
4/10 en 2011.
Fin de la trilogía, gracias a Dios. De lo peor de Vance para mi gusto.
Fin de la trilogía, gracias a Dios. De lo peor de Vance para mi gusto.
August 26, 2022
Gastel Etzwane finally finds out who is the actual alien race who menaces Durdane. The insect-like Asutra. Etzwane then visits a remote land which is considerably reduced to a medieval and barbaric way of life. The end is quite surprising and atypical. But it completes the saga very well. It is either spatial adventure and a mystery story abundantly permeated with strange characters and even spatial battle action.
May 24, 2020
I bought this book in the late 1970s so this is probably the fourth time I have read it. I did not enjoy it as much as the previous two books in this series. I had forgotten most of this book apart from the last part which I remembered quite well. In some ways I found the ending depressing.
April 2, 2019
Decided to just bull through this last night and get the trilogy over with. The finale was a bit abrupt, almost like Vance was anxious to cap it off and get onto his next project. Not quite as pulled-from-thin-air as a lot of Phillip Dick's endings, but not terribly satisfying either.
November 16, 2019
En esta tercera parte, la saga pasa decididamente de fantasy a ciencia-ficción. Termina todo de repente. La historia es muy buena.
September 17, 2025
Book 3 starts well. But the second half is more like a sketch of a 300 page plot jammed into 100 pages. This series is only for Jack Vance completionists.
Each of these books were published in serial form in two installments. I suspect Vance delivered part 1 of this and then he had too many loose threads and had to stuff them all into a small space. It's interesting that most of his novels after this were longer.
Too bad, because after I complained about the lack of character development in book 2, here both Etzwane and Ifness turn into real boys for a bit.
Probably the darkest of Vance's novels. At this point in his career, Vance could use his masterful style to overcome storytelling deficits, but the end is jarring. Also, this book is completely lacking in Vance's usual humor. Without that it starts to smell like one of his early pulp stories.
Each of these books were published in serial form in two installments. I suspect Vance delivered part 1 of this and then he had too many loose threads and had to stuff them all into a small space. It's interesting that most of his novels after this were longer.
Too bad, because after I complained about the lack of character development in book 2, here both Etzwane and Ifness turn into real boys for a bit.
Probably the darkest of Vance's novels. At this point in his career, Vance could use his masterful style to overcome storytelling deficits, but the end is jarring. Also, this book is completely lacking in Vance's usual humor. Without that it starts to smell like one of his early pulp stories.
June 9, 2023
This is the 24th Jack Vance book I've read. As it concludes the Durdane trilogy, I'll take the opportunity to provide a few thoughts on the series. It has all the hallmarks of Vance's writing: rich and obscure vocabulary, eloquent dialogue, bizarre and exotic cultures. However, it does, perhaps, lack the vibrant characters of Vance's best work. At times it is sombre and melancholy. It almost would seem to be a late work, at least in tone, but it sits firmly in the middle of Vance's career - the Durdane books were first published in 1973-1974. It is not a series that best serves as an introduction to Vance, but it is well worth reading for fans of the master.
April 10, 2018
Los Asutra fue mi primer contacto con Vance y el libro me atrapó totalmente, pese a ser el tercero de la trilogía, porque admite lectura independiente y solo me extrañaban algunas vagas referencias que hace a los libros anteriores, pero que en realidad no afectaron para nada la comprensión de la historia.
Los mundos de Vance son fantásticos, completos, bien estructurados y muy complejos, las especies de estos mundos son totalmente fuera lo común, el tratamiento que da a lo inverosimil es excelente, como siempre hay largos recorridos llenos de aventuras, exotismo y música.
Vance da a los músicos siempre papeles más allá de simplemente distraer a sus público con sus habilidades, sus héroes son músicos, creo que Rothfus ha retomado estas "tecnicas" Vanceanas para narrar historias con su Kovthe.
Fue hasta muchos años después que pude leer los primeros libros de la Saga, pero al final me quedo con Los Azutra como un viaje memorable a la épica y la aventura.
Los mundos de Vance son fantásticos, completos, bien estructurados y muy complejos, las especies de estos mundos son totalmente fuera lo común, el tratamiento que da a lo inverosimil es excelente, como siempre hay largos recorridos llenos de aventuras, exotismo y música.
Vance da a los músicos siempre papeles más allá de simplemente distraer a sus público con sus habilidades, sus héroes son músicos, creo que Rothfus ha retomado estas "tecnicas" Vanceanas para narrar historias con su Kovthe.
Fue hasta muchos años después que pude leer los primeros libros de la Saga, pero al final me quedo con Los Azutra como un viaje memorable a la épica y la aventura.
October 20, 2023
One story in three books telling the story of the enterprising Gastel Etzwane. The first one details his rebellion against the system. In the second part he manages to transform it. The third part goes off-planet to the reason why he rebelled in the first place. This part reminds me of one of the other Vance stories; Nopalgarth aka the brains of earth. It also is my least favorite part because of the lack of structure, pace and a satisfying end.
Vance interest in music is one of the topics of these stories. He also managed to introduce some other interesting concepts like the traveling by balloon and the way the society is organized. It is no punishment to read these books but still ‘only’ four stars.
