The Face (The Demon Princes, Book 4)

Rating:
Summary: Beware the Touch of Panak
Review: Vance returned to the Demon Prince series after a 12-year hiatus to write this novel and its sequel, 'The Book of Dreams.' These demonstrate the mature Vance. His world building skills are just as fine, but character development has come a great distance Kirth Gersen is not only a full three dimensional character, but he is fully in control of events now. An 'actor' rather than a 'reactor.' This carries over to the rest of the persona as well, except for the villain of the piece, Lens Larque, who must remain a menacing shadow to the very end.

Larque is a Darsh from Dar Sai, a world that was only civilized because of the value of its raw materials. Its people are harsh, prone to games of whipping and violent 'diplomacy.' The sexes don't like each other and the mating customs are half hide-and-seek, and half mayhem. Gersen puts together a ship-napping in order to trick Larque into exposure, has the tables turned on him, and finally arrives on Dar Sai with a new respect for the fourth of the Demon Princes.

Gersen's troubles don't end because he has got to the right planet. Next, he must find the right man. Soon you get the idea that the only cooperative people on Dar Sai were not born their. The Darsh have about the same social skills as miners during the gold rush. And about the same amount of rapacity as well. I should also mention that they have the worst food in known space. Winning only a pyrrhic victory on Dar Sai, Gersen heads for its sister planet Methlen, where the beautiful people live. Besides the inevitable conclusion, Gersen also learns the sorrows of love (again) and the joys of delivering a good comeuppance.

There is a lot of subtle and ironic humor in the story, one of Vance's trademarks as a developed writer. As such, interest remains high right through the end as the last twists fall into place. While it was to be only a few more years before the final volume appears it was a very impatient time for the fans. You modern young whippersnappers should count yourselves lucky.

Rating:
Summary: Beware the Touch of Panak
Review: Vance returned to the Demon Prince series after a 12-year hiatus to write this novel and its sequel, 'The Book of Dreams.' These demonstrate the mature Vance. His world building skills are just as fine, but character development has come a great distance Kirth Gersen is not only a full three dimensional character, but he is fully in control of events now. An 'actor' rather than a 'reactor.' This carries over to the rest of the persona as well, except for the villain of the piece, Lens Larque, who must remain a menacing shadow to the very end.

Larque is a Darsh from Dar Sai, a world that was only civilized because of the value of its raw materials. Its people are harsh, prone to games of whipping and violent 'diplomacy.' The sexes don't like each other and the mating customs are half hide-and-seek, and half mayhem. Gersen puts together a ship-napping in order to trick Larque into exposure, has the tables turned on him, and finally arrives on Dar Sai with a new respect for the fourth of the Demon Princes.

Gersen's troubles don't end because he has got to the right planet. Next, he must find the right man. Soon you get the idea that the only cooperative people on Dar Sai were not born their. The Darsh have about the same social skills as miners during the gold rush. And about the same amount of rapacity as well. I should also mention that they have the worst food in known space. Winning only a pyrrhic victory on Dar Sai, Gersen heads for its sister planet Methlen, where the beautiful people live. Besides the inevitable conclusion, Gersen also learns the sorrows of love (again) and the joys of delivering a good comeuppance.

There is a lot of subtle and ironic humor in the story, one of Vance's trademarks as a developed writer. As such, interest remains high right through the end as the last twists fall into place. While it was to be only a few more years before the final volume appears it was a very impatient time for the fans. You modern young whippersnappers should count yourselves lucky.