Amidst life’s trouble and triumphs, I’ve been reading the five books that comprise Jack Vance’s Demon Princes. Vance is an odd sort of author. At times he is a bit wordy and then at other times he writes with great fluidity. I read that he was a boat enthusiast so maybe it makes sense that his stories ebb and flow.
I had been wanting to read Demon Princes for some time when I came upon a copy at my local library (yes, I still use the library). 900 pages later, I can say I have experienced the worlds of Oikumene and the Beyond. Good stuff all in all even if Kirth Gersen wasn’t the most interesting of protagonists. He’s just a dude out for revenge… then again aren’t we all;)
The one fault I have with Vance is that his female characters leave something to be desired. They’re basically damsels in distress or prizes to be won. Like Tolkien, it feels like Vance practices a male dominated aesthetic. Regardless, he remains one of the most deviously clever authors despite his shortcomings. The Face was probably my favorite of the five stories, if only for the ending. The Star King, The Killing Machine, The Palace of Love, and The Book of Dreams are all worthy reads as well.
So what to read next?
Can you say A Dance with Dragons? :D
