tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187641567461387320.post6002719692188749982..comments2023-09-11T08:32:39.024-05:00Comments on SFF Masterworks: Fantasy Masterworks #4: Jack Vance, Tales of the Dying EarthUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187641567461387320.post-44819338354902628162011-05-09T06:30:21.013-05:002011-05-09T06:30:21.013-05:00I read it myself over the weekend and you're s...I read it myself over the weekend and you're spot on, especially about Cugel's saga. The thing with the Fantasy Masterworks compilations is that they either bring out Rocks or Diamonds. There were bits of the first two that were great. The second two were boring. Not in the re-read later pile.DMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02474492548691550463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187641567461387320.post-55894648288552923742011-04-12T11:58:18.235-05:002011-04-12T11:58:18.235-05:00The Eyes of the Overworld is generally recognized ...The Eyes of the Overworld is generally recognized as one of Vance's best. Certainly better than Lyonesse or Emphyrio. Cugel's Saga and Rhialto the Marvelous aren't thought of so highly. Dying Earth is somewhat better. <br /><br />You're not supposed to like Cugel. He's an amoral buffoon. You're supposed to enjoy laughing at his misfortune. But you don't even really so much laugh actually. It's only slightly funny. It's more just this relaxed wandering through a fantasy world. And the fantasy world isn't that interesting. It's just that somehow it comes across as more believable because he describes it within the action. He doesn't stop all the action to spend a few paragraphs describing the setting. But instead makes passing mentions within the action thus it's so much more accepted by the mind. <br /><br />Finally, Vance is always extremely weak concerning characterization. One doesn't read Vance for characterization. <br /><br />I do think though that Vance is not remotely for everyone. He'll always have a small rabid fan base, while getting incomprehension from the masses. What is best about Vance is the mix of escapism and stoicism. Meanwhile characters and plot are generally quite weak. Possibly the least diversity, and least depth in his characters of any top level writer.emphryiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07070909158612834729noreply@blogger.com