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The Houses of Iszm
Vintage paperback original. Two science fiction novels published back to back.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1954
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133 people want to read
About the author
Jack Vance
776 books1,583 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 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 8, 2023
the houses of the planet Iszm are vegetable, carefully bioengineered to the exacting standards of Iszic craftsmen. only bland mid-level houses are exported to Earth; not the sophisticated, time-consuming exemplars of this craft reserved for the Iszic elite, nor the inexpensive, easy to reproduce houses that are home to the Iszic worker class. it is the latter, if exported, that could solve Earth's terrible housing crisis, muses the botanist Farr during his tour of Iszm. if only the paranoid, secretive Iszic would allow their export! but then again, muses Farr at a later point, Earth could solve its own housing crisis if only the extremely wealthy would use their wealth for the greater good. but we'll sooner see blood bleed from a stone!
this is a fast-paced conspiracy thriller, of sorts. across three settings - Iszm, Earth, and a starship traveling from one planet to the other - Aile Farr encounters plots and schemes, murders and raids, mercenaries and megalomaniacs, and a sophisticated way of turning a tourist into a mule. a clever and thoughtful book. the descriptions of these symbiotic vegetable-houses was a particular highlight.
this is a fast-paced conspiracy thriller, of sorts. across three settings - Iszm, Earth, and a starship traveling from one planet to the other - Aile Farr encounters plots and schemes, murders and raids, mercenaries and megalomaniacs, and a sophisticated way of turning a tourist into a mule. a clever and thoughtful book. the descriptions of these symbiotic vegetable-houses was a particular highlight.
October 19, 2025
This is a novella of 126 pages that was written by Jack Vance in 1953 and first published in 1954 in Startling Stories magazine. It is currently in print in a high quality paperback edition from Spatterlight Press along with Vance's novella Son of the Tree. The Houses of Iszm is sometimes listed as part two of the Nopalgarth series but this is incorrect. Although there is a novella by this title, there is no such series. This novella is not part of any series.
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
Initially the setting is on the planet called Iszm where trees are carefully grown from seeds (with proper care and secret incantations) and end up developing into houses with integrated rooms, walls, ceilings, plumbing, decor, etc. Some develop into simple one room dwellings, but others are luxurious homes with multi levels, bathing pools, and atmospheres charged with oxygen. The people on the planet sell these "houseplants" to distributors on other planets and have a monopoly on them because they never sell a female tree or seeds, and the plants cannot be propagated by cuttings. On Earth all plants are sold exclusively to K. Penche who is allowed to purchase a limited quantity of trees of only one type.
On Iszm they have been developing and perfecting these trees that turn into houses for two hundred thousand years. They even have some that grow into being wooden boats, although the rigging must be added artificially. The trees are also sentient beings and have personalities. Some trees are called sentry trees and will strike out and even kill trespassers if they don't know the password. Even if a female seed should ever be stolen there is a very complex, secret process for growing the plants and only the Iszics know how to do this. Each tree also requires many hours of training called house breaking. "It must be entered, mastered, trained. The webbings must be cut; the nerves of ejaculation must be located and paralyzed. The sphincters must open and close at a touch. The art of house-breaking is almost as important as house-breeding. Without correct breaking a house is an unmanageable nuisance--a menace."
Our main character, Aile Farr, is a botanist from Earth who decides to visit Iszm and study these plants. He also hopes to persuade the Iszics to allow exports of smaller, more affordable houses to help with housing problems on Earth. Farr learns, however, that it costs the same to grow and ship a simple tree house as it does a multilevel one so the Iszics have no incentive to export cheaper houses. All visitors to Iszm are also suspected of wanting to steal some seeds of female trees and Farr is especially suspect because he is a botanist. The government on Iszm is constantly trying to monitor and thwart theft by using elaborate security systems, screenings and procedures. Those who try to steal are usually killed or captured. If captured they are sent to a tree prison called the Mad House.
This is a suspenseful, humorous, easy to read novella involving police, undercover agents, smugglers, murderers and a central character who tries to stay alive while figuring out what is going on. Vance fans will want to read The Houses of Iszm even though it is not one of his finest works. Those looking for an odd, easy to read novella might also find this enjoyable. I've read this four times and rate it a 4-.
For the most recent review and other Vance reviews please see:
https://vancealotjackvanceinreview.bl...
Initially the setting is on the planet called Iszm where trees are carefully grown from seeds (with proper care and secret incantations) and end up developing into houses with integrated rooms, walls, ceilings, plumbing, decor, etc. Some develop into simple one room dwellings, but others are luxurious homes with multi levels, bathing pools, and atmospheres charged with oxygen. The people on the planet sell these "houseplants" to distributors on other planets and have a monopoly on them because they never sell a female tree or seeds, and the plants cannot be propagated by cuttings. On Earth all plants are sold exclusively to K. Penche who is allowed to purchase a limited quantity of trees of only one type.
On Iszm they have been developing and perfecting these trees that turn into houses for two hundred thousand years. They even have some that grow into being wooden boats, although the rigging must be added artificially. The trees are also sentient beings and have personalities. Some trees are called sentry trees and will strike out and even kill trespassers if they don't know the password. Even if a female seed should ever be stolen there is a very complex, secret process for growing the plants and only the Iszics know how to do this. Each tree also requires many hours of training called house breaking. "It must be entered, mastered, trained. The webbings must be cut; the nerves of ejaculation must be located and paralyzed. The sphincters must open and close at a touch. The art of house-breaking is almost as important as house-breeding. Without correct breaking a house is an unmanageable nuisance--a menace."
Our main character, Aile Farr, is a botanist from Earth who decides to visit Iszm and study these plants. He also hopes to persuade the Iszics to allow exports of smaller, more affordable houses to help with housing problems on Earth. Farr learns, however, that it costs the same to grow and ship a simple tree house as it does a multilevel one so the Iszics have no incentive to export cheaper houses. All visitors to Iszm are also suspected of wanting to steal some seeds of female trees and Farr is especially suspect because he is a botanist. The government on Iszm is constantly trying to monitor and thwart theft by using elaborate security systems, screenings and procedures. Those who try to steal are usually killed or captured. If captured they are sent to a tree prison called the Mad House.
This is a suspenseful, humorous, easy to read novella involving police, undercover agents, smugglers, murderers and a central character who tries to stay alive while figuring out what is going on. Vance fans will want to read The Houses of Iszm even though it is not one of his finest works. Those looking for an odd, easy to read novella might also find this enjoyable. I've read this four times and rate it a 4-.
February 6, 2021
Such a WEIRD book. I always marvel at how oldish science fiction throws you headfirst into a new world and leaves you there to sink or swim. I am not well versed with the classics of this genre, but I do feel like this happens more often with science fiction than any other genre. [Fantasy, for instance, I feel, has a lot more blatant world building and info-dumps that aren’t even jarring.]
So: The Houses of Iszm is this ridiculously tiny book packed with so much character. I picked it up at a book sale because of the fascinating [and menacing] cover, and it lived up to the expectation. The cover is deliciously old-fashioned, the writing is archaic but in a pleasant, flowery way; and the world is absurd, and detailed for a novella. I'm curious about Vance’s other works.
“Sun, Earth, the Moon: an archipelago of bright round islands, after a long passage through a dark sea. Sun drifted off to one side, Moon slipped away to the other, Earth expanded ahead: grey, green, tan, white, blue – full of clouds and winds, sunburn, frosts, draughts, chills and dusts, the navel of the universe, the depot, terminal, clearing-house, which the outer races visited as provincials.
It was at midnight when the hull of the Andrei Sinic touched Earth. The generators sank down out of inaudibility, down through shrillness, through treble, tenor, baritone, bass, and once more out of hearing.”
So: The Houses of Iszm is this ridiculously tiny book packed with so much character. I picked it up at a book sale because of the fascinating [and menacing] cover, and it lived up to the expectation. The cover is deliciously old-fashioned, the writing is archaic but in a pleasant, flowery way; and the world is absurd, and detailed for a novella. I'm curious about Vance’s other works.
“Sun, Earth, the Moon: an archipelago of bright round islands, after a long passage through a dark sea. Sun drifted off to one side, Moon slipped away to the other, Earth expanded ahead: grey, green, tan, white, blue – full of clouds and winds, sunburn, frosts, draughts, chills and dusts, the navel of the universe, the depot, terminal, clearing-house, which the outer races visited as provincials.
It was at midnight when the hull of the Andrei Sinic touched Earth. The generators sank down out of inaudibility, down through shrillness, through treble, tenor, baritone, bass, and once more out of hearing.”
December 21, 2014
reviews.metaphorosis.com
4 stars
The Houses of Iszm was another of the stories new to me when I bought my CVIE, and it's one that paid off. It's a relatively early novella, and it doesn't have Vance's usual cast of characters. What it does have, though, is the exotic locales that he made so much of later on. Iszm, a world dedicated to house-growing trees and house export, is deadly afraid of poachers/intellectual property thieves. The hero gets caught up in the efforts of some of the thieves, with consequences that pursue him after he leaves.
It's not Vance's best work or his most complex, but I found it to be fun and interesting. The concepts are intriguing, the setting strange, the hero likeable. Well worth reading for fan or newcomer alike.
CVIE VI
January 15, 2016
The Houses of Iszm, a short story edging on novella, tells the tale of how a human botanist with a scientific curiosity gets pulled into a sinister plot that involves stealing plant seeds from planet Iszm – seeds that can grow into all kinds of houses, making them worth millions on several markets out in the galaxy. Especially since the Iszic guard them jealously, not distributing the more special seeds and only having one human distributor on Earth.
It’s one of Jack Vance’s earlier stories, but you can already see his familiar themes at work. Iszm is a gorgeous, weirdly alien and beautiful planet – I love how Vance always goes all the way with his aliens, giving them characteristics and behaviours that are truly alien to us humans. The evolutionary traits of his aliens always fit their planet/surroundings as well, and I think that’s absolutely great (as someone who grew up with sci-fi in which the aliens were always “humanoids” for some reason). He has a flair for language, and manages to describe the strange sights and sounds of Iszm in such a way that you can actually picture them. I mean, a planet with seeds that grow into houses with some sort of consciousness? Sign me up!
Farr, the hero, is also an archetype seen often in Vance’s stories – a somewhat charming rogue who, despite fucking up at every turn, manages to achieve doing the right thing in the end. Especially in this tale, the hero is bustling around in full, being drawn into a smuggling plot without his knowing and without his consent.
It’s a short, enjoyable read, though I was a bit disappointed by the ending. It’s a relatively quick conclusion that leaves us at roughly the same spot it left us at the start; if we’d never heard of Farr’s tale, almost nothing would’ve changed in the status of the universe. But hey, at least the ride was still enjoyable!
(Also, what is up with that Dutch cover? Standard sexy half-naked alien lady? What an utter disappointment, especially considering Vance’s highly creative aliens and interesting planets.)
It’s one of Jack Vance’s earlier stories, but you can already see his familiar themes at work. Iszm is a gorgeous, weirdly alien and beautiful planet – I love how Vance always goes all the way with his aliens, giving them characteristics and behaviours that are truly alien to us humans. The evolutionary traits of his aliens always fit their planet/surroundings as well, and I think that’s absolutely great (as someone who grew up with sci-fi in which the aliens were always “humanoids” for some reason). He has a flair for language, and manages to describe the strange sights and sounds of Iszm in such a way that you can actually picture them. I mean, a planet with seeds that grow into houses with some sort of consciousness? Sign me up!
Farr, the hero, is also an archetype seen often in Vance’s stories – a somewhat charming rogue who, despite fucking up at every turn, manages to achieve doing the right thing in the end. Especially in this tale, the hero is bustling around in full, being drawn into a smuggling plot without his knowing and without his consent.
It’s a short, enjoyable read, though I was a bit disappointed by the ending. It’s a relatively quick conclusion that leaves us at roughly the same spot it left us at the start; if we’d never heard of Farr’s tale, almost nothing would’ve changed in the status of the universe. But hey, at least the ride was still enjoyable!
(Also, what is up with that Dutch cover? Standard sexy half-naked alien lady? What an utter disappointment, especially considering Vance’s highly creative aliens and interesting planets.)
September 3, 2019
Дуже крута детективно фантастична повість. Буду читати інші книги автора з задоволенням
January 6, 2024
Hoewel het een science-fiction verhaal is dat al behoorlijk oud is (1964) vind ik het niet gedateerd overkomen. Dit komt omdat er niet echt diep op technische aspecten ingegaan wordt.
Het verhaal leest lekker weg en gaat om een origineel thema: bomen die gemanipuleerd worden om woonruimte te bieden.
4*
-----
Although it is a science-fiction story that is already quite old (1964), I don't think it seems dated. This is because it does not really delve deeply into technical aspects.
The story reads nicely and deals with an original theme: trees manipulated to provide living space.
4*
Het verhaal leest lekker weg en gaat om een origineel thema: bomen die gemanipuleerd worden om woonruimte te bieden.
4*
-----
Although it is a science-fiction story that is already quite old (1964), I don't think it seems dated. This is because it does not really delve deeply into technical aspects.
The story reads nicely and deals with an original theme: trees manipulated to provide living space.
4*
December 18, 2025
A thriller wrapped in a sci-fi. The plot is a bit bland and the characters bidimensional. Everything is so black and white, good and bad - boring.
But I came across this book as a botanist interested in plant representation in sci-fi and fantasy novels and I will focus on that. As per usual, the scientific side is meh. The plant house idea is pretty cool, but poorly developed. All plant houses have pods, despite the amazing number of options offered by nature. There is such a great variety of plants that even with some superficial research, the worldbuilding would have had more details, colour, and depth. To be even more pedantic, a "smart" plant would have used its core features - leaves, roots, and trunk - rather than modifying fruits for this purpose. But my version was in Italian, and I suspect a lot was lost in translation (the Italian word "bacello" might be more specific than the English "pod"). But also, these plants have nerves (??) can sometimes move (??) but attempts to merge them with animals fail because they are too different: I am confused about the science here. I feel this is an exciting idea but the author instead of developing it chose to use it just as a background or a pretext for its thriller.
But I came across this book as a botanist interested in plant representation in sci-fi and fantasy novels and I will focus on that. As per usual, the scientific side is meh. The plant house idea is pretty cool, but poorly developed. All plant houses have pods, despite the amazing number of options offered by nature. There is such a great variety of plants that even with some superficial research, the worldbuilding would have had more details, colour, and depth. To be even more pedantic, a "smart" plant would have used its core features - leaves, roots, and trunk - rather than modifying fruits for this purpose. But my version was in Italian, and I suspect a lot was lost in translation (the Italian word "bacello" might be more specific than the English "pod"). But also, these plants have nerves (??) can sometimes move (??) but attempts to merge them with animals fail because they are too different: I am confused about the science here. I feel this is an exciting idea but the author instead of developing it chose to use it just as a background or a pretext for its thriller.
January 20, 2019
I recently read Son of the Tree, and this novella is nearly as good. The initial setup is excellent. Farr, a botanist from Earth, travels to the planet Iszm where they grow their houses from trees. They are extremely paranoid and proud of their trees and their skill and watch all off-worlders carefully. Farr seems to be innocent, but he is soon caught up in a raid on a plantation by violent society. The Iszics are increasingly suspicious of Farr, and, when he departs for Earth, he is followed by several Iszics that claim his life is in danger. On Earth, Farr begins to realize that his life is in danger, and he is the target of one of the wealthiest men on Earth...
The society of Iszm is well-realized, and Vance has written a tale of synthetic biology decades before it became a legitimate field. However, once Farr returns to Earth, the plot is pretty confused. Likely, Vance was writing to a deadline. Still, a fun and fast read!
The society of Iszm is well-realized, and Vance has written a tale of synthetic biology decades before it became a legitimate field. However, once Farr returns to Earth, the plot is pretty confused. Likely, Vance was writing to a deadline. Still, a fun and fast read!
August 14, 2022
Plants make houses! People birth ideas from their heads! What if plant-loving people birthed idea houses from their actual heads?
That's this book. There are the typical Vancean notes: a two-part novel with a little planetary exploration and a mysterious space voyage in which a murder is committed, a capable male protagonist with some weaknesses (more in this protagonist than in others), and a generous imagination that casts off more raw ideas than almost any other.
Read it when you're done with the central Vance novels. This is a nice little interlude but not much more - unless you are really into plants.
That's this book. There are the typical Vancean notes: a two-part novel with a little planetary exploration and a mysterious space voyage in which a murder is committed, a capable male protagonist with some weaknesses (more in this protagonist than in others), and a generous imagination that casts off more raw ideas than almost any other.
Read it when you're done with the central Vance novels. This is a nice little interlude but not much more - unless you are really into plants.
April 26, 2018
The sociology of the Iszic, who grow trees that become living houses, is the great strength of this story. The intrigue is good entertainment.
But it is simply incorrect to describe it as part of a series: it is a stand-alone story. The confusion presumably arises because it appeared together with Son of the Tree and The Brains of Earth in a Daw collection entitled Nopalgarth, which is Vance's preferred title for the latter story. Otherwise, they have nothing to do with each other.
But it is simply incorrect to describe it as part of a series: it is a stand-alone story. The confusion presumably arises because it appeared together with Son of the Tree and The Brains of Earth in a Daw collection entitled Nopalgarth, which is Vance's preferred title for the latter story. Otherwise, they have nothing to do with each other.
May 11, 2025
Titolo secondario tra i racconti di Jack Vance in cui permane intatta la caratteristica principale della sua narrativa SF: la descrizione di usi e costumi della colonizzazione umana sparpagliate nel quadrante noto come Distesa gaeana (tema ricorrente); eventi che quasi sempre portano ad un crimine/congiura e alla successiva indagine; approfondimento caratteriale dei personaggi e degli ambienti.
Insomma un libro da leggere per i fan di Vance (o per i nuovi arrivati) che non vi annoierà ma nemmeno sarà memorabile
Insomma un libro da leggere per i fan di Vance (o per i nuovi arrivati) che non vi annoierà ma nemmeno sarà memorabile
January 13, 2023
The book wants to be a thriller or a mystery, but can't quite pull it off. The world-building is interesting but dispassionate. The characters are bland and inert. The 1950s' view of the future is quaint: the protagonist rails against houses costing US$2,000, so there must have been some currency devaluation in the far future. ;-)
July 30, 2023
I like the idea that houses and furniture can be grown. Something that could become possible somewhere in the future. Besides that Vance comes up with a bunch of nice new cultures and races. What an imaginative mind that man must have had.
January 9, 2025
A short early Vance novel, but the seeds (ha) for his later work are already growing.
Not the best one, I'd love to have a character with just a bit more agency (especially before he returns to Earth), but the characters and dialogs are typical fun Vance.
Not the best one, I'd love to have a character with just a bit more agency (especially before he returns to Earth), but the characters and dialogs are typical fun Vance.
August 8, 2020
Entertaining read. Really enjoyed the world building of the Iszic.
October 2, 2020
(3.5) This is quite an interesting work with a great setting and an engaging mix of genre, but also with some confusing plot inconsistencies.
March 17, 2017
This is a short novel or a long short story.
Here Vance steps out of his usual path of vagabond characters and focus mainly in a mystery plot around a (highly imaginative) monopoly: that of plant-living houses. These seed grown dwellings are extremely desired and sought for but scarce due to the secretive and protective policy of their unique builders/designers/gardeners, the Iszm, that ruthlessly try to keep their precious knowledge and art of breeding houses a secret.
This plot works out quite well, indeed, and the short format fits in perfectly. Likeable and entertaining in equal parts, makes a nice reading.
Here Vance steps out of his usual path of vagabond characters and focus mainly in a mystery plot around a (highly imaginative) monopoly: that of plant-living houses. These seed grown dwellings are extremely desired and sought for but scarce due to the secretive and protective policy of their unique builders/designers/gardeners, the Iszm, that ruthlessly try to keep their precious knowledge and art of breeding houses a secret.
This plot works out quite well, indeed, and the short format fits in perfectly. Likeable and entertaining in equal parts, makes a nice reading.
December 14, 2017
As usual I’ve rated it 5 because I just love virtually every thing he wrote. In nit-picking mode it would be 4.95, because despite the magical world of paranoid tree-house growers - jealously protecting their only income stream with both scientific and possibly spiritual security systems, the convolutions of the plot and the overall ambience of this frustratingly short epic tale has been surpassed....by his other stories. So it’s not my absolute favourite JV but it remains an imaginary world well worth a visit at least once, despite all the excellent competition from his other novels and other great SF authors. I’ve even re-read it which, for me at least, is a rare accolade..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2021
A novella set in the far future when humanity has already expanded to other planets and made contact and trade with alien civilizations, one particular race specializes in growing housing from living seed pods that become large trees that can be inhabited. The specialized botany can determine architectural and technological details of each home, and this knowledge and the galactic distribution of these plants is jealously guarded by the aliens who have developed a rigid security and surveillance-based society. Our human hero botanist visitor to their planet gets caught up in attempts to steal the valuable exports by parties unknown.
The idea of customizable and inhabitable pod trees was interesting and worth reading for its alien exoticism, even though the later development of the story into something more akin to hardboiled noir didn't work for me quite as well. Cool cover art on this edition, which I'm always a sucker for.
The idea of customizable and inhabitable pod trees was interesting and worth reading for its alien exoticism, even though the later development of the story into something more akin to hardboiled noir didn't work for me quite as well. Cool cover art on this edition, which I'm always a sucker for.
October 17, 2014
Jack Vance was a very creative writer. I like his style and I have enjoyed all of his novels that I have read so far. This is a thoroughly good easy read. A who done it. Rips along and keeps you interested. Before you know it its finished.
June 24, 2008
I need a place for re-reading - since I re-read all the time
2008/06/20 - must be for the 10th time
2008/06/20 - must be for the 10th time
May 13, 2013
Wel aardig, maar niet super.
Ik had al heel snel een vermoeden wat er aan de hand was.
Ik had al heel snel een vermoeden wat er aan de hand was.
May 1, 2014
Great little book
June 5, 2015
Fun book
May 24, 2024
Ok, but bit short and weak story
October 25, 2024
Quickpaced story set on the planet using biotechnologies even for housing. Not many Vances witticisms yet.
July 4, 2013
Not his best.
September 7, 2016
Not enough time with the houses on Iszm, the murder mystery part was less interesting.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews