Maske: Thaery

Rating:
Summary: subtle adventure
Review: From reading the book about ten years ago, I remember considering it at the time as his best so far. It is, in a way, a witty first draft of "Araminta Station", the story of a young man set to discover the world and getting embroiled in politics.

Rating:
Summary: subtle adventure
Review: I read this book as a teenager and then found it years later...and I confess that I enjoyed it even more. Most fantasy books are so predictably swashbuckling that it's tiresome. Not so with virtually any book by Vance.
In this book, a young man sets out to find his fortune; burdened by a sort of caste system, he is forced to call up all his craft and political savvy, becoming embroiled in a greedy plot with very dangerous people, and he must use every ounce of wit to not only survive,but profit as well!
Set in a fascinating setting and filled as usual with Vance's unique culture, the book is a light but enjoyable read.

Rating:
Summary: Non-SF
Review: Sometimes I hear people saying how they like the science fiction by Jack Vance, and I tried to read some. I seem unable to find any SF by Jack Vance, his stories always appear adventure stories set against a murky fantasy background. This is a pretty good example of non-SF book by Jack Vance not worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: an Excellent Read, Classic Vance.
Review: Vance, simply put, is one of the best (if not *the* best) modern Sci-fi/Fantasy authors. What one must understand is that Vance is not lauded for revolutionary story ideas (though in some cases, he should be). What Vance is regarded for is his ability to create believeable, motivated, intelligent characters with as much (or more) depth than most real people and place them in equally realistic places. His descriptions and explanations of planets, lifeforms, cultures, and technologies are fleshed out with more attention to detail than one would find contained 10 tourist guides of real places.

Maske: Thaery is no exception. While the themes are not exceptional(coming of age, political intrigue, etc), Vance's prose is. The plot and subplots are gripping, the characters are sympathetic and endearing. This is an excellent read from cover to cover. The only negative aspect of the book is its brevity. A sequel is in order, Jack!