Lyonesse

Rating:
Summary: sublime wit
Review: I first read Lyonesse as an adolescent and I loved it. As an adult I enjoyed it even more. Vance's wit and command of the language is magnificent. His attention to detail is illuminating without being stifling or bewildering. The characters are believable and, most important to me, likable. I recommend it to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: sublime wit
Review: Jack Vance is somewhat of an overlooked gem in the worlds of SF and fantasy. Although his critical reputation is great (and well-deserved), his books always seem to struggle to stay in print, especially his fantasy. Lyonesse is a case in point. It's the first book in a "high fantasy" trilogy about adventures in Atlantis before its descent beneath the waves. It is extraordinarily original and well-written. Plus, if you are someone who reads a great deal of fantasy, there is another bonus - this is one of the few fantasy works of the last half-century which owes no discernable debt to Tolkien - Vance's style and subject matter are entirely his own, and will seem much more fresh than the latest "Middle-Earth" clones from various bestselling authors.

Rating:
Summary: Among the best fantasy books ever written.
Review: Jack Vance is somewhat of an overlooked gem in the worlds of SF and fantasy. Although his critical reputation is great (and well-deserved), his books always seem to struggle to stay in print, especially his fantasy. Lyonesse is a case in point. It's the first book in a "high fantasy" trilogy about adventures in Atlantis before its descent beneath the waves. It is extraordinarily original and well-written. Plus, if you are someone who reads a great deal of fantasy, there is another bonus - this is one of the few fantasy works of the last half-century which owes no discernable debt to Tolkien - Vance's style and subject matter are entirely his own, and will seem much more fresh than the latest "Middle-Earth" clones from various bestselling authors.