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Magnus Ridolph #2-10
The Many Worlds of Magnus Ridolph
Magnus Ridolph, at first glance, did not look like an interstellar troubleshooter. He was not tall and muscular, his skin had not been turned to a rugged color by the numerous distant suns he had visited, and his voice and manner seemed far too mild for an adventurer. Yet there was a chill hardness in his mild blue eyes that warned of the deceptiveness in his appearance.
Throughout the galaxy, there were men and other beings - Yellowbirds, Tau Gemini ant-things, Hecatian anthropes - who could testify to the deadliness that lurked behind those eyes.
In Magnus Ridolph, Jack Vance has created one of the most memorable characters of his award-winning career.
Throughout the galaxy, there were men and other beings - Yellowbirds, Tau Gemini ant-things, Hecatian anthropes - who could testify to the deadliness that lurked behind those eyes.
In Magnus Ridolph, Jack Vance has created one of the most memorable characters of his award-winning career.
174 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1966
2 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Jack Vance
777 books1,591 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 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 30, 2018
synopsis: clever, elderly, and very snobby Magnus Ridolph constantly finds himself in debt; fortunately, his skill as an intergalactic detective always brings in the greenbacks. this is a collection of all stories featuring the urbane Ridolph.
Jack Vance is a favorite among favorites: he's easily my most beloved writer of science fiction and fantasy. and so I've been avoiding some of his lesser-known or less-respected works. why spoil what I love? or so I rationalized. but reading this didn't take away my appreciation. when you love something or someone, you love them despite the flaws. and here are the 2 star flaws: thin stories with even thinner endings, less impressive prose than what I'm used to, an odd focus on things Magnus (or perhaps Vance) considers ugly (mainly flab - LOL?), and an overall feeling that these were written sometime between breakfast and lunch.
it was interesting to see all of the Vancean hallmarks on display, even in a set of stories that were all quite slight: characters obsessed with the minutiae of exchanging "munits" (a standard form of galactic currency); highly eccentric and insular alien cultures; heaps of sardonic disdain; and an ironic, detached use of understatement when describing various dramatic, horrific, or awe-inspiring events. nearly each of the mysteries are solved due to Magnus' understanding of how different cultures simply don't use the same logic or understand the same norms as most humans; any person who attempts to consider their own personal, culturally specific, subjective perspective as an objective way to look at a situation is a person who is just not getting the big picture, and will no doubt fail. it's sort of fun watching such people fail, in this book and of course in the real world.
Jack Vance is a favorite among favorites: he's easily my most beloved writer of science fiction and fantasy. and so I've been avoiding some of his lesser-known or less-respected works. why spoil what I love? or so I rationalized. but reading this didn't take away my appreciation. when you love something or someone, you love them despite the flaws. and here are the 2 star flaws: thin stories with even thinner endings, less impressive prose than what I'm used to, an odd focus on things Magnus (or perhaps Vance) considers ugly (mainly flab - LOL?), and an overall feeling that these were written sometime between breakfast and lunch.
it was interesting to see all of the Vancean hallmarks on display, even in a set of stories that were all quite slight: characters obsessed with the minutiae of exchanging "munits" (a standard form of galactic currency); highly eccentric and insular alien cultures; heaps of sardonic disdain; and an ironic, detached use of understatement when describing various dramatic, horrific, or awe-inspiring events. nearly each of the mysteries are solved due to Magnus' understanding of how different cultures simply don't use the same logic or understand the same norms as most humans; any person who attempts to consider their own personal, culturally specific, subjective perspective as an objective way to look at a situation is a person who is just not getting the big picture, and will no doubt fail. it's sort of fun watching such people fail, in this book and of course in the real world.
August 21, 2010
It is supererogatory for me to restate my enthusiasm for the writing of Jack Vance. A master wordsmith and storyteller, his writing is matchless.
So... what about Magnus Ridolph? It's not Vance's masterwork, but it's still undeniably Vance in his prime. The main attraction here is not Vance's exquisite prose (which is still evident, but slightly relaxed), but rather the amazing character of Magnus Ridolph.
Ridolph, a senior citizen, is not an action hero, and was created by Vance as a foil for the countless other stories written about adventurers who leap first and look later. Ridolph, in contrast, is aged but wise, and uses his intellect to solve mysteries (and to make witty ripostes to his adversaries to their bewilderment). Ridolph's fame spreads across the galaxy, and he proves his mettle here by using analytical means to resolve the issues in each story.
The best story is likely "Coup de Grace", which is also the youngest story in the batch, and very convincingly shows Ridolph's manner in utlizing cultural analysis to solve a murder mystery in deep space. But other stories are equally enjoyable, and in each case Ridolph finds an intelligent means of demystifying the story's central conundrum while at the same time disentangling himself from the deceptions and machinations of those who would seek to profit (at Ridolph's expense) from his work.
I've read this book twice now, and will definitely reread at some point in the future. Funny and smart, these stories deserve to be read and enjoyed by a wider audience. Find a copy and sit back, as you are in good hands when reading Jack Vance.
So... what about Magnus Ridolph? It's not Vance's masterwork, but it's still undeniably Vance in his prime. The main attraction here is not Vance's exquisite prose (which is still evident, but slightly relaxed), but rather the amazing character of Magnus Ridolph.
Ridolph, a senior citizen, is not an action hero, and was created by Vance as a foil for the countless other stories written about adventurers who leap first and look later. Ridolph, in contrast, is aged but wise, and uses his intellect to solve mysteries (and to make witty ripostes to his adversaries to their bewilderment). Ridolph's fame spreads across the galaxy, and he proves his mettle here by using analytical means to resolve the issues in each story.
The best story is likely "Coup de Grace", which is also the youngest story in the batch, and very convincingly shows Ridolph's manner in utlizing cultural analysis to solve a murder mystery in deep space. But other stories are equally enjoyable, and in each case Ridolph finds an intelligent means of demystifying the story's central conundrum while at the same time disentangling himself from the deceptions and machinations of those who would seek to profit (at Ridolph's expense) from his work.
I've read this book twice now, and will definitely reread at some point in the future. Funny and smart, these stories deserve to be read and enjoyed by a wider audience. Find a copy and sit back, as you are in good hands when reading Jack Vance.
May 28, 2024
This is a collection of early Vance short stories originally published in magazines from 1948 to 1957. The first book edition was issued in 1966 by ACE in both paperback and hardcover and as an Ace Double with The Brains of the Earth The Ace editions had 6 of the 10 Magnus Ridolph stories that Vance wrote. A later 1980 DAW edition with the same title had 8 stories, and all 10 were in the 1984 The Complete Magnus Ridolph. Ridolph is a colorful rascal who contracts out as an interplanetary detective. His physical appearance is very unpresuming so people, including those who hire him, underestimate him and try to take advantage of him. But Ridolph is very clever, outwits everyone and has a knack for unraveling every mystery or problem he investigates. It is a very easy read, fun, entertaining and often humorous. I found the stories to be quite enjoyable. I read the ACE edition first and then the DAW book about three months later and liked the stories even more the second time I read them. I recommend reading the DAW edition because it has two additional stories: The Sub-Standard Sardines and To B or Not to C or to D. My overall rating: 4. Below is a brief description of each of the stories.
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
"The Kodod Warriors," a 34 page novelette first published in 1951, is one of the Magnus Ridolph series. The "Women's League Committee for the Preservation of Moral Values" hires Ridolph to investigate and stop ritualistic battles on another planet (Kodod) where tribes of dwarf like creatures have bloody fights with each other while tourists with their tour guide watch for entertainment. The hotel in the region makes huge profits from the tourists who visit the planet just to watch these killings. Ridolph devises a clever scheme in this interesting and easy to read story that is arguably the finest of the Magnus Ridolph stories. I rated it 5.
"The Unspeakable McInch" is a seventeen page short story that was issued initially in the magazine Startling Stories in 1948. Magnus Ridolph is hired to visit the planet of Sclerotto to identify and deal with a murderer named McInch, whose real identify is unknown. The planet was settled by aliens from many different worlds who, despite their many differences, seem to get along and to have a functioning society. Tourists visit the planet just to see the many strange residents who live and work there. The authorities suspect that McInch is one of the city officials, each of whom is a different species. After arriving at the planet Magnus makes the rounds to interview all of the major city officials. The story is filled with bizarre, colorful alien creatures who make up the society. It is very entertaining, humorous and simply fun to read. I rated it a 4.
Howling Bounders is an eighteen page short story that was first published in Startling Stories magazine in 1949. Magnus Ridolph finds a business opportunity and cannot believe his good fortune. He is offered a plantation at a price that seems too good to be true. After moving in, however, he discovers that his crops are being attacked and destroyed by creatures called "Howling Bounders." Ridolph is too clever and persevering to give up, though, and devises a scheme to deal with the Howling Bounders and the seller who cheated him. I rated it a 3.
"The King of Thieves" is an eighteen page short story that was first published in 1949 in the magazine Startling Stories. This one is pure fun and places Magnus Ridolph on a planet where the inhabitants admire thievery and honor the most successful thieves, such as their king. Ridolph bets with another visitor that he can maintain more of his possessions, and the visitor agrees to place the bet with him. This visitor cheated Ridolph previously so he is bent on revenge. Both of them seem to have no limits on what they will do to win as each tries to outsmart the other. I was quite amused and rated it a 4.
"Spa of the Stars" is a nineteen page short story that initially came out in Startling Stories magazine in 1950. A huge luxury hotel and resort is opened on the planet Kolama but has only three paying guests because of attacks on guests by half ton "gorilla-things", flying snakes, dragons and twenty foot aquatic pincher beetles. For some reason there were no such attacks during construction, but only after opening. Management thinks the local creatures called Mollies who assisted with building the resort were somehow able to keep these predators away, possibly by their odor. Magnus is hired to investigate, but the people who hire him do not act in good faith. This is an easy to read, enjoyable story with humor and local color. I rated it a 4.
"Coup de Grace" is a twenty one page short story published initially in 1958 in the magazine Super Science Fiction. Magnus Ridolph is relaxing on a private space station called the Hub which is visited by many beings from other planets. Magnus is approached by an anthropologist who recognizes him and tries to hire him because he is fearful someone is trying to kill him. Magnus, however, is on vacation and declines the job offer. The next morning the anthropologist is found dead and Magnus is asked by the owner of the space station if he will help investigate because no law enforcement authorities have jurisdiction over a private space station and he wants to see that the murder is brought to justice. Magnus feels he cannot decline the offer so begins to investigate. Because there are so many alien beings with different customs and cultures, Magnus decides to conduct what he refers to as a "cultural analysis" to narrow down who might be the most likely suspects. One of the aliens, for example, is from a warrior culture where it would be extremely shameful to kill another except in face to face combat. Another is from a culture where human sacrifice is done for religious purposes, but the anthropologist was not killed in the ritualistic way that this culture requires. It is a murder mystery with various colorful aliens as suspects, all cleverly investigated by Magnus. My rating: 3 "Liked it."
"The Sub-Standard Sardines" is as strange a story as the title suggests. First published in the magazine Startling Stories it is a twenty two page short story and one of two stories not included in the Ace edition of The Many Worlds of Magnus Ridolph. It is in the DAW edition and in the Complete Magnus Ridolph. Magnus is invited to a gourmet dinner of broiled grouse with truffles and compote of Marchisand cherries, Queen Persis salad, Sirius Fifth artichokes, incredible wines from three planets, and a final course of canned sardines. The dinner is magnificent until the end when he opens the can of sardines and they explode. Magnus is then hired by the sardine firm to investigate why some of their gourmet cans of sardines are bad and appear to have been tampered with. Magnus investigates by getting a job undercover at the sardine factory. It is a funny, bizarre, very creative story that even involves talking fish. I rated it a 4.
“To B or Not to C or to D” is a twenty page short story that was first published in Startling Stories magazine in 1950. It is also known as "Cosmic Hotfoot." It is one of the two Magnus Ridolph stories that are included in the DAW edition of The Many Worlds of Magnus Ridolph but are omitted from the Ace edition. Ridolph is deeply in debt and trying to hide from bill collectors when he is approached with an offer that will pay off his bills if he investigates why minors keep dying on a private planet called Jexjeka. Magnus is in debt because of the expenses of managing his own personal zoo, "that howling menagerie of monsters," so accepts the assignment after cleverly negotiating a contract. Magnus puts himself at great risk to investigate and is unsure if he can trust his employer, a "scowling man" with "carbuncle eyes" who has a reputation for being an "unscrupulous blackguard." I liked the story and rated it a 3.
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
"The Kodod Warriors," a 34 page novelette first published in 1951, is one of the Magnus Ridolph series. The "Women's League Committee for the Preservation of Moral Values" hires Ridolph to investigate and stop ritualistic battles on another planet (Kodod) where tribes of dwarf like creatures have bloody fights with each other while tourists with their tour guide watch for entertainment. The hotel in the region makes huge profits from the tourists who visit the planet just to watch these killings. Ridolph devises a clever scheme in this interesting and easy to read story that is arguably the finest of the Magnus Ridolph stories. I rated it 5.
"The Unspeakable McInch" is a seventeen page short story that was issued initially in the magazine Startling Stories in 1948. Magnus Ridolph is hired to visit the planet of Sclerotto to identify and deal with a murderer named McInch, whose real identify is unknown. The planet was settled by aliens from many different worlds who, despite their many differences, seem to get along and to have a functioning society. Tourists visit the planet just to see the many strange residents who live and work there. The authorities suspect that McInch is one of the city officials, each of whom is a different species. After arriving at the planet Magnus makes the rounds to interview all of the major city officials. The story is filled with bizarre, colorful alien creatures who make up the society. It is very entertaining, humorous and simply fun to read. I rated it a 4.
Howling Bounders is an eighteen page short story that was first published in Startling Stories magazine in 1949. Magnus Ridolph finds a business opportunity and cannot believe his good fortune. He is offered a plantation at a price that seems too good to be true. After moving in, however, he discovers that his crops are being attacked and destroyed by creatures called "Howling Bounders." Ridolph is too clever and persevering to give up, though, and devises a scheme to deal with the Howling Bounders and the seller who cheated him. I rated it a 3.
"The King of Thieves" is an eighteen page short story that was first published in 1949 in the magazine Startling Stories. This one is pure fun and places Magnus Ridolph on a planet where the inhabitants admire thievery and honor the most successful thieves, such as their king. Ridolph bets with another visitor that he can maintain more of his possessions, and the visitor agrees to place the bet with him. This visitor cheated Ridolph previously so he is bent on revenge. Both of them seem to have no limits on what they will do to win as each tries to outsmart the other. I was quite amused and rated it a 4.
"Spa of the Stars" is a nineteen page short story that initially came out in Startling Stories magazine in 1950. A huge luxury hotel and resort is opened on the planet Kolama but has only three paying guests because of attacks on guests by half ton "gorilla-things", flying snakes, dragons and twenty foot aquatic pincher beetles. For some reason there were no such attacks during construction, but only after opening. Management thinks the local creatures called Mollies who assisted with building the resort were somehow able to keep these predators away, possibly by their odor. Magnus is hired to investigate, but the people who hire him do not act in good faith. This is an easy to read, enjoyable story with humor and local color. I rated it a 4.
"Coup de Grace" is a twenty one page short story published initially in 1958 in the magazine Super Science Fiction. Magnus Ridolph is relaxing on a private space station called the Hub which is visited by many beings from other planets. Magnus is approached by an anthropologist who recognizes him and tries to hire him because he is fearful someone is trying to kill him. Magnus, however, is on vacation and declines the job offer. The next morning the anthropologist is found dead and Magnus is asked by the owner of the space station if he will help investigate because no law enforcement authorities have jurisdiction over a private space station and he wants to see that the murder is brought to justice. Magnus feels he cannot decline the offer so begins to investigate. Because there are so many alien beings with different customs and cultures, Magnus decides to conduct what he refers to as a "cultural analysis" to narrow down who might be the most likely suspects. One of the aliens, for example, is from a warrior culture where it would be extremely shameful to kill another except in face to face combat. Another is from a culture where human sacrifice is done for religious purposes, but the anthropologist was not killed in the ritualistic way that this culture requires. It is a murder mystery with various colorful aliens as suspects, all cleverly investigated by Magnus. My rating: 3 "Liked it."
"The Sub-Standard Sardines" is as strange a story as the title suggests. First published in the magazine Startling Stories it is a twenty two page short story and one of two stories not included in the Ace edition of The Many Worlds of Magnus Ridolph. It is in the DAW edition and in the Complete Magnus Ridolph. Magnus is invited to a gourmet dinner of broiled grouse with truffles and compote of Marchisand cherries, Queen Persis salad, Sirius Fifth artichokes, incredible wines from three planets, and a final course of canned sardines. The dinner is magnificent until the end when he opens the can of sardines and they explode. Magnus is then hired by the sardine firm to investigate why some of their gourmet cans of sardines are bad and appear to have been tampered with. Magnus investigates by getting a job undercover at the sardine factory. It is a funny, bizarre, very creative story that even involves talking fish. I rated it a 4.
“To B or Not to C or to D” is a twenty page short story that was first published in Startling Stories magazine in 1950. It is also known as "Cosmic Hotfoot." It is one of the two Magnus Ridolph stories that are included in the DAW edition of The Many Worlds of Magnus Ridolph but are omitted from the Ace edition. Ridolph is deeply in debt and trying to hide from bill collectors when he is approached with an offer that will pay off his bills if he investigates why minors keep dying on a private planet called Jexjeka. Magnus is in debt because of the expenses of managing his own personal zoo, "that howling menagerie of monsters," so accepts the assignment after cleverly negotiating a contract. Magnus puts himself at great risk to investigate and is unsure if he can trust his employer, a "scowling man" with "carbuncle eyes" who has a reputation for being an "unscrupulous blackguard." I liked the story and rated it a 3.
January 30, 2019
This collection of pulp sci-fi short stories, all featuring Magnus Ridolph, aging intergalactic sleuth, is clearly not among Vance's very best. Yet along with some duds there are some nice surprises, with flashes of Vance's brilliant talent for vivid alien world building.
Magnus Ridolph himself is a Sherlock Holmes type, solving mysteries without much pretense. He lacks the flair found in Vance's typically young, impetuous protagonists, relying on the use of logic, analytical skill, a bit of conniving and only a bare minimum of daring.
There is no continuity among the stories, they can be read in any order, and I would suggest skipping the duds noted below. Recommended for Jack Vance fans.
Hard Luck Diggings 2/5
Sanatoris Short-cut 2/5
The Sub-Standard Sardines 2/5
The Unspeakable McInch 3.5/5
The King of Thieves 3.5/5
To B or Not to C or to D 3/5
The Howling Bounders 3/5
The Spa of the Stars 2.5/5
The Kokod Warriors 3.5/5
Coup de Grace 2.5/5
Magnus Ridolph himself is a Sherlock Holmes type, solving mysteries without much pretense. He lacks the flair found in Vance's typically young, impetuous protagonists, relying on the use of logic, analytical skill, a bit of conniving and only a bare minimum of daring.
There is no continuity among the stories, they can be read in any order, and I would suggest skipping the duds noted below. Recommended for Jack Vance fans.
Hard Luck Diggings 2/5
Sanatoris Short-cut 2/5
The Sub-Standard Sardines 2/5
The Unspeakable McInch 3.5/5
The King of Thieves 3.5/5
To B or Not to C or to D 3/5
The Howling Bounders 3/5
The Spa of the Stars 2.5/5
The Kokod Warriors 3.5/5
Coup de Grace 2.5/5
July 8, 2014
One of the absolutely funniest collections of science-fiction short-stories ever written. The account of tourists betting on the wars between "The Kokod Warriors" is side-splittingly funny, especially the narrative from one of the warriors after Magnus Ridolph decides to set-up the visitor's hotel as a target after being hypocritically snubbed by a client who is a guest at the hotel.
Jack Vance demonstrates his usual droll humor throughout, as well as his ability to create alien worlds and cultures using only a few compelling word images.
Jack Vance demonstrates his usual droll humor throughout, as well as his ability to create alien worlds and cultures using only a few compelling word images.
May 14, 2012
A collection of short stories, comprising the entire adventures of Magnus Ridolph, written by famed sf/fantasy/mystery writer Jack Vance. Magnus is a combination Sherlock Holmes and mercenary adventurer. He is an anti-hero, defying the expected appearance of the typical fictional adventurer, and being entirely professional, or perhaps profit-driven.
Magnus will take almost any case, but expects a fee commensurate with his considerable abilities. He posesses a James-Bond level of self-assurance, and for good reason. Travelling from planet to planet, alien culture to alien culture, each of Magnus' cases are different, each presenting a new challenge for Magnus and for the reader: things are never dull in the career of Magnus Ridolph. This thin volume contains all eight of Ridolph's recorded cases. It is SF's loss that Vance did not write a hundred more.
Magnus will take almost any case, but expects a fee commensurate with his considerable abilities. He posesses a James-Bond level of self-assurance, and for good reason. Travelling from planet to planet, alien culture to alien culture, each of Magnus' cases are different, each presenting a new challenge for Magnus and for the reader: things are never dull in the career of Magnus Ridolph. This thin volume contains all eight of Ridolph's recorded cases. It is SF's loss that Vance did not write a hundred more.
November 21, 2017
Funny in places. More enjoyable than other books by the same author.
November 7, 2019
Magnus Ridolph is like Jeeves or Sherlock Holmes, although he never made it into long form literature. He was a guy who you come to with a problem and within the space of 20 pages he's solved the problem.
So often with these Vance novels the core of the story is the moment where the character is completely adrift, marooned, lost etc. But it has to take a certain number of pages to get there and then get back home again. It's the basic shape of every Jack Vance story. Cast your hero down into the darkest pit or the widest desert then figure out how he escapes. With the Magnus Ridolph format however (5 pages to establish a mystery, 15 pages to solve it, 5 pages to conclude) I don't think what you're left with is the real Jack Vance. It's a walk in the park, as opposed to a Darwinian struggle for survival in a psychedelic jungle. It just isn't the same.
I always enjoy Vance anyway. This might be the most forgettable Vance book I've read but I still enjoyed it.
So often with these Vance novels the core of the story is the moment where the character is completely adrift, marooned, lost etc. But it has to take a certain number of pages to get there and then get back home again. It's the basic shape of every Jack Vance story. Cast your hero down into the darkest pit or the widest desert then figure out how he escapes. With the Magnus Ridolph format however (5 pages to establish a mystery, 15 pages to solve it, 5 pages to conclude) I don't think what you're left with is the real Jack Vance. It's a walk in the park, as opposed to a Darwinian struggle for survival in a psychedelic jungle. It just isn't the same.
I always enjoy Vance anyway. This might be the most forgettable Vance book I've read but I still enjoyed it.
July 19, 2012
A decent read, even if nowhere near Vance's best. I'd love to get hold of that book Magnus Ridolph was reading in the library in 'Coup de Grace' detailing the various idiosyncratic races inhabiting the different worlds in the story.
November 27, 2009
Some good old SF detective stories. Amusing.
July 13, 2010
Pretty good. I read other reviews which referred to this as "hilarious" - I think I'd say more "amusing."
May 12, 2021
― Se numeşte McInch; este un asasin. Asta-i tot ce ştim.
Magnus Ridolph ar fi refuzat o asemenea anchetă, dacă creditul contului său bancar s-ar fi situat la un nivel normal. Dar eşecul unei aventuri publicitare ― o reclamă luminoasă în spaţiile interplanetare, pe bază de gaze luminescente ― îl adusese pe filosoful cu barbă albă într-o situaţie vecină cu sărăcia.
Primele impresii pe care i le furniză planeta Scleretto nu făcură decât să-i accentueze aversiunea faţă de sarcina ce-l aştepta. Lumina celor doi sori ― roşie şi albastră ― îi jena puternic ochii. Oceanul cu aspect uleios, haosul de nedescris al stâncilor îngrămădite fără noimă pe mal îi alungau orice chef de repaus, iar Scleretto City, jalnic labirint de cocioabe şi coşmelii, nu avea darul de a-i sugera vreo distracţie posibilă. În sfârşit, gazda sa ― Klemmer Boek ― capelanul-director al Misiunii Cultului Unic, îl primise cu răceală, lăsând impresia că prezenţa lui nu-i face plăcere, de parcă el, Magnus Ridolph, ar fi fost cu ceva vinovat.
Într-o vechitură de maşină hodorogită se deplasară până la sediul Misiunii, cocoţat în vârful unei stânci golaşe, unde penumbra care domnea înăuntru i se păru răcoritoare după lumina stridentă şi praful de pe drum.
Magnus Ridolph îşi scoase din buzunar o batistă împăturită cu grijă şi-şi tamponă fruntea, nasul aristocratic, barba albă şi mătăsoasă. Apoi îşi întoarse privirea spre gazdă şi exclamă contrariat:
― Lumina asta mă scoate, pur şi simplu, din sărite. Albastru, roşu ― trei umbre diferite pentru fiecare bolovan, pentru fiecare fir de iarbă!
― Eu unul m-am obişnuit ― îi răspunse pe un ton neutru Klemmer Boek.
Magnus Ridolph ar fi refuzat o asemenea anchetă, dacă creditul contului său bancar s-ar fi situat la un nivel normal. Dar eşecul unei aventuri publicitare ― o reclamă luminoasă în spaţiile interplanetare, pe bază de gaze luminescente ― îl adusese pe filosoful cu barbă albă într-o situaţie vecină cu sărăcia.
Primele impresii pe care i le furniză planeta Scleretto nu făcură decât să-i accentueze aversiunea faţă de sarcina ce-l aştepta. Lumina celor doi sori ― roşie şi albastră ― îi jena puternic ochii. Oceanul cu aspect uleios, haosul de nedescris al stâncilor îngrămădite fără noimă pe mal îi alungau orice chef de repaus, iar Scleretto City, jalnic labirint de cocioabe şi coşmelii, nu avea darul de a-i sugera vreo distracţie posibilă. În sfârşit, gazda sa ― Klemmer Boek ― capelanul-director al Misiunii Cultului Unic, îl primise cu răceală, lăsând impresia că prezenţa lui nu-i face plăcere, de parcă el, Magnus Ridolph, ar fi fost cu ceva vinovat.
Într-o vechitură de maşină hodorogită se deplasară până la sediul Misiunii, cocoţat în vârful unei stânci golaşe, unde penumbra care domnea înăuntru i se păru răcoritoare după lumina stridentă şi praful de pe drum.
Magnus Ridolph îşi scoase din buzunar o batistă împăturită cu grijă şi-şi tamponă fruntea, nasul aristocratic, barba albă şi mătăsoasă. Apoi îşi întoarse privirea spre gazdă şi exclamă contrariat:
― Lumina asta mă scoate, pur şi simplu, din sărite. Albastru, roşu ― trei umbre diferite pentru fiecare bolovan, pentru fiecare fir de iarbă!
― Eu unul m-am obişnuit ― îi răspunse pe un ton neutru Klemmer Boek.
January 11, 2022
Un lettore che si trovi a leggere i primi lavori di un autore che ama difficilmente ne rimane indifferente. O si stupisce negativamente della immaturità del proprio preferito (gli stessi scrittori in genere nascondono, vergognandosi, di queste) oppure riescono a vedere i semi della sua evoluzione successiva, godendo anche di queste opere.
Questo libro antologico delle prime opere di Vance mi porta indubbiamente in questa seconda categoria.
Nel libro sono raccolti i racconti brevi centrati su un personaggio che di lavoro fa l'investigatore (anche per conto di istituzioni governative) e di formazione è un matematico e ama godersi la vita. La sua età e aspetto lo rende un anti-eroe classico.
Tutti i racconti permettono di intravvedere quella che sarà il tratto distintivo di Vance: una fervida immaginazione al servizio della creazione di personaggi, esseri e civiltà che ci sembra di vedere data la quantità di dettagli forniti. Qualcosa di simile (ma al cubo) al mondo di Star Trek serie classica.
La trama è come sempre molto lineare lontana dalla SF hard di molti autori, sia classici che contemporanei. Qui non ci si chiede quanto sia realistico un dettaglio tecnico, semplicemente lo si accetta.
Insomma, se amate Vance (e se amate la SF non potete non amarlo), vale la pena leggerlo come lettura serale
Questo libro antologico delle prime opere di Vance mi porta indubbiamente in questa seconda categoria.
Nel libro sono raccolti i racconti brevi centrati su un personaggio che di lavoro fa l'investigatore (anche per conto di istituzioni governative) e di formazione è un matematico e ama godersi la vita. La sua età e aspetto lo rende un anti-eroe classico.
Tutti i racconti permettono di intravvedere quella che sarà il tratto distintivo di Vance: una fervida immaginazione al servizio della creazione di personaggi, esseri e civiltà che ci sembra di vedere data la quantità di dettagli forniti. Qualcosa di simile (ma al cubo) al mondo di Star Trek serie classica.
La trama è come sempre molto lineare lontana dalla SF hard di molti autori, sia classici che contemporanei. Qui non ci si chiede quanto sia realistico un dettaglio tecnico, semplicemente lo si accetta.
Insomma, se amate Vance (e se amate la SF non potete non amarlo), vale la pena leggerlo come lettura serale
November 28, 2018
I really liked this book since its a combination of short stories and in my busy life I can really appreciate this. Just a new little story per 2 weeks or so.
In my opinion Jack Vance can do no wrong and this book proved that to me once again. This author has such a vivid imagination and he can create these really complex and interesting main characters to his books. Magnus Ridolph is one of those intriguing characters and I wish this book was bigger because I couldn't get enough of this eccentric detective, if you will.
In my opinion Jack Vance can do no wrong and this book proved that to me once again. This author has such a vivid imagination and he can create these really complex and interesting main characters to his books. Magnus Ridolph is one of those intriguing characters and I wish this book was bigger because I couldn't get enough of this eccentric detective, if you will.
June 17, 2023
As with many of Vance's later works, less an episodic adventure or a novel proper and more a series of mostly unrelated episodes in the life of a supremely capable and quietly sarcastic protagonist. Fun enough as they last, but nothing here is that lasting. I did really enjoy the story about the warring planet (if not the closing relevation). Vance is, as always, capable of coming up with brilliant inventions and socio-anthropological constructs.
October 29, 2017
Some classic tales about one of Vance's space sleuths. Sometimes a bit dated, in some other cases slightly predictable, but fun none the less.
November 30, 2017
Entertaining tales about a very fun 'troubleshooter' (an older, diminutive mercenary-slash-con man with very expensive tastes) hired to solve mysteries and fix problems on various worlds.
September 22, 2024
I kind of wanted more out of this. The idea of an elderly space-faring nerd running around solving mysteries is really fun. I want more of these stories with more depth.
May 11, 2020
3,4 *
April 29, 2021
Quick rant before my review: I do wish Goodreads had a way of separating the text of a book from the physical component of the book. I'm reading this in a volume with another Vance novella attached. I might never read that. So I don't want to attach that particular volume to my library, or it would never be read. So instead, I'm pretending I'm reading this edition, with only the one story in it. Rant over!
This was fun, as expected, now that I've wrapped my head around who Jack Vance is. It's not my all time favourite (I prefer longer form fiction, and this was a series of short stories, so you can't really develop feelings for characters, or long to revisit a location, etc.), but it's good for those times when short stories suit your need (it was my "waiting for the tea to steep" book).
If you don't know Vance, I will likely do a terrible job of describing his style, but it's rather fancy, actually, stuffed with loads of invention (he'll think nothing of setting the scene with several alien races, all with their own world view, some unusual weather, a handful of alien plants, and a strange societal quirk, all in the first page), but in a charming, rather than offputting way. (Some authors' attempts at world building and exposition put me off immediately, they have the air of "I spent a year coming up with the background, and even though the story doesn't need it I'm going to cram it in", whereas Vance always seems natural, and the weird elements he mentions will factor in the tale).
If you haven't read him, try one story—I'm sure one story is readily available—and you'll know right away if you take to his style. Then you can move on to something perhaps more significant (e.g. Lyonesse or The Dying Earth and really embrace him ... and save this one for when the tea's steeping, or you run out of novels. Actually, the Dying Earth is a series of short stories, but they're just plain better in my opinion, possibly because the stories had more range, whereas Magnus is for the most part simply solving mysteries one after another.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful.)
This was fun, as expected, now that I've wrapped my head around who Jack Vance is. It's not my all time favourite (I prefer longer form fiction, and this was a series of short stories, so you can't really develop feelings for characters, or long to revisit a location, etc.), but it's good for those times when short stories suit your need (it was my "waiting for the tea to steep" book).
If you don't know Vance, I will likely do a terrible job of describing his style, but it's rather fancy, actually, stuffed with loads of invention (he'll think nothing of setting the scene with several alien races, all with their own world view, some unusual weather, a handful of alien plants, and a strange societal quirk, all in the first page), but in a charming, rather than offputting way. (Some authors' attempts at world building and exposition put me off immediately, they have the air of "I spent a year coming up with the background, and even though the story doesn't need it I'm going to cram it in", whereas Vance always seems natural, and the weird elements he mentions will factor in the tale).
If you haven't read him, try one story—I'm sure one story is readily available—and you'll know right away if you take to his style. Then you can move on to something perhaps more significant (e.g. Lyonesse or The Dying Earth and really embrace him ... and save this one for when the tea's steeping, or you run out of novels. Actually, the Dying Earth is a series of short stories, but they're just plain better in my opinion, possibly because the stories had more range, whereas Magnus is for the most part simply solving mysteries one after another.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful.)
May 12, 2025
These stories are all moderately entertaining though not superb. I can reread them occasionally but not frequently.
Magnus Ridolph is quite an engaging character; the stories all involve him encountering some alien peculiarities of culture, biology, or physics that cause a mystery or a problem, which he proceeds to solve, usually obtaining some financial benefit in the process.
Magnus Ridolph is quite an engaging character; the stories all involve him encountering some alien peculiarities of culture, biology, or physics that cause a mystery or a problem, which he proceeds to solve, usually obtaining some financial benefit in the process.
July 14, 2015
Superlatives fail me as usual with Jack Vances' work...the vocabulary and elegance of his prose will be forever remembered. I just love virtually everything he ever wrote. This was another great read, his protagonists humour is light and sophisticated as he wreaks his revenge on the scumbags of the eclectic universe he inhabits.
July 21, 2018
8/10 this edition (as in eight of the in total ten Magnus Ridolph stories are collected in this edition), as compared to 6/10 for my previous one. Classic Vance quality.
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