Vance interest in music is one of the topics of these stories. He also managed to introduce some other interesting concepts like the traveling by balloon and the way the society is organized. It is no punishment to read these books but still ‘only’ four stars.
September 30, 2017
I've only read Vance's fantasy stories in the past, though bits of them have a sci-fi feel. And this, my first Vance sci-fi novel, has a bit of a fantasy feel. It was good, but not a book I'll be compelled to read again and again.
April 17, 2024
I felt this to be a fine, imaginative tale, but one with flat, under-explored characters and a sort of dreariness which fits the story's setting but detracts from the whole. This book continues the essential story of the first two in the series, but in a more meaningful sense, this book discards the setting and most characters of the first two and nearly starts over in favor of a picaresque travel adventure. Throughout my reading of this series, I daydreamed of the directions the story might take, and I was excited to learn the path chosen by Jack Vance.
May 31, 2022
3 1/2 stars. This is the best of the Durdane novels, and a surprising tonal shift - almost a reprise of Vance's Planet of Adventure series, complete with alien abductions and human experimentation (though written without anything like the same verve and intensity). As with the previous instalments in this series, it all felt a bit rushed, even a tad desultory in places, and lacking in Vance's wry humour. But I found the Caraz section both beautiful and fascinating, and was moved by the thoughtful denouement.
September 17, 2021
The last in the trilogy, Gastel is investigating the mysterious parasites, the Asutra, and ends up getting lifted offworld to a planet where the humans are used as slaves and canon-fodder. He tries to gain an advantage and raise a rebellion to get himself back home. A reasonable story, but not the best of Vance. I did like the 41,000 stanza poem that Gastel started trying to learn.
April 10, 2022
After reading the first two in the 80s, I was desperate to find a copy of this. I tried ordering from various book shops, with no joy. I finally found a copy, about a year later, in Foyles, London.
After the joy of finally getting my hands on a copy, I was disappointed. I think Vance must have gotten bored and just threw the last one together in order to finish the series.
After the joy of finally getting my hands on a copy, I was disappointed. I think Vance must have gotten bored and just threw the last one together in order to finish the series.
August 15, 2023
A real return to form after the somewhat disappointing second installment in the Durdane trilogy. It has a more personal scope that better suits Vance's talents than the grand strategy of the second book.
September 23, 2018
A finish to the trilogy, but a bit short.
May 2, 2020
Great fun. Vance packs so much into such a small space. Oodles of imagination coupled with a real sympathy for the human condition
September 22, 2022
More or less sticks the landing for the trilogy. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/202...
June 22, 2023
Terzo e ultimo volume del ciclo "Durdane".
December 31, 2024
Personally this is the most interesant and detailed of the trilogy, rich detailed and atmospheric.
May 27, 2024
The Asutra was first published in digest form in The Magazine of Science Fiction and Fantasy in May and June of 1973. It was released as a 204 page paperback novel by Dell in 1975. It is currently available in an excellent trade paperback edition from Spatterlight Press. The Durdane Series is not the very best series Vance wrote but Vance fans should find it well worth reading, especially if is read carefully and multiple times.
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
This is the third volume of the Durdane Chronicles and it builds upon the first two novels. The two initial books in the series (The Anome and The Brave Free Men) should be read one after the other because they are really one novel in two books. The story line continues in The Asutra so it is best read after reading the other two, but I read it the first time as a stand-alone novel, and it made sense by itself because the beginning of The Asutra briefly summarizes the previous two novels. The Asutra was for me the most interesting of the three Durdane but I did not appreciate this the first time I read it. (I’ve now read it three times.)
In The Asutra the main character, Gastel Etzwane, has withdrawn from public life to devote himself to playing music, but he becomes restless for some new adventures. Gastel again encounters Ifness the mysterious man from Earth whom he met in the first novel, The Anome. Earth is a much more technologically advanced world than Durdane. Ifness is a Research Fellow for the Historical Institute on Earth. He is assigned to the planet of Durdane where his role is to observe the people and events like a cultural anthropologist but not to intervene in any way unless there is some threat to Earth and prior permission is granted. But Ifness finds that never getting involved is not always the ethical or prudent thing to do.
After meeting Ifness again Gastel learns more about the Asutra, an intelligent, alien creature that controlled the Roguskhoi soldiers who had attacked Shant. It appears that the Asutra, a technologically advanced species, could have used very sophisticated weapons but were experimenting by using the Roguskhoi with their primitive weapons. The location of the home planet of the Asutra and their reason for their experiments are unknown.
Etzwane hears rumors from mariners that on a continent called Caraz a large horde of Roguskhoi have reportedly appeared. He and Ifness decide to use Ifness’ power vehicle from Earth to visit Caraz to investigate. Nine thousand years ago when humans from Earth first came to Durdane it was settled mostly by “fugitives, recalcitrant and dissidents.” “The wildest and most irredeemable had fled to Caraz to lose themselves forever.” After arriving in Caraz a new adventure begins involving nomadic desert tribes, strange kidnappings, fighting spaceships, creatures called the Ka, and a risky rescue attempt that involves advanced alien cultures and other planets. It is difficult to discuss anymore without giving too much of the adventurous story away.
Although some readers have written that they like The Asutra the least of the three Durdane novels, I found The Asutra to be the most intriguing and complex of the three, although it took repeated readings before I appreciated this. Each time I read it I liked it even better and noticed new details that made it more fascinating. The Asutra also brought a more satisfying conclusion to the Durdane Chronicles. What seemed like an ending after The Brave Free Men was actually only an intermission before the storyline took some twists and continued to develop until the underlying mysteries were finally revealed and we arrived at a more complete resolution. A number of readers wrote of disliking the ending in The Asutra, but I found it very satisfying. Etwane’s two major interests or loves in life were playing music and engaging in adventures and he needed to choose between the two. The choice, however, was not necessarily up to him.
I am also aware that some Vance fans think the Durdane Chronicles are not among his very best writings. I won't argue with that because some of Vance's novels reach pretty lofty heights. But I have found the three books in this series to be well worth reading and I liked them even more upon slow and careful rereading them. I wouldn’t recommend the Durdane Chronicles, though, as a starting place to readers new to Vance’s writings. I rated The Asutra a 4 the first time I read it but rated it a 5 the second and third time I read it.
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
This is the third volume of the Durdane Chronicles and it builds upon the first two novels. The two initial books in the series (The Anome and The Brave Free Men) should be read one after the other because they are really one novel in two books. The story line continues in The Asutra so it is best read after reading the other two, but I read it the first time as a stand-alone novel, and it made sense by itself because the beginning of The Asutra briefly summarizes the previous two novels. The Asutra was for me the most interesting of the three Durdane but I did not appreciate this the first time I read it. (I’ve now read it three times.)
In The Asutra the main character, Gastel Etzwane, has withdrawn from public life to devote himself to playing music, but he becomes restless for some new adventures. Gastel again encounters Ifness the mysterious man from Earth whom he met in the first novel, The Anome. Earth is a much more technologically advanced world than Durdane. Ifness is a Research Fellow for the Historical Institute on Earth. He is assigned to the planet of Durdane where his role is to observe the people and events like a cultural anthropologist but not to intervene in any way unless there is some threat to Earth and prior permission is granted. But Ifness finds that never getting involved is not always the ethical or prudent thing to do.
After meeting Ifness again Gastel learns more about the Asutra, an intelligent, alien creature that controlled the Roguskhoi soldiers who had attacked Shant. It appears that the Asutra, a technologically advanced species, could have used very sophisticated weapons but were experimenting by using the Roguskhoi with their primitive weapons. The location of the home planet of the Asutra and their reason for their experiments are unknown.
Etzwane hears rumors from mariners that on a continent called Caraz a large horde of Roguskhoi have reportedly appeared. He and Ifness decide to use Ifness’ power vehicle from Earth to visit Caraz to investigate. Nine thousand years ago when humans from Earth first came to Durdane it was settled mostly by “fugitives, recalcitrant and dissidents.” “The wildest and most irredeemable had fled to Caraz to lose themselves forever.” After arriving in Caraz a new adventure begins involving nomadic desert tribes, strange kidnappings, fighting spaceships, creatures called the Ka, and a risky rescue attempt that involves advanced alien cultures and other planets. It is difficult to discuss anymore without giving too much of the adventurous story away.
Although some readers have written that they like The Asutra the least of the three Durdane novels, I found The Asutra to be the most intriguing and complex of the three, although it took repeated readings before I appreciated this. Each time I read it I liked it even better and noticed new details that made it more fascinating. The Asutra also brought a more satisfying conclusion to the Durdane Chronicles. What seemed like an ending after The Brave Free Men was actually only an intermission before the storyline took some twists and continued to develop until the underlying mysteries were finally revealed and we arrived at a more complete resolution. A number of readers wrote of disliking the ending in The Asutra, but I found it very satisfying. Etwane’s two major interests or loves in life were playing music and engaging in adventures and he needed to choose between the two. The choice, however, was not necessarily up to him.
I am also aware that some Vance fans think the Durdane Chronicles are not among his very best writings. I won't argue with that because some of Vance's novels reach pretty lofty heights. But I have found the three books in this series to be well worth reading and I liked them even more upon slow and careful rereading them. I wouldn’t recommend the Durdane Chronicles, though, as a starting place to readers new to Vance’s writings. I rated The Asutra a 4 the first time I read it but rated it a 5 the second and third time I read it.
September 16, 2024
Gastel Etzwane and his allies have defeated the Roguskhai and Asutra in Shant, but the mystery behind the invasion remains. Gastel and Ifness journey to the continent of Caraz to investigate rumors of Roguskhai there. Caraz is a large continent where the human societies are more primitive and barbaric than those of Shant. Gastel and Ifness soon become involved in a slavery ring that reveals the original purpose of the Asutra on Durdane. A satisfying conclusion to the series. The series (really a long novel split into three volumes) has many similarities to previous Vance works like Big Planet, the Planet of Adventure series and Gold and Iron, so this series was less impactful for me. Still a lot of fun!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews