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The Early Jack Vance #4
Minding the Stars: The Early Jack Vance, Volume Four
Throughout his long and impressive career as a celebrated professional storyteller, Jack Vance showed a fascination not only with having characters solve mysteries in all sorts of dramatic and wondrous situations using their powers of observation, deduction and common sense, but also with the possibility of higher states of mind in play, other realms of existence, even spirit worlds.
Vance approached such things with a healthy, properly wary, scientific curiosity, even while embracing the liberties allowed any popular entertainer, and so made the exploration of such higher states part of his stock in trade.
Whether richly displayed in his Dying Earth stories with their wizardly spellcasting, eldritch beings and strange dimensions, or in his science fiction tales with the incredible mental powers afforded races like the Green Chasch, the Fwai-chi, the Meks of Etamin 9 besieging the final human strongholds in 'The Last Castle,' even given to divergent human peoples on Koryphon, Maske and countless other worlds, or to the likes of his most extraordinary Demon Prince, Howard Alan Treesong, Vance was forever drawn to what else might comprise human (and other) natures in all their myriad forms.
Minding the The Early Jack Vance Volume 4 reflects this beguiling blend of the practical and the otherworