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Lost Moons
- Assault on a City
- I'll Build Your Dream Castle
- Four Hundred Blackbirds
- Meet Miss Universe
- The Potters of Firsk
- Sabotage on Sulphur Planet
- Seven Exits from Bocz
- Winner Lose All
- The World-Thinker
- I'll Build Your Dream Castle
- Four Hundred Blackbirds
- Meet Miss Universe
- The Potters of Firsk
- Sabotage on Sulphur Planet
- Seven Exits from Bocz
- Winner Lose All
- The World-Thinker
- GenresScience Fiction
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1982
28 people want to read
About the author
Jack Vance
778 books1,588 followersAka John Holbrook Vance, Peter Held, John Holbrook, Ellery Queen, John van See, Alan Wade.
The author was born in 1916 and educated at the University of California, first as a mining engineer, then majoring in physics and finally in journalism. During the 1940s and 1950s, he contributed widely to science fiction and fantasy magazines. His first novel, The Dying Earth , was published in 1950 to great acclaim. He won both of science fiction's most coveted trophies, the Hugo and Nebula awards. He also won an Edgar Award for his mystery novel The Man in the Cage . He lived in Oakland, California in a house he designed.
The author was born in 1916 and educated at the University of California, first as a mining engineer, then majoring in physics and finally in journalism. During the 1940s and 1950s, he contributed widely to science fiction and fantasy magazines. His first novel, The Dying Earth , was published in 1950 to great acclaim. He won both of science fiction's most coveted trophies, the Hugo and Nebula awards. He also won an Edgar Award for his mystery novel The Man in the Cage . He lived in Oakland, California in a house he designed.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 28, 2024
Lost Moons is a 1982 collection of nine stories, including five short stories and four novelettes. They were written between 1945 and 1974. All are worth reading but I found The Potters of Firsk and Winner Lose All to be the most interesting. A brief description of each story is listed below.
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
"The World-Thinker" was the first story Vance ever published and was issued in Thrilling Wonder Stories in August of 1945. It is a twenty five page novelette that Vance wrote while he was at sea. It is a good story for a first publication and involves Isabel May who escapes prison on Earth and flees in a spaceship pursued by Lanark who is hired to capture her alive. She possesses a very valuable code that is highly important to the government. Lanark finally tracks her spaceship down on another planet but cannot find Isabel. Instead he encounters a godlike creature named Laoome, "the one-time Sage of the Fifth Universe--Laoome the World-Thinker, the Final Sage of the Fifth Universe." Laoome has the ability to create through his mind other planets and realities and has placed Isabel under his protection on one of the planets he created. Lanark convinces Laoome to allow him to visit this planet to talk with her. A number of cosmological ideas are explored in this early work. I rated it a 3 "Liked it."
"Dream Castle" as issued here is a 1982 revision of a short story that was originally published in the magazine Astounding Science Fiction in 1947 under the title "I'll Build Your Dream Castle." (I have ordered the original version to compare the two.) Here it is an eighteen page short story that features an intelligent and enterprising protagonist named Farrero, a fairly recent graduate who designs and markets homes for a contracting firm. His boss, Angker, wants him to sign over patents that he created when he was in school. When he refuses to do so, he is immediately fired. Farrero strikes out on his own even though he does not have a contractor's license. His ideas are revolutionary and very profit making so that he is soon in competition with his old firm. They decide to try to hire rehire him or at least attempt to duplicate what he is doing, but Farrero seems to have anticipated this. The story is quite clever. I rated it a 3.
"The Potters of Firsk" is a nineteen page short story that was published originally in 1950 in Astounding Science Fiction magazine. It is a very imaginative, creative story that demonstrates how early in his career Vance was able to produce well written, interesting stories. The main character, Thomm, is asked about a beautiful bowl on his desk and tells the story of how he obtained it on the planet Firsk from fierce, secretive potters who used human bones in their glazes. These potters usually used the bones of the deceased per an ancient agreement with the local people. But "when the need is great, we do anticipate nature by a year or two...The soul lives forever in the pot it beautifies." One of Thomm's assignments on Firsk was to make sure that local people were not captured alive and used for their bones when the bone supply was low. In this fascinating tale a number of cultural anthropological issues arise. I rated it a 5.
"Meet Miss Universe" was published first in 1955 in Fantastic Universe. It is a twenty five page short story involving the California Tri-Centennial Exposition. Harderman Clydell, the Exposition's General Director asks his assistant, Tony LeGrand, if he can think of events or exhibits to enhance the exposition and Tony suggests a Miss Universe contest. LeGrand likes the idea so they begin making plans. They decide to include all species of intelligent alien creatures as long as they come from a socially organized society, an interpreter can be found and the species is not dangerous. Comparing humans to Pleiades dragon women would be difficult so they decide to score the contestants based on the standards of their home planet. The story is intended to be light and humorous and has an unpredictable ending, although it is clearly dated. I rated it a 3.
"Winner Lose All" is a fifteen page short story that was originally published under the title "The Visitors" in 1951 in Galaxy Science Fiction. It is a very imaginative story that benefits from a second reading. Humans and other aliens arrive on a newly discovered planet around the same time and begin to explore it. In the process of doing so, they encounter each other and assume that the other is part of the natural habitat of the planet. How they physically and psychologically perceive each other and the way they react provides a fascinating experience for the reader. Vance is a master at creating other worlds and fascinating alien beings while addressing psychological, anthropological and sociological factors. I rated this a 4.
"Sabotage on Sulfur Planet" is a thirty eight page novelette that was published first in 1952 in Startling Stories magazine. The main character, Robert Smith, is a Star Control agent who is assigned the duty of investigating an unscrupulous spaceship captain named Captain Plum who seems to have located an undiscovered world. But the captain is not talking and plans to return to the planet to take advantage of the creatures that inhabit it even though the "fuzz-balls" as he calls them are "blind, deaf and dumb." Ethical and anthropological issues about exploration and exploitation of other cultures are dealt with. Rated 3
The twenty three page novelette "Four Hundred Blackbirds" was issued first in Future Science Fiction in 1953. A means of telepathy is developed so that fighter pilots can wear helmets that allow them to communicate with the other pilots and rest of the crew. The idea is that they are able to coordinate like a flock of blackbirds in perfect unison when attacking. But for every arms invention there are counter inventions. Here we have an arms race based on telepathy. I thought the story was somewhat interesting. Rated 3.
Seven Exits to Bocz is a ten page short story that was published initially in 1952 in The Rhodomagnetic Digest. The main character, Nicholas Trasek, visits a scientist, Dr. Horzabky, to confront him about his role during the war at the Bocz death camp. Sixty eight thousand slave prisoners disappeared as they were forced into one of seven portals to other universes used by Dr. Horzabky in his cruel experiments. One of these victims was Trasek's brother. This story reminded me of Nazi concentration camps and the subsequent war crimes trials. I rated it a 3.
"Assault on a City" is a fifty one page novelette that was issued first in 1974 in the collection titled Universe 4. It placed fourth in the 1975 Locus Awards and was a semifinalist in the 1975 Hugo Awards. An alternative title is "The Insufferable Redheaded Daughter of Commander Tynnott, OTE." The main character is Alice Tynnott, daughter of Commander Tynnott, with whom several male characters are infatuated. One of these is Bo Histledine a criminal and scoundrel and the other is the straight laced, pleasant, cordial Waldo Walberg. Part of the attraction for both of them is that Alice appears to be aloof and unobtainable. The planet of Hant provides a colorful background for their encounters. I found the story itself to be of only minor interest and rated it 3.
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
"The World-Thinker" was the first story Vance ever published and was issued in Thrilling Wonder Stories in August of 1945. It is a twenty five page novelette that Vance wrote while he was at sea. It is a good story for a first publication and involves Isabel May who escapes prison on Earth and flees in a spaceship pursued by Lanark who is hired to capture her alive. She possesses a very valuable code that is highly important to the government. Lanark finally tracks her spaceship down on another planet but cannot find Isabel. Instead he encounters a godlike creature named Laoome, "the one-time Sage of the Fifth Universe--Laoome the World-Thinker, the Final Sage of the Fifth Universe." Laoome has the ability to create through his mind other planets and realities and has placed Isabel under his protection on one of the planets he created. Lanark convinces Laoome to allow him to visit this planet to talk with her. A number of cosmological ideas are explored in this early work. I rated it a 3 "Liked it."
"Dream Castle" as issued here is a 1982 revision of a short story that was originally published in the magazine Astounding Science Fiction in 1947 under the title "I'll Build Your Dream Castle." (I have ordered the original version to compare the two.) Here it is an eighteen page short story that features an intelligent and enterprising protagonist named Farrero, a fairly recent graduate who designs and markets homes for a contracting firm. His boss, Angker, wants him to sign over patents that he created when he was in school. When he refuses to do so, he is immediately fired. Farrero strikes out on his own even though he does not have a contractor's license. His ideas are revolutionary and very profit making so that he is soon in competition with his old firm. They decide to try to hire rehire him or at least attempt to duplicate what he is doing, but Farrero seems to have anticipated this. The story is quite clever. I rated it a 3.
"The Potters of Firsk" is a nineteen page short story that was published originally in 1950 in Astounding Science Fiction magazine. It is a very imaginative, creative story that demonstrates how early in his career Vance was able to produce well written, interesting stories. The main character, Thomm, is asked about a beautiful bowl on his desk and tells the story of how he obtained it on the planet Firsk from fierce, secretive potters who used human bones in their glazes. These potters usually used the bones of the deceased per an ancient agreement with the local people. But "when the need is great, we do anticipate nature by a year or two...The soul lives forever in the pot it beautifies." One of Thomm's assignments on Firsk was to make sure that local people were not captured alive and used for their bones when the bone supply was low. In this fascinating tale a number of cultural anthropological issues arise. I rated it a 5.
"Meet Miss Universe" was published first in 1955 in Fantastic Universe. It is a twenty five page short story involving the California Tri-Centennial Exposition. Harderman Clydell, the Exposition's General Director asks his assistant, Tony LeGrand, if he can think of events or exhibits to enhance the exposition and Tony suggests a Miss Universe contest. LeGrand likes the idea so they begin making plans. They decide to include all species of intelligent alien creatures as long as they come from a socially organized society, an interpreter can be found and the species is not dangerous. Comparing humans to Pleiades dragon women would be difficult so they decide to score the contestants based on the standards of their home planet. The story is intended to be light and humorous and has an unpredictable ending, although it is clearly dated. I rated it a 3.
"Winner Lose All" is a fifteen page short story that was originally published under the title "The Visitors" in 1951 in Galaxy Science Fiction. It is a very imaginative story that benefits from a second reading. Humans and other aliens arrive on a newly discovered planet around the same time and begin to explore it. In the process of doing so, they encounter each other and assume that the other is part of the natural habitat of the planet. How they physically and psychologically perceive each other and the way they react provides a fascinating experience for the reader. Vance is a master at creating other worlds and fascinating alien beings while addressing psychological, anthropological and sociological factors. I rated this a 4.
"Sabotage on Sulfur Planet" is a thirty eight page novelette that was published first in 1952 in Startling Stories magazine. The main character, Robert Smith, is a Star Control agent who is assigned the duty of investigating an unscrupulous spaceship captain named Captain Plum who seems to have located an undiscovered world. But the captain is not talking and plans to return to the planet to take advantage of the creatures that inhabit it even though the "fuzz-balls" as he calls them are "blind, deaf and dumb." Ethical and anthropological issues about exploration and exploitation of other cultures are dealt with. Rated 3
The twenty three page novelette "Four Hundred Blackbirds" was issued first in Future Science Fiction in 1953. A means of telepathy is developed so that fighter pilots can wear helmets that allow them to communicate with the other pilots and rest of the crew. The idea is that they are able to coordinate like a flock of blackbirds in perfect unison when attacking. But for every arms invention there are counter inventions. Here we have an arms race based on telepathy. I thought the story was somewhat interesting. Rated 3.
Seven Exits to Bocz is a ten page short story that was published initially in 1952 in The Rhodomagnetic Digest. The main character, Nicholas Trasek, visits a scientist, Dr. Horzabky, to confront him about his role during the war at the Bocz death camp. Sixty eight thousand slave prisoners disappeared as they were forced into one of seven portals to other universes used by Dr. Horzabky in his cruel experiments. One of these victims was Trasek's brother. This story reminded me of Nazi concentration camps and the subsequent war crimes trials. I rated it a 3.
"Assault on a City" is a fifty one page novelette that was issued first in 1974 in the collection titled Universe 4. It placed fourth in the 1975 Locus Awards and was a semifinalist in the 1975 Hugo Awards. An alternative title is "The Insufferable Redheaded Daughter of Commander Tynnott, OTE." The main character is Alice Tynnott, daughter of Commander Tynnott, with whom several male characters are infatuated. One of these is Bo Histledine a criminal and scoundrel and the other is the straight laced, pleasant, cordial Waldo Walberg. Part of the attraction for both of them is that Alice appears to be aloof and unobtainable. The planet of Hant provides a colorful background for their encounters. I found the story itself to be of only minor interest and rated it 3.
August 31, 2015
Contents:
The World-Thinker (1945)
Dream Castle (1947)
The Potters of Firsk (1950)
Meet Miss Universe (1955)
Winner Lose All (1951)
Sabotage on Sulphur Planet (1952)
Four Hundred Blackbirds (1953)
Seven Exits from Bocz (1952)
Assault on a City (1974)
Foreword by Jack Vance. Cover: Ned Dameron.
The World-Thinker (1945)
Dream Castle (1947)
The Potters of Firsk (1950)
Meet Miss Universe (1955)
Winner Lose All (1951)
Sabotage on Sulphur Planet (1952)
Four Hundred Blackbirds (1953)
Seven Exits from Bocz (1952)
Assault on a City (1974)
Foreword by Jack Vance. Cover: Ned Dameron.
Read
August 31, 2009meh. this book felt very dated to me, and I was not impressed by some of the gender stereotypes.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews