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Durdane #1
De Anome
De afgelegen planeet Durdane is lang geleden gekoloniseerd door een allegaartje van Aardse minderheden die besloten hun heil tussen de sterren te zoeken. De afstammelingen daarvan bevolken nu de tweeënzestig kantons van het subcontinent Shant. In Shant dwingt de gevreesde en mysterieuze Anome, de Man zonder Gezicht, gehoorzaamheid af aan de lokale wet- en regelgeving: iedere volwassen inwoner van Shant draagt een explosieve halsband met unieke kleurcodering. Wie zich misdraagt, raakt letterlijk het hoofd kwijt! In kanton Bastern groeit de jonge Mur op in de schaduw van de tempel van de Chilieten, een misogyne religieuze orde die er de plak voert. Volgens de plaatselijke gebruiken is Mur voorbestemd tot een leven als Zuivere Knaap alvorens zelf Chiliet te worden. Mur heeft echter andere toekomstplannen. Bovendien komen er vanuit de Hwan, het bergachtige midden van Shant, onrustbarende geruchten over moordende hordes rode barbaren, de Roguskhoi, en iedereen vraagt zich af waarom de Anome er niets aan lijkt te gaan doen…
De Anome is het eerste deel van de Durdane trilogie.
De Anome is deel 43 van de digitale editie van Het Verzameld Werk van Jack Vance, uitgegeven door Spatterlight. Omslagillustratie: Konstantin Korobov. Een eerdere versie van de vertaling van Pon Ruiter verscheen bij Meulenhoff. De tekst van de Spatterlight editie is door de vertaler herzien en aangepast aan de hedendaagse spelling. Bevat 4 pagina’s uitgebreide en gecorrigeerde kaarten uit de Vance Integral Edition.
De Anome is het eerste deel van de Durdane trilogie.
De Anome is deel 43 van de digitale editie van Het Verzameld Werk van Jack Vance, uitgegeven door Spatterlight. Omslagillustratie: Konstantin Korobov. Een eerdere versie van de vertaling van Pon Ruiter verscheen bij Meulenhoff. De tekst van de Spatterlight editie is door de vertaler herzien en aangepast aan de hedendaagse spelling. Bevat 4 pagina’s uitgebreide en gecorrigeerde kaarten uit de Vance Integral Edition.
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1971
21 people are currently reading
524 people want to read
About the author
Jack Vance
776 books1,582 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 - 30 of 48 reviews
December 1, 2011
Nobody spins the "young citizen provocateur who monkey-wrenches the status quo and topples the oppressive authoritarian regime" story more effectively than Jack Vance. He's simply great at telling this kind of tale. Vance is also adept at giving better bang for the buck when it comes to story content vs page count. Few of his novels exceed 250 pages and yet he's consistently weaving intricate stories that feel epic in scope.
His prose is taut and tightly-crafted and there is little or no wasted verbiage. Every paragraph, every sentence, every word has purpose and is made to feel special. Vance is able to thoroughly immerse the reader into his exotic settings within just a few pages by deploying crisp, precise information-packed descriptions. That is a real talent as I’ve read tomes better used as doorstops that couldn’t adequately get the same job done regardless of how many trees they killed.
BACKGROUND:
The Durdane Trilogy, of which this is the first volume, is set on a planet called Shant. which is comprised of hundreds of disparate, individual towns or cantons. Each canton has its own culture and lives, for the most part, under its own laws which vary greatly from place to place. In the past, this hodge-podge of government stew resulted in constant warring among the various groups. This came to an abrupt end when the solution of the Anome was imposed upon all of them by the first to hold that title.
** This completely reminded me of the collars the prisoners wore in “The Running Man” and I'm wondering if this book might have been the inspiration for that device.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Our future rabble-rouser is Gastel Etzwane, who begins life in the oppressive, misogynistic theocracy of Chilite, where women or treated as nothing more than communal baby ovens and cheap labor. The fundamental premise of the ruling priesthood is that women are “evil” and “unclean” and their very touch is a taint that must be cleansed. The following quote sums up pretty effectively the view of women in Chilite society and also provides the basis for the “purification” process young men undergo:
This hatred and abuse of women is a primary source of anger for Gastel as he is deeply devoted to his mother and longs to free her from the oppression imposed upon her. Gastel eventually escapes his home (before his torc is attached) and begins a quest to locate the Anome and plead for a release of his mother. In true Vance fashion, what begins as a narrow, personal journey, becomes a global mission to change the world.
THOUGHTS:
All of the hallmarks of a good Vance story are on display in the novel. The sprinkling in of local laws and customs, the depictions of unusual social systems that add flavor to the narrative and the recounting of legends of the ancient past which may hold clues about the present. Overall, it is well developed, well rounded and well and truly enjoyable.
For all that, this was not my favorite Vance work. I never connected as well with the main character as I would have liked and I was hoping for more by way of the climax than I got. These gripes are likely a result of this being the first book of a trilogy rather than a stand alone like many of Vance’s other revolution tales and it’s probably that many of my issues get resolved as the trilogy progresses.
Even on its own, this is a quality effort (I’ve yet to read a Vance story that wasn’t) and delivers handsomely in terms of readability and satisfaction.
3.0 stars. Recommended.
His prose is taut and tightly-crafted and there is little or no wasted verbiage. Every paragraph, every sentence, every word has purpose and is made to feel special. Vance is able to thoroughly immerse the reader into his exotic settings within just a few pages by deploying crisp, precise information-packed descriptions. That is a real talent as I’ve read tomes better used as doorstops that couldn’t adequately get the same job done regardless of how many trees they killed.
BACKGROUND:
The Durdane Trilogy, of which this is the first volume, is set on a planet called Shant. which is comprised of hundreds of disparate, individual towns or cantons. Each canton has its own culture and lives, for the most part, under its own laws which vary greatly from place to place. In the past, this hodge-podge of government stew resulted in constant warring among the various groups. This came to an abrupt end when the solution of the Anome was imposed upon all of them by the first to hold that title.
The impersonal, unqualified rule of the Anome- in popular usage, the Faceless Man – exactly suited the xenophobic folk of the cantons. Governmental apparatus was simple; the Anome made few financial demands; the laws enforced, for the most part, were those formulated by the cantons themselves. The Anome’s justice might be merciless and abrupt, but it was evenhanded and adhered to a single principle, clear to all: He who breaks the law dies.The Faceless Man’s power is entirely dependant upon the torc, an explosive collar worn by each citizen upon reaching adulthood. The collar can be detonated remotely from anywhere on the planet, with resulting headlessness.**
** This completely reminded me of the collars the prisoners wore in “The Running Man” and I'm wondering if this book might have been the inspiration for that device.
PLOT SUMMARY:
Our future rabble-rouser is Gastel Etzwane, who begins life in the oppressive, misogynistic theocracy of Chilite, where women or treated as nothing more than communal baby ovens and cheap labor. The fundamental premise of the ruling priesthood is that women are “evil” and “unclean” and their very touch is a taint that must be cleansed. The following quote sums up pretty effectively the view of women in Chilite society and also provides the basis for the “purification” process young men undergo:
‘Your skins are flushed of stain; for the first time since the necessary depravity of birth you are clean…Man enters the world through the genital portal; an original taint which by cleansings and attitudes the Chilite casts aside, like a serpent molting a skin, but which ordinary men carry like a stinking incubus all the way to their graves.’This is not a pleasant group of people. This purification ritual is extremely painful and is used as much as a punishment for rule breakers as for any reasons of piety.
This hatred and abuse of women is a primary source of anger for Gastel as he is deeply devoted to his mother and longs to free her from the oppression imposed upon her. Gastel eventually escapes his home (before his torc is attached) and begins a quest to locate the Anome and plead for a release of his mother. In true Vance fashion, what begins as a narrow, personal journey, becomes a global mission to change the world.
THOUGHTS:
All of the hallmarks of a good Vance story are on display in the novel. The sprinkling in of local laws and customs, the depictions of unusual social systems that add flavor to the narrative and the recounting of legends of the ancient past which may hold clues about the present. Overall, it is well developed, well rounded and well and truly enjoyable.
For all that, this was not my favorite Vance work. I never connected as well with the main character as I would have liked and I was hoping for more by way of the climax than I got. These gripes are likely a result of this being the first book of a trilogy rather than a stand alone like many of Vance’s other revolution tales and it’s probably that many of my issues get resolved as the trilogy progresses.
Even on its own, this is a quality effort (I’ve yet to read a Vance story that wasn’t) and delivers handsomely in terms of readability and satisfaction.
3.0 stars. Recommended.
May 28, 2024
AKA: The Faceless Man and Durdane 1
The Anome is the first book of the three part Durdane series. It was first published in February, 1971 under the title The Faceless Man as a two part serial in The Magazine of Science and Science Fiction. It was released as a novel under the title The Anome in 1973. The Anome should be read first, followed by The Brave Free Men. It does not work well as a stand-alone novel. There is no resolution at the end of The Anome so the two novels should really be considered one work with The Asutra as a sequel. I do not find The Anome (or the Durdane series) to be among Vance’s really great works. But the Durdane series novels are well worth reading by Vance fans. Those who enjoy reading about the customs and cultures of unusual societies and alternative worlds might also want to explore this series. For readers unfamiliar with the writings of Jack Vance this would probably not be a good starting point.
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
The setting for the novel is in the far future on the planet of Durdane which was colonized nine thousand years ago by people from Earth. The people on Durdane now have no contact with Earth and are not sure it even exists. Durdane is quite backward and has little technology with carriages and hot air balloons being used for transportation. The planet is composed of the regions Shant, Caraz, Palasedran and Beljamar. Our main character lives in Shant where citizens seem to know little about any of the people outside Shant. It is an irregular oblong 1,300 miles long and 500 miles wide that is composed of 62 cantons that are “in loose confederation under the rule of the Faceless Man.” The Faceless Man (formally referred to as the “Anome”) enforces all the laws of the 62 cantons so rules over all of Shant and is feared by the citizens. The Faceless Man also employs deputies who are known as Benevolences and Discriminators. He is called “faceless” because nobody, not even his deputies, know his real identity.
Different Faceless Men have ruled over Shant for over a thousand years and during their rule there has been no war and very little crime. But for citizens there is a high price to pay. When each person in Shant becomes of age, he or she is forced to wear a collar or "torc" around their neck. The torc can never be removed and will explode if an attempt is made to take it off. Each torc is specially coded so that the Faceless Man can locate every person who wears one. If a person is identified as having committed a crime then the Faceless Man can impart “justice” by remotely exploding the torc which usually results in decapitation of the persons head. Torcs are detonated “by means of coded radiation.” All citizens may petition the Faceless Man for a hearing or decision on issues of concern. Each canton has its own set of laws and The Faceless Man does not interfere with canton laws; he just enforces them. He also responds in writing to all citizen petitions submitted to him but has zero tolerance for any crime.
Every canton has its own local rulers, laws and culture. “The cantons of Shant were alike only in their mutual distrust.” Our main character lives in the town of Bashon in the canton called Bastern. Bastern is locally managed or ruled by an all-male religious cult run by the Ecclesiarchs. Followers of the Ecclesiarchs are called Chilites. The head of the Chilites is Grand Male Osso. Only some citizens of Bastern become Chilites. The Ecclesiarchs advocate religious practices focused on self-denial and purity but they do engage in the ritual use of a hallucinogenic drug. They consider all women and girls to be impure and have strict ascetic rules for its members who are initially called “Pure Boys.” Osso has even been known to berate others for even smelling a flower because he says it is a “female procreative organ of the plant.”
Our protagonist, a nine year old boy, is studying to become a Chilite. Initially his name is Mur but he chooses the new name of Gastel Etzwane after being initiated. Mur lives with his mother with whom he is very close. He never knew his father, who is a very famous wandering musician who abandoned his family. One day an old man gives Mur a stringed musical instrument called the Khitan and Mur begins to love playing music and finds music to be more appealing than being a Chilite although he initially tries to combine the two only to find out that the Ecclesiarchs and Chiltes are the only ones in Shant to abhor music, considering it sinful.
Initially Mur likes the idea of becoming a Chilite and defends their practices, denies it is a cult. His mother even defends their practices and laws telling him “If a person breaks Chilite law the Ecclesiarchs punish him. If he runs away, the Faceless Man takes his head.” “If you obey Chilite law, you need never fear the loss of your head.” But Chilite law is very strict with laws and rules that can easily be unintentionally violated because most of them make little sense. Mur is also something of a mischief maker and is not well suited to becoming a Chilite
After going through the purification ritual to become a Chilite, Etzwane visits his mother in her home, something forbidden for him to do. When Osso finds out about this he sends Etzwane’s mother to work as a indentured worker in the tannery as punishment for allowing Etzwane to visit her and thereby contaminating him with “womantaint.” Etzwane as his punishment is locked in a dungeon pending repurifcation rites.
Sending his mother to be a slave in the tannery and locking him up causes Etzwane to rebel against being a Chilite, however, and he manages to break out and flee. His plan is go to the city of Garwiy to petition the Faceless Man to free his mother from having to be indentured to work at the tannery. He also plans to become a wandering musician like his blood father. He does not have a torc yet so he can’t be beheaded but without a torc he also has no protection and can be kidnapped, clamped with a torc and indentured or sold into slavery anywhere in Shant. Etzwane is also certain that Osso will send ahulph trackers to try to find him to either capture him or kill him. Aulphs are creatures used for tracking that have “hairy dog-spider” heads noses in their feet to facilitate tracking. They have a “hairy dog-spider head,” noses in their feet to facilitate tracking and talons that can rip apart the person they are tracking.
Etzwane’s adventures include his development as a musician, petitioning of the Faceless Man for his mother’s freedom, meeting his father who does not know he even exists and dealing with the problem of large murderous human like creatures called Roguskhoi who attack Shant villages while raping and pillaging. Roguskhois are “a kind of mountain savage that can’t be controlled except by its yearnings for strong drink.” The Faceless Man’s minimizes their attacks and refuses to use a militia or other forceful means to control them. Etzwane also meets a man named Ifness who is an interesting and very mysterious character who plays a significant role in all three Durdane novels.
The beginning of The Anome has many strange names and details contained in a few pages but the story soon picks up and moves along. Also, there is no resolution at the end so readers when finishing it should begin reading The Brave Free Men for a satisfactory continuation of the story. I’ve read The Anome three times so far and enjoyed it even more each time. The first time I read it I rated it a 3 or “Liked it” but I now consider it a 4 “Really liked it.”
The Anome is the first book of the three part Durdane series. It was first published in February, 1971 under the title The Faceless Man as a two part serial in The Magazine of Science and Science Fiction. It was released as a novel under the title The Anome in 1973. The Anome should be read first, followed by The Brave Free Men. It does not work well as a stand-alone novel. There is no resolution at the end of The Anome so the two novels should really be considered one work with The Asutra as a sequel. I do not find The Anome (or the Durdane series) to be among Vance’s really great works. But the Durdane series novels are well worth reading by Vance fans. Those who enjoy reading about the customs and cultures of unusual societies and alternative worlds might also want to explore this series. For readers unfamiliar with the writings of Jack Vance this would probably not be a good starting point.
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
The setting for the novel is in the far future on the planet of Durdane which was colonized nine thousand years ago by people from Earth. The people on Durdane now have no contact with Earth and are not sure it even exists. Durdane is quite backward and has little technology with carriages and hot air balloons being used for transportation. The planet is composed of the regions Shant, Caraz, Palasedran and Beljamar. Our main character lives in Shant where citizens seem to know little about any of the people outside Shant. It is an irregular oblong 1,300 miles long and 500 miles wide that is composed of 62 cantons that are “in loose confederation under the rule of the Faceless Man.” The Faceless Man (formally referred to as the “Anome”) enforces all the laws of the 62 cantons so rules over all of Shant and is feared by the citizens. The Faceless Man also employs deputies who are known as Benevolences and Discriminators. He is called “faceless” because nobody, not even his deputies, know his real identity.
Different Faceless Men have ruled over Shant for over a thousand years and during their rule there has been no war and very little crime. But for citizens there is a high price to pay. When each person in Shant becomes of age, he or she is forced to wear a collar or "torc" around their neck. The torc can never be removed and will explode if an attempt is made to take it off. Each torc is specially coded so that the Faceless Man can locate every person who wears one. If a person is identified as having committed a crime then the Faceless Man can impart “justice” by remotely exploding the torc which usually results in decapitation of the persons head. Torcs are detonated “by means of coded radiation.” All citizens may petition the Faceless Man for a hearing or decision on issues of concern. Each canton has its own set of laws and The Faceless Man does not interfere with canton laws; he just enforces them. He also responds in writing to all citizen petitions submitted to him but has zero tolerance for any crime.
Every canton has its own local rulers, laws and culture. “The cantons of Shant were alike only in their mutual distrust.” Our main character lives in the town of Bashon in the canton called Bastern. Bastern is locally managed or ruled by an all-male religious cult run by the Ecclesiarchs. Followers of the Ecclesiarchs are called Chilites. The head of the Chilites is Grand Male Osso. Only some citizens of Bastern become Chilites. The Ecclesiarchs advocate religious practices focused on self-denial and purity but they do engage in the ritual use of a hallucinogenic drug. They consider all women and girls to be impure and have strict ascetic rules for its members who are initially called “Pure Boys.” Osso has even been known to berate others for even smelling a flower because he says it is a “female procreative organ of the plant.”
Our protagonist, a nine year old boy, is studying to become a Chilite. Initially his name is Mur but he chooses the new name of Gastel Etzwane after being initiated. Mur lives with his mother with whom he is very close. He never knew his father, who is a very famous wandering musician who abandoned his family. One day an old man gives Mur a stringed musical instrument called the Khitan and Mur begins to love playing music and finds music to be more appealing than being a Chilite although he initially tries to combine the two only to find out that the Ecclesiarchs and Chiltes are the only ones in Shant to abhor music, considering it sinful.
Initially Mur likes the idea of becoming a Chilite and defends their practices, denies it is a cult. His mother even defends their practices and laws telling him “If a person breaks Chilite law the Ecclesiarchs punish him. If he runs away, the Faceless Man takes his head.” “If you obey Chilite law, you need never fear the loss of your head.” But Chilite law is very strict with laws and rules that can easily be unintentionally violated because most of them make little sense. Mur is also something of a mischief maker and is not well suited to becoming a Chilite
After going through the purification ritual to become a Chilite, Etzwane visits his mother in her home, something forbidden for him to do. When Osso finds out about this he sends Etzwane’s mother to work as a indentured worker in the tannery as punishment for allowing Etzwane to visit her and thereby contaminating him with “womantaint.” Etzwane as his punishment is locked in a dungeon pending repurifcation rites.
Sending his mother to be a slave in the tannery and locking him up causes Etzwane to rebel against being a Chilite, however, and he manages to break out and flee. His plan is go to the city of Garwiy to petition the Faceless Man to free his mother from having to be indentured to work at the tannery. He also plans to become a wandering musician like his blood father. He does not have a torc yet so he can’t be beheaded but without a torc he also has no protection and can be kidnapped, clamped with a torc and indentured or sold into slavery anywhere in Shant. Etzwane is also certain that Osso will send ahulph trackers to try to find him to either capture him or kill him. Aulphs are creatures used for tracking that have “hairy dog-spider” heads noses in their feet to facilitate tracking. They have a “hairy dog-spider head,” noses in their feet to facilitate tracking and talons that can rip apart the person they are tracking.
Etzwane’s adventures include his development as a musician, petitioning of the Faceless Man for his mother’s freedom, meeting his father who does not know he even exists and dealing with the problem of large murderous human like creatures called Roguskhoi who attack Shant villages while raping and pillaging. Roguskhois are “a kind of mountain savage that can’t be controlled except by its yearnings for strong drink.” The Faceless Man’s minimizes their attacks and refuses to use a militia or other forceful means to control them. Etzwane also meets a man named Ifness who is an interesting and very mysterious character who plays a significant role in all three Durdane novels.
The beginning of The Anome has many strange names and details contained in a few pages but the story soon picks up and moves along. Also, there is no resolution at the end so readers when finishing it should begin reading The Brave Free Men for a satisfactory continuation of the story. I’ve read The Anome three times so far and enjoyed it even more each time. The first time I read it I rated it a 3 or “Liked it” but I now consider it a 4 “Really liked it.”
May 13, 2021
TA is the first book of the Durdane trilogy were we are introduced to the world of Durdane. Durdane is a human colony, settled thousands of years ago; it has devolved into a quasi feudal system, with the main settled continent divided into 60 something statelets. Each statelet has its own rules, but collectively, 'Shant' is governed by the 'faceless man' or the Anome of the title. Upon reaching puberty, everyone in Shant is forced to wear a torque. The torque on the one hand identifies the wearer with his/her station in life as denoted by a complex color scheme; on the other hand, the Anome has the power to set off an explosive device in the torque that will kill the wearer instantly.
The long, complex process regarding how Shant came to this state of affairs is parsed out gradually in TA, but the main story revolves around Gastel Etzwane, our main protagonist and his trials and tribulations. The theme of a 'common man' rising up to challenge the status quo has been done many times (one of my favorites is Sten) but Vance does a good job here with it nonetheless. We follow Gastel from young adulthood where he flees his native village and eventually joins a band of bards traveling around Shant. His main goal in life is to buy his mother's indenture so she can be free, but the barbarous Roguskhol interfere, raiding at will in Shant. Gastel hopes to petition the faceless one to act, but his petition is dismissed. Can Gastel find the identity of the faceless Anome and convince him to fight the barbarians?
This is a good story, but as mentioned, really serves as the intro to the series and does not reach much of a conclusion. As usual, Vance manages to pack a lot of story into such a short book. I love how Vance liberally utilizes footnotes in his work here to help explain the oddities of Durdane and he does a neat job world building also. 3.5 stars.
The long, complex process regarding how Shant came to this state of affairs is parsed out gradually in TA, but the main story revolves around Gastel Etzwane, our main protagonist and his trials and tribulations. The theme of a 'common man' rising up to challenge the status quo has been done many times (one of my favorites is Sten) but Vance does a good job here with it nonetheless. We follow Gastel from young adulthood where he flees his native village and eventually joins a band of bards traveling around Shant. His main goal in life is to buy his mother's indenture so she can be free, but the barbarous Roguskhol interfere, raiding at will in Shant. Gastel hopes to petition the faceless one to act, but his petition is dismissed. Can Gastel find the identity of the faceless Anome and convince him to fight the barbarians?
This is a good story, but as mentioned, really serves as the intro to the series and does not reach much of a conclusion. As usual, Vance manages to pack a lot of story into such a short book. I love how Vance liberally utilizes footnotes in his work here to help explain the oddities of Durdane and he does a neat job world building also. 3.5 stars.
July 29, 2012
Mur (later renamed Etzwane) is from a female-phobic religious community from which he escapes. He then becomes a musician and later learns of a threat to his country in the form of ravaging mutant creatures. For some reason, the Faceless Man, the mysterious supreme authority that rules here, refuses to act against them and minimizes the threat they pose. Etzwane seeks out the Faceless man to discover why and to try to get him to take action.
This first book of the Durdane trilogy was originally published in paperback in 1971 as The Anome. It is currently available for Kindle under the original title. It is a short book by modern standards, with 224 pages and very wide margins. I found the limited 1983 hardcover editions of this trilogy at my local library and later learned that any print versions are now difficult to come by. I don’t know why. This first installment is quite interesting. The world-building is top notch, with enough detail to bring it to life. The imaginative setting has the feel of fantasy/steampunk, but in my estimation, the book qualifies as science fiction. The details of the story tie back to known science without resort to supernatural or mystical contrivances. It is set in the distant future, on a planet with multiple suns, colonized by humans many generations before and largely forgotten by those on Earth.
The protagonist is likeable, and he is smart and brave enough to pull up stakes and move on when he finds himself in a bad situation. I followed his exploits with interest.
As the first book of a series, many questions remain at the end. I hope they will be resolved. I’ll be reading the rest of the series, so I’ll let you know if they are.
This first book of the Durdane trilogy was originally published in paperback in 1971 as The Anome. It is currently available for Kindle under the original title. It is a short book by modern standards, with 224 pages and very wide margins. I found the limited 1983 hardcover editions of this trilogy at my local library and later learned that any print versions are now difficult to come by. I don’t know why. This first installment is quite interesting. The world-building is top notch, with enough detail to bring it to life. The imaginative setting has the feel of fantasy/steampunk, but in my estimation, the book qualifies as science fiction. The details of the story tie back to known science without resort to supernatural or mystical contrivances. It is set in the distant future, on a planet with multiple suns, colonized by humans many generations before and largely forgotten by those on Earth.
The protagonist is likeable, and he is smart and brave enough to pull up stakes and move on when he finds himself in a bad situation. I followed his exploits with interest.
As the first book of a series, many questions remain at the end. I hope they will be resolved. I’ll be reading the rest of the series, so I’ll let you know if they are.
June 11, 2015
The Anome tells the story of young Gastel Etzwane's maturing and coming of age. Durdane is a planet colonized thousands of years before by Earth renegades and it has evolved as a complex society with many different lands and cultures. Etzwane lives in Shant, whose technological level can be compared to early 20th century. However, the depiction of this land's society is greatly complex and varied. Vance started this discussing issues like individual freedom and social manipulation in quite somberly tones but was later moved towards mystery, intrigues and a good dosage of adventure.
May 27, 2015
Another Vance masterpiece. This one is about the musician Gastel Etzwane, the creatures known as the Roguskhoi, and the Faceless Man or Anome, ruler of Shant and their interactions and conflicts. As usual, Vance's societies are plausible and unusual, his setting vivid, his details perfect but not overwhelming. Highly recommended.
February 21, 2017
It was O.K., but nothing to write home about.
August 5, 2017
Read in the VIE
April 12, 2020
Another masterful book that makes me want to become a writer. One of the strengths of this short novel is that it's weird -- but everything "fits". Like the oddest jigsaw puzzle you've ever done, made of strange fusions of unidentified materials and whose pieces are cut into shapes you've never seen before.
And to think I found this at Goodwill . . .
And to think I found this at Goodwill . . .
November 14, 2020
Leído en 2011.
Le pongo un aprobado raspadillo porque la historia es un poco simplona, a veces hasta aburrida a pesar de que no paran de pasar cosas.
Eso sí, reseñar la imaginación del autor a la hora de inventar sociedades y mundos. Un maestro en eso, sí señor.
Creo que es la peor nota que le pongo a ningún libro de Vance. No se si es porque hace mucho que no leía nada de él o porqué. Si alguno leeis esto y creeis que no merece la pena leer nada de Vance, os equivocais. Tiene cosas muy buenas (como la saga de Tschai) aunque me ha decepcionado Durdane, que a priori tenia buena reputación.
Le pongo un aprobado raspadillo porque la historia es un poco simplona, a veces hasta aburrida a pesar de que no paran de pasar cosas.
Eso sí, reseñar la imaginación del autor a la hora de inventar sociedades y mundos. Un maestro en eso, sí señor.
Creo que es la peor nota que le pongo a ningún libro de Vance. No se si es porque hace mucho que no leía nada de él o porqué. Si alguno leeis esto y creeis que no merece la pena leer nada de Vance, os equivocais. Tiene cosas muy buenas (como la saga de Tschai) aunque me ha decepcionado Durdane, que a priori tenia buena reputación.
February 9, 2016
Described on the back cover of the Coronet edition I read, as Science Fantasy, this novel was first published in 1971, and is the first of a trilogy. I come late to it via my brother who was disposing of it during a small house clearance. I'm glad I chanced upon it.
The setting is another world; the time, the very distant future, when humans have left the Solar System and colonised other planets. This is a world without the computer as we know it, though certain of the tools and devices display functions that we normally associate with computers.
The inhabitants of this strange world, orbiting a binary star system, have degenerated into a great number of disparate tribes, all with their own specific beliefs and prejudices. Violence is almost unheard of, except in the brutal way that life is terminated in the case of transgression. But a breed of what seem to be mutants descend from the wild hills and prey on the women to ensnare and impregnate them to act as brood mares for their offspring. It is this outbreak of uncharacteristic wild violence that spurs the hero into action.
Sects of various types illustrate the way that religion and faith can so easily dominate an otherwise rational population to the detriment of freedom, love and compassion.
I don't wish to give away too much about the story, which is compelling and well constructed. Peopled by believable characters who interact with a strange politeness within the overly controlled society they inhabit, the world is disturbingly odd and yet familiar. Much remains unexplained but footnotes give occasional descriptions of some of the oddly named features and events. The reader is a stranger here but finds empathy with the main character, the hero, introduced as Mur but maturing through ritual to become Etzwane.
There are huge injustices and the sexes are distinctly separate in both temperament and treatment.
I found the story intriguing and grew to empathise with Etzwane in spite of his oddly detached and understated care and compassion for his mother. His determination to act when all around him those in power are determined not to act is endearing. But he is, in common with his fellow inhabitants, strangely unemotional and seeks rational explanations for behaviour which we would accept as springing from emotional sources.
This is a world with little metal but much glass, which is used in its stead for many objects. It is a world of rich and poor, fanatical faithful and determined secular, high fashion and drab utilitarianism. In these respects, much like the Earth from whence these colonists sprang many centuries previously.
The story winds, twists and turns, with much action interspersed with conversation that explains the differences between the various cults without saying how these differences came about. There is a little too much exposition; too much tell and not enough show for a modern reader, but I was prepared to overlook that because the quality of the writing was otherwise very good.
As is common with the fantasy trilogy, this first volume ends after a sort of conclusion of one part of the action, but this is not the satisfactory ending to a book that most readers seek. Clearly the intention is to ensnare the reader into following the rest of the trilogy. And, had I not over 180 titles in my 'to read' list, I might be tempted to do just that. As it is, I have other dishes to sample and whether I ever return to the tale remains to be seen.
For readers of imaginative fantasy I suspect this will prove very satisfactory. It certainly deserves notice for its depth and breadth of imagination; the world being well conceived and constructed. For those who prefer their fantasy fiction in a more predictable form, there are too many oddities and disturbing aspects without the usual crop of thieves, dragons, dwarves or other magical creatures. This is a book with an entirely individual agenda and, as such, I commend it to you.
The setting is another world; the time, the very distant future, when humans have left the Solar System and colonised other planets. This is a world without the computer as we know it, though certain of the tools and devices display functions that we normally associate with computers.
The inhabitants of this strange world, orbiting a binary star system, have degenerated into a great number of disparate tribes, all with their own specific beliefs and prejudices. Violence is almost unheard of, except in the brutal way that life is terminated in the case of transgression. But a breed of what seem to be mutants descend from the wild hills and prey on the women to ensnare and impregnate them to act as brood mares for their offspring. It is this outbreak of uncharacteristic wild violence that spurs the hero into action.
Sects of various types illustrate the way that religion and faith can so easily dominate an otherwise rational population to the detriment of freedom, love and compassion.
I don't wish to give away too much about the story, which is compelling and well constructed. Peopled by believable characters who interact with a strange politeness within the overly controlled society they inhabit, the world is disturbingly odd and yet familiar. Much remains unexplained but footnotes give occasional descriptions of some of the oddly named features and events. The reader is a stranger here but finds empathy with the main character, the hero, introduced as Mur but maturing through ritual to become Etzwane.
There are huge injustices and the sexes are distinctly separate in both temperament and treatment.
I found the story intriguing and grew to empathise with Etzwane in spite of his oddly detached and understated care and compassion for his mother. His determination to act when all around him those in power are determined not to act is endearing. But he is, in common with his fellow inhabitants, strangely unemotional and seeks rational explanations for behaviour which we would accept as springing from emotional sources.
This is a world with little metal but much glass, which is used in its stead for many objects. It is a world of rich and poor, fanatical faithful and determined secular, high fashion and drab utilitarianism. In these respects, much like the Earth from whence these colonists sprang many centuries previously.
The story winds, twists and turns, with much action interspersed with conversation that explains the differences between the various cults without saying how these differences came about. There is a little too much exposition; too much tell and not enough show for a modern reader, but I was prepared to overlook that because the quality of the writing was otherwise very good.
As is common with the fantasy trilogy, this first volume ends after a sort of conclusion of one part of the action, but this is not the satisfactory ending to a book that most readers seek. Clearly the intention is to ensnare the reader into following the rest of the trilogy. And, had I not over 180 titles in my 'to read' list, I might be tempted to do just that. As it is, I have other dishes to sample and whether I ever return to the tale remains to be seen.
For readers of imaginative fantasy I suspect this will prove very satisfactory. It certainly deserves notice for its depth and breadth of imagination; the world being well conceived and constructed. For those who prefer their fantasy fiction in a more predictable form, there are too many oddities and disturbing aspects without the usual crop of thieves, dragons, dwarves or other magical creatures. This is a book with an entirely individual agenda and, as such, I commend it to you.
March 25, 2018
I was told by a reader since I like imaginative and escapist fiction I should read Jack Vance. I had heard of Vance’s name over the years but never had an inclination to read any of his work. I did internet research about the author and found out he has been an inspiration for many science fiction and fantasy’s greatest writers. Vance’s novels were well regarded by mostly everyone in the genre. So I decided to read The Anome, Book 1 of the Durdane Trilogy as my introduction to Jack Vance.
The Anome is Vance’s entry into utopian fiction where the multicultural world of Durdane has lived peacefully for generations. The various cultures of Durdane lived in their own way but are controlled by torcs around their necks provided by the Faceless Man. If anyone in Durdane rebels against the Faceless Man, their torc will explode and blow off their heads.
Well, a young musician named Gastel Etzwane challenges the power structure of the Faceless Man and the Anome when he finds out that a half-breed race (human and alien) called The Roguskhoi are determined to take over Durdane. The Faceless Man has decided to peacefully co-exist with The Roguskhoi and Etzwane is dead set against that course of action.
The novel moves swiftly as Etzwane grows from childhood into manhood and learns more about the power of The Anome and why it has taken the position; it has towards The Roguskhoi.
The Anome is the opening book in the Durdane Trilogy and gives a solid introduction into the world of Durdane. I enjoyed Vance’s storytelling, setting, and nomenclature in the novel. Vance reveals how complacency sets within an utopian society. I’m glad that Jack Vance was recommended and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.
The Anome is Vance’s entry into utopian fiction where the multicultural world of Durdane has lived peacefully for generations. The various cultures of Durdane lived in their own way but are controlled by torcs around their necks provided by the Faceless Man. If anyone in Durdane rebels against the Faceless Man, their torc will explode and blow off their heads.
Well, a young musician named Gastel Etzwane challenges the power structure of the Faceless Man and the Anome when he finds out that a half-breed race (human and alien) called The Roguskhoi are determined to take over Durdane. The Faceless Man has decided to peacefully co-exist with The Roguskhoi and Etzwane is dead set against that course of action.
The novel moves swiftly as Etzwane grows from childhood into manhood and learns more about the power of The Anome and why it has taken the position; it has towards The Roguskhoi.
The Anome is the opening book in the Durdane Trilogy and gives a solid introduction into the world of Durdane. I enjoyed Vance’s storytelling, setting, and nomenclature in the novel. Vance reveals how complacency sets within an utopian society. I’m glad that Jack Vance was recommended and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.
January 25, 2012
This is my first Vance book, and I really enjoyed it. I was hooked from the general premise of a totalitarian ruler known as the Faceless Man whom nobody has seen, yet who can destroy them at any moment by the explosive ring around each of their necks. Even if they're just talking badly of him! This book had my ideal balance of both science fiction and fantasy elements, with the horrible Rogushkoi creatures roaming around raping women and such, as well as some classic planetary and spaceship elements thrown in.
Vance's writing in here I found to be... interesting. Though he describes certain elements beautifully, while leaving your imagination to blossom on it's own, I thought some parts were a little bluntly stated. For instance, there were a few times when "...five years later..." is interjecting in to the story like it's nothing. Really? Not even a LITTLE detail on certain interesting events that might have happened? It made me feel left out. Otherwise, I like the book for not wasting time. This book could definitely use more publicity. Good stuff!
Vance's writing in here I found to be... interesting. Though he describes certain elements beautifully, while leaving your imagination to blossom on it's own, I thought some parts were a little bluntly stated. For instance, there were a few times when "...five years later..." is interjecting in to the story like it's nothing. Really? Not even a LITTLE detail on certain interesting events that might have happened? It made me feel left out. Otherwise, I like the book for not wasting time. This book could definitely use more publicity. Good stuff!
November 26, 2013
Not my favorite Jack Vance, it did not carry the same umph as other novels of his that I have read... Still, I never come away from a Vance novel disappointed and this was no exception. The complex governments and laws of the world this story is set in are marvelous and the idea of the "Faceless Man" is brilliant. I suppose if I was aware that my head would blow off if I broke a law, I would never commit the simplest infraction.
It is written with Jack Vance's signature style, with his tight sentences and long words. Though the world is vivid and full of life, the characters are a bit underdeveloped and their dialogue is not as full of life as Vance's other works.
I would still recommend it to a Vance fan, who would love it simply for the clever world building and the magic of Jack Vance's words.
It is written with Jack Vance's signature style, with his tight sentences and long words. Though the world is vivid and full of life, the characters are a bit underdeveloped and their dialogue is not as full of life as Vance's other works.
I would still recommend it to a Vance fan, who would love it simply for the clever world building and the magic of Jack Vance's words.
May 24, 2022
Durdane is rarely mentioned among Vance's major works, and it is easy to see why. As with all his writing, the story is entertaining and marvellously efficiently told. But it has a perfunctory feeling - like a karate master performing a kata for the umpteenth time. Nothing is an inch out of place, but there is something passionless about the entire affair - a mere reworking of themes familiar to anyone who has read some of Vance's novels.
September 17, 2025
A typical novel of Vance's mature period, highlighted by his unique style of colorful imagery, exotic cultures, and dry, ironic and amusing dialogue. Also typical in that like Emphryio, Araminta Station, Ports of Call and others, the book starts with the protagonist's childhood, establishing his Dickensian roots as an underdog in a strange, unjust (and vividly described) culture. The real plot develops as the character matures and then we are off on a everyman hero's tale. All good if light fare, extraordinary primarily for the same stylistic reasons as his other books. Compared to those, though, the Anome suffers. The events portrayed are a little dull, the transition from childhood to adulthood abrupt and so short on details that we learn little about the adult character, and we are repeatedly forced to suspend disbelief at events, and ignore the obvious Deus ex Machina of the protagonist's off world mentor (another Vance standard). Sadly, the book is not self-contained, ending not on a cliffhanger (because there is little suspense) but simply in the middle of the story. I've read this trilogy before, long ago, and recall that the background in this book pays off in the final two volumes. I will report back if that is not the case.
Edit: Book 2 is more of the same. Still holding out hope for book 3.
Edit: 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.
Edit: Book 2 is more of the same. Still holding out hope for book 3.
Edit: 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.
March 24, 2017
Young Mur lives in a ridged society. His community is ruled by a sect of men who despise contact with women, and he is supposed to become an initiate. This is one of many societies in the land of Shant, rules by the Faceless Man, where all citizens where an explosive torc around their necks.
Mur escapes, visits various places around the world, encounters the threat of a subhuman group of raiders known as the Rogushkoi, who are ravaging parts of the land. He tries to get the Faceless Man to take action, but he refuses, which leads Mur into a plot, along with an outworlder. They will find the Faceless Man and compel him.
A rich novel, told in Vance's normal prose style (one that's great to read for its own sake), full of people and societies that are compelling, stylized, and at times great examination of particular human traits.
My only complaint is that it does not come to a satisfactory conclusion but instead sets up the next book.
Mur escapes, visits various places around the world, encounters the threat of a subhuman group of raiders known as the Rogushkoi, who are ravaging parts of the land. He tries to get the Faceless Man to take action, but he refuses, which leads Mur into a plot, along with an outworlder. They will find the Faceless Man and compel him.
A rich novel, told in Vance's normal prose style (one that's great to read for its own sake), full of people and societies that are compelling, stylized, and at times great examination of particular human traits.
My only complaint is that it does not come to a satisfactory conclusion but instead sets up the next book.
January 11, 2019
Remarkably uncompelling for a Vance novel, and even as things got rolling about 150 pages in, there wasn't much reason to pick it up again except to finish the damn thing.
Which is a shame, I originally tracked this one down because I've had the two sequels stalled on the to-read stack for decades.
Which is a shame, I originally tracked this one down because I've had the two sequels stalled on the to-read stack for decades.
April 25, 2014
Alternates between being really good and really boring.
May 27, 2024
The Anome is the first book of the three part Durdane series. It was initially published in February, 1971 under the title The Faceless Man as a two part serial in The Magazine of Science and Science Fiction. It was released om 1973 as a book under the title The Anome. The Anome should be read first, followed by The Brave Free Men. It does not work well as a stand-alone novel. There is no resolution at the end of The Anome so the two novels should really be considered one work with The Asutra as a sequel. I do not find The Anome (or the Durdane series) to be among Vance’s really great works. But the Durdane series novels are well worth reading by Vance fans. Those who enjoy reading about the customs and cultures of unusual societies and alternative worlds might also want to explore this series. For readers unfamiliar with the writings of Jack Vance this would probably not be a good starting point.
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
The setting for the novel is in the far future on the planet of Durdane which was colonized nine thousand years ago by people from Earth. The people on Durdane now have no contact with Earth and are not sure it even exists. Durdane is quite backward and has little technology with carriages and hot air balloons being used for transportation. The planet is composed of the regions Shant, Caraz, Palasedran and Beljamar. Our main character lives in Shant where citizens seem to know little about any of the people outside Shant. It is an irregular oblong 1,300 miles long and 500 miles wide that is composed of 62 cantons that are “in loose confederation under the rule of the Faceless Man.” The Faceless Man (formally referred to as the “Anome”) enforces all the laws of the 62 cantons so rules over all of Shant and is feared by the citizens. The Faceless Man also employs deputies who are known as Benevolences and Discriminators. He is called “faceless” because nobody, not even his deputies, know his real identity.
Different Faceless Men have ruled over Shant for over a thousand years and during their rule there has been no war and very little crime. But for citizens there is a high price to pay. When each person in Shant becomes of age, he or she is forced to wear a collar or "torc" around their neck. The torc can never be removed and will explode if an attempt is made to take it off. Each torc is specially coded so that the Faceless Man can locate every person who wears one. If a person is identified as having committed a crime then the Faceless Man can impart “justice” by remotely exploding the torc which usually results in decapitation of the persons head. Torcs are detonated “by means of coded radiation.” All citizens may petition the Faceless Man for a hearing or decision on issues of concern. Each canton has its own set of laws and The Faceless Man does not interfere with canton laws; he just enforces them. He also responds in writing to all citizen petitions submitted to him but has zero tolerance for any crime.
Every canton has its own local rulers, laws and culture. “The cantons of Shant were alike only in their mutual distrust.” Our main character lives in the town of Bashon in the canton called Bastern. Bastern is locally managed or ruled by an all-male religious cult run by the Ecclesiarchs. Followers of the Ecclesiarchs are called Chilites. The head of the Chilites is Grand Male Osso. Only some citizens of Bastern become Chilites. The Ecclesiarchs advocate religious practices focused on self-denial and purity but they do engage in the ritual use of a hallucinogenic drug. They consider all women and girls to be impure and have strict ascetic rules for its members who are initially called “Pure Boys.” Osso has even been known to berate others for even smelling a flower because he says it is a “female procreative organ of the plant.”
Our protagonist, a nine year old boy, is studying to become a Chilite. Initially his name is Mur but he chooses the new name of Gastel Etzwane after being initiated. Mur lives with his mother with whom he is very close. He never knew his father, who is a very famous wandering musician who abandoned his family. One day an old man gives Mur a stringed musical instrument called the Khitan and Mur begins to love playing music and finds music to be more appealing than being a Chilite although he initially tries to combine the two only to find out that the Ecclesiarchs and Chiltes are the only ones in Shant to abhor music, considering it sinful.
Initially Mur likes the idea of becoming a Chilite and defends their practices, denies it is a cult. His mother even defends their practices and laws telling him “If a person breaks Chilite law the Ecclesiarchs punish him. If he runs away, the Faceless Man takes his head.” “If you obey Chilite law, you need never fear the loss of your head.” But Chilite law is very strict with laws and rules that can easily be unintentionally violated because most of them make little sense. Mur is also something of a mischief maker and is not well suited to becoming a Chilite
After going through the purification ritual to become a Chilite, Etzwane visits his mother in her home, something forbidden for him to do. When Osso finds out about this he sends Etzwane’s mother to work as a indentured worker in the tannery as punishment for allowing Etzwane to visit her and thereby contaminating him with “womantaint.” Etzwane as his punishment is locked in a dungeon pending repurifcation rites.
Sending his mother to be a slave in the tannery and locking him up causes Etzwane to rebel against being a Chilite, however, and he manages to break out and flee. His plan is go to the city of Garwiy to petition the Faceless Man to free his mother from having to be indentured to work at the tannery. He also plans to become a wandering musician like his blood father. He does not have a torc yet so he can’t be beheaded but without a torc he also has no protection and can be kidnapped, clamped with a torc and indentured or sold into slavery anywhere in Shant. Etzwane is also certain that Osso will send ahulph trackers to try to find him to either capture him or kill him. Aulphs are creatures used for tracking that have “hairy dog-spider” heads noses in their feet to facilitate tracking. They have a “hairy dog-spider head,” noses in their feet to facilitate tracking and talons that can rip apart the person they are tracking.
Etzwane’s adventures include his development as a musician, petitioning of the Faceless Man for his mother’s freedom, meeting his father who does not know he even exists and dealing with the problem of large murderous human like creatures called Roguskhoi who attack Shant villages while raping and pillaging. Roguskhois are “a kind of mountain savage that can’t be controlled except by its yearnings for strong drink.” The Faceless Man’s minimizes their attacks and refuses to use a militia or other forceful means to control them. Etzwane also meets a man named Ifness who is an interesting and very mysterious character who plays a significant role in all three Durdane novels.
The beginning of The Anome has many strange names and details contained in a few pages but the story soon picks up and moves along. Also, there is no resolution at the end so readers when finishing it should begin reading The Brave Free Men for a satisfactory continuation of the story. I’ve read The Anome three times so far and liked it even more each time. The first time I read it I rated it a 3 or “Liked it” but I now consider it a 4 “Really liked it.”
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
The setting for the novel is in the far future on the planet of Durdane which was colonized nine thousand years ago by people from Earth. The people on Durdane now have no contact with Earth and are not sure it even exists. Durdane is quite backward and has little technology with carriages and hot air balloons being used for transportation. The planet is composed of the regions Shant, Caraz, Palasedran and Beljamar. Our main character lives in Shant where citizens seem to know little about any of the people outside Shant. It is an irregular oblong 1,300 miles long and 500 miles wide that is composed of 62 cantons that are “in loose confederation under the rule of the Faceless Man.” The Faceless Man (formally referred to as the “Anome”) enforces all the laws of the 62 cantons so rules over all of Shant and is feared by the citizens. The Faceless Man also employs deputies who are known as Benevolences and Discriminators. He is called “faceless” because nobody, not even his deputies, know his real identity.
Different Faceless Men have ruled over Shant for over a thousand years and during their rule there has been no war and very little crime. But for citizens there is a high price to pay. When each person in Shant becomes of age, he or she is forced to wear a collar or "torc" around their neck. The torc can never be removed and will explode if an attempt is made to take it off. Each torc is specially coded so that the Faceless Man can locate every person who wears one. If a person is identified as having committed a crime then the Faceless Man can impart “justice” by remotely exploding the torc which usually results in decapitation of the persons head. Torcs are detonated “by means of coded radiation.” All citizens may petition the Faceless Man for a hearing or decision on issues of concern. Each canton has its own set of laws and The Faceless Man does not interfere with canton laws; he just enforces them. He also responds in writing to all citizen petitions submitted to him but has zero tolerance for any crime.
Every canton has its own local rulers, laws and culture. “The cantons of Shant were alike only in their mutual distrust.” Our main character lives in the town of Bashon in the canton called Bastern. Bastern is locally managed or ruled by an all-male religious cult run by the Ecclesiarchs. Followers of the Ecclesiarchs are called Chilites. The head of the Chilites is Grand Male Osso. Only some citizens of Bastern become Chilites. The Ecclesiarchs advocate religious practices focused on self-denial and purity but they do engage in the ritual use of a hallucinogenic drug. They consider all women and girls to be impure and have strict ascetic rules for its members who are initially called “Pure Boys.” Osso has even been known to berate others for even smelling a flower because he says it is a “female procreative organ of the plant.”
Our protagonist, a nine year old boy, is studying to become a Chilite. Initially his name is Mur but he chooses the new name of Gastel Etzwane after being initiated. Mur lives with his mother with whom he is very close. He never knew his father, who is a very famous wandering musician who abandoned his family. One day an old man gives Mur a stringed musical instrument called the Khitan and Mur begins to love playing music and finds music to be more appealing than being a Chilite although he initially tries to combine the two only to find out that the Ecclesiarchs and Chiltes are the only ones in Shant to abhor music, considering it sinful.
Initially Mur likes the idea of becoming a Chilite and defends their practices, denies it is a cult. His mother even defends their practices and laws telling him “If a person breaks Chilite law the Ecclesiarchs punish him. If he runs away, the Faceless Man takes his head.” “If you obey Chilite law, you need never fear the loss of your head.” But Chilite law is very strict with laws and rules that can easily be unintentionally violated because most of them make little sense. Mur is also something of a mischief maker and is not well suited to becoming a Chilite
After going through the purification ritual to become a Chilite, Etzwane visits his mother in her home, something forbidden for him to do. When Osso finds out about this he sends Etzwane’s mother to work as a indentured worker in the tannery as punishment for allowing Etzwane to visit her and thereby contaminating him with “womantaint.” Etzwane as his punishment is locked in a dungeon pending repurifcation rites.
Sending his mother to be a slave in the tannery and locking him up causes Etzwane to rebel against being a Chilite, however, and he manages to break out and flee. His plan is go to the city of Garwiy to petition the Faceless Man to free his mother from having to be indentured to work at the tannery. He also plans to become a wandering musician like his blood father. He does not have a torc yet so he can’t be beheaded but without a torc he also has no protection and can be kidnapped, clamped with a torc and indentured or sold into slavery anywhere in Shant. Etzwane is also certain that Osso will send ahulph trackers to try to find him to either capture him or kill him. Aulphs are creatures used for tracking that have “hairy dog-spider” heads noses in their feet to facilitate tracking. They have a “hairy dog-spider head,” noses in their feet to facilitate tracking and talons that can rip apart the person they are tracking.
Etzwane’s adventures include his development as a musician, petitioning of the Faceless Man for his mother’s freedom, meeting his father who does not know he even exists and dealing with the problem of large murderous human like creatures called Roguskhoi who attack Shant villages while raping and pillaging. Roguskhois are “a kind of mountain savage that can’t be controlled except by its yearnings for strong drink.” The Faceless Man’s minimizes their attacks and refuses to use a militia or other forceful means to control them. Etzwane also meets a man named Ifness who is an interesting and very mysterious character who plays a significant role in all three Durdane novels.
The beginning of The Anome has many strange names and details contained in a few pages but the story soon picks up and moves along. Also, there is no resolution at the end so readers when finishing it should begin reading The Brave Free Men for a satisfactory continuation of the story. I’ve read The Anome three times so far and liked it even more each time. The first time I read it I rated it a 3 or “Liked it” but I now consider it a 4 “Really liked it.”
June 28, 2022
Dospívání mezi vybuchujícími hlavami.
Tak by se dal shrnout první román z trilogie Durdane, od mého oblíbeného Jacka Vance. Opět tu máme podivnou planetu, kde funguje dost zvláštní ženofobická náboženská společnost a kde hlavní hrdina zdrhne ze svého města, aby se stal hudebníkem a našel muže bez tváře, který celý ten svět řídí a nechává zločincům vybuchovat hlavy. Což nedělá proto, aby ho zabil, nebo svrhnul. Chce ho přesvědčit, aby vstoupil do války proti barbarským hordám Rogushkoi a všechny je zmasakroval.
Vance napsal výraznější věci, to zase jo. Ale pořád mě na něm baví ta podivnost jeho vesmíru, bizarní sociální interakce a ta kombinace fantaskních světů s naprosto podehraným přístupem, kdy jakákoliv diskuze o čemkoliv (včetně debat vrahů a jejich plánovaných obětí) připomíná něco mezi dvorní etiketou a diskuzí s úřednicí na magistrátu. A ve srovnání třeba se Moorcockem, který psal v podobné době a patřil k emo tvůrcům (proto je taky dodnes mnohem populárnější), je Vance přímo anti-emo (proto je populárnější u mě). Hrdina je dost tlumený, spíš je v roli pozorovatele, ale bez problémů krade, či unáší a drží v zajetí ženy, aby z nich dostal potřebné informace (a ne, oni se do něj nezamilují a ani do nich).
K podtržení odtažitosti děl patří i četné poznámky pod čarou, které vysvětlují občas nějaká neznámá slova či společenské zásady, a archaický a ironický jazyk. Je fakt, že u Vance člověk neví, co myslí vážně a kdy si ze čtenář už dělá prdel.
Co jsem zjistil až po přečtení, tak tahle trilogie je opravdu hodně provázaná a bude nutné si pořídit další díly.
Tak by se dal shrnout první román z trilogie Durdane, od mého oblíbeného Jacka Vance. Opět tu máme podivnou planetu, kde funguje dost zvláštní ženofobická náboženská společnost a kde hlavní hrdina zdrhne ze svého města, aby se stal hudebníkem a našel muže bez tváře, který celý ten svět řídí a nechává zločincům vybuchovat hlavy. Což nedělá proto, aby ho zabil, nebo svrhnul. Chce ho přesvědčit, aby vstoupil do války proti barbarským hordám Rogushkoi a všechny je zmasakroval.
Vance napsal výraznější věci, to zase jo. Ale pořád mě na něm baví ta podivnost jeho vesmíru, bizarní sociální interakce a ta kombinace fantaskních světů s naprosto podehraným přístupem, kdy jakákoliv diskuze o čemkoliv (včetně debat vrahů a jejich plánovaných obětí) připomíná něco mezi dvorní etiketou a diskuzí s úřednicí na magistrátu. A ve srovnání třeba se Moorcockem, který psal v podobné době a patřil k emo tvůrcům (proto je taky dodnes mnohem populárnější), je Vance přímo anti-emo (proto je populárnější u mě). Hrdina je dost tlumený, spíš je v roli pozorovatele, ale bez problémů krade, či unáší a drží v zajetí ženy, aby z nich dostal potřebné informace (a ne, oni se do něj nezamilují a ani do nich).
K podtržení odtažitosti děl patří i četné poznámky pod čarou, které vysvětlují občas nějaká neznámá slova či společenské zásady, a archaický a ironický jazyk. Je fakt, že u Vance člověk neví, co myslí vážně a kdy si ze čtenář už dělá prdel.
Co jsem zjistil až po přečtení, tak tahle trilogie je opravdu hodně provázaná a bude nutné si pořídit další díly.
April 15, 2018
A readable and fairly interesting tale of a future dsytopia.
The Land of Shant is a society on a planet settled by and largely forgotten by Earth. It's ruled by an anonymous law enforcer called The Anome or The Faceless Man because no one knows who he is or what he looks like. He doesn't dictate the laws, that's up to each local city or district, but he enforces whatever laws exist by way of torcs worn on the neck every citizen. These are special explosive torcs that can be detonated at will by The Faceless Man. So everyone pretty much obeys the local laws no matter how weird they are. And the society is rife with strange local religious laws and laws regarding what profession you're required to take up.
If you're unlucky enough to born into a bad area, there's not much you can do. And, of course, this is the story of a young man who decides he's going to change things. He runs away from his religious training before reaching the age where citizens receive their torc, and sets out to track down The Faceless Man. The society is bit backward technologically, relying on horses, wagons, and a system of passenger blimps. This backwardness is never explained but I believe this novel is part of a larger fictional universe, so it's possible the explanation for backward planets settle by Earth is found elsewhere in the series. This book is also the first of a trilogy about this particular planet.
The Land of Shant is a society on a planet settled by and largely forgotten by Earth. It's ruled by an anonymous law enforcer called The Anome or The Faceless Man because no one knows who he is or what he looks like. He doesn't dictate the laws, that's up to each local city or district, but he enforces whatever laws exist by way of torcs worn on the neck every citizen. These are special explosive torcs that can be detonated at will by The Faceless Man. So everyone pretty much obeys the local laws no matter how weird they are. And the society is rife with strange local religious laws and laws regarding what profession you're required to take up.
If you're unlucky enough to born into a bad area, there's not much you can do. And, of course, this is the story of a young man who decides he's going to change things. He runs away from his religious training before reaching the age where citizens receive their torc, and sets out to track down The Faceless Man. The society is bit backward technologically, relying on horses, wagons, and a system of passenger blimps. This backwardness is never explained but I believe this novel is part of a larger fictional universe, so it's possible the explanation for backward planets settle by Earth is found elsewhere in the series. This book is also the first of a trilogy about this particular planet.
September 14, 2025
The good news is that it wasn't your typical run-of-the-mill straight white male power fantasy, which I came to expect a little after having finished another Vance previously. The characters feel much more well-rounded, the worldbuilding works to a much better degree than just 'stranger comes to an alien civilization and goes ahead and tells them how to live their lives and they all listen to them for some reason'. Vance uses a few too many weird names in my opinion, but other than that the worldbuilding and the story itself is pretty good.
But the characters were bland and forgettable, and Vance seems to skip over as many emotions as possible to get the plot across effectively. The time jumps also feel a bit weird and just in general, the characters feel indifferent, and as a result, so do I. If you're more a plot guy than an emotions guy, this might be the book for you.
Me, I think I'm done trying Vance. There's a lot of writers out there who write what I want to read, and to me it's obvious that Vance isn't one of them. But I enjoyed the foray nonetheless - reading a book is an enrichment, even if that book isn't your cup of tea.
But the characters were bland and forgettable, and Vance seems to skip over as many emotions as possible to get the plot across effectively. The time jumps also feel a bit weird and just in general, the characters feel indifferent, and as a result, so do I. If you're more a plot guy than an emotions guy, this might be the book for you.
Me, I think I'm done trying Vance. There's a lot of writers out there who write what I want to read, and to me it's obvious that Vance isn't one of them. But I enjoyed the foray nonetheless - reading a book is an enrichment, even if that book isn't your cup of tea.
August 24, 2024
This is a typical Vance book with his idiosyncratic style fully evident. On the continent of Shant on the planet Durdane, human colonist have split into cantons each with their own peculiar societies. The protagonist, Etzwane, is a soon to be Chilite, a cult comprised exclusively of men that believe that women are the source of all taint. Etzwane has difficulty breaking his bond to his mother, one of the many prostitutes that the Chilites exploit to sustain their society, and flees his home canton. Etzwane intends to appeal to the Anome, the anonymous leader that insures that the laws of all cantons are enforced, even though many of the laws are bizarre. Years pass before he can attempt to free his mother. This attempt leads to a direct confrontation with the Anome, and the book ends rather abruptly with the story to be extended in the subsequent novels. While the book is filled with Vance's typical ornamentation (the balloon system used for travel is filled with much detail), the book is still quite serious. Today, it is hard not to compare it to the US and the fragmentation of the states with the Federal Govt our own Anome. I'd never recommend this as the first Vance book for anyone. If you are already a fan, this is one of Vance's better novels.
October 12, 2020
It’s always good to read a bit of Vance every so often, if only to renew a love of the English language. His world building is phenomenal. Every street has a name, every group of people have a culture, usually odd, often humorous, no matter how briefly they appear.
This is a fairly short story set on the planet Durdane, which is ruled by the mysterious Anome, the Faceless Man, who can execute any citizen instantly by means of the explosive torcs they all must wear. Mur is a young lad expected to join his local religious order (not very female friendly) but who resists and rebels, going looking for the faceless man to petition for his mother.
It’s the usual hero’s journey type story from Vance, but as always, it’s the dialogue and the descriptions of people and place that make his books so readable. One example: one of the areas lays a great deal of importance to colour. The colour red signifies invisibility, so burglars go about with red capes.
This is a fairly short story set on the planet Durdane, which is ruled by the mysterious Anome, the Faceless Man, who can execute any citizen instantly by means of the explosive torcs they all must wear. Mur is a young lad expected to join his local religious order (not very female friendly) but who resists and rebels, going looking for the faceless man to petition for his mother.
It’s the usual hero’s journey type story from Vance, but as always, it’s the dialogue and the descriptions of people and place that make his books so readable. One example: one of the areas lays a great deal of importance to colour. The colour red signifies invisibility, so burglars go about with red capes.
April 13, 2024
This felt to me like off-brand Vance. The writing has its peaks but all told feels less polished than the average Vance story. The protagonist is a typical Vance hero driven by a typical motivation, except he lacks the usual dashing verve and is rather unlikable as a result. Presumably he will improve himself over the next two books. That old Vance chestnut, the threat of mass rape, drives the plot, and in this instance the danger comes from savage half-men who pour over the border from foreign lands to forcibly impregnate human women. Much of the story felt contrived or poorly plotted to me, but I haven't read the other two books in the series yet so maybe things will become clear. On that note, this book isn't at all self-contained -- the ending lacks resolution and is essentially a chapter break leading to the start of the next book.
December 31, 2019
1971 sci-fi that I went back to, again, due to the strength of the title...the Anome, the Faceless Man, who rules Shant by means of torcs affixed permanently to the necks of the population which explode when he decides, decapitating the wearer. And also the airship network, kinda presniffing steampunk. But the Anome himself is disappointingly prosaic, a 1970's Wizard of Oz.
Also, buttons on devices are "studs," an old sci-fi tradition that makes me nuts for its low-tech connotations. Other than that, the writing is economical and in places quite effective.
Also, buttons on devices are "studs," an old sci-fi tradition that makes me nuts for its low-tech connotations. Other than that, the writing is economical and in places quite effective.
June 9, 2023
I got to page 7 and gave up. It's unreadable. There may actually be a story in there, it may emerge somewhere in the next couple of hundred pages, but all I was reading were dense blocks of exposition as the author tried to explain the mythology and theology and science and whatever of some alien planet. Dense, congested, unremitting exposition. Apparently this is the first in a trilogy! I'm not struggling to suppress my excitement ... .
December 3, 2022
Non ho trovato l'equivalente italiano... ma vabbé. Tutta la saga è una BOIATA pazzesca. Insignificante e bruttissimo. Personaggi assurdi. Immagino che chi considera le storie di fantascienza come un puro "what if", come un pretesto per mostrare mondi strani ecc. ecc., non avrà nulla da ridire, anzi magari gli piacerà pure. A me è sembrato davvero inutile.
September 17, 2024
A very good, fast-paced and surprisingly short book (85 pages). A great deal is packed into these pages, mainly the story of Mur, his other identities, and his work on trying to alert a ruler to danger. Very engaging
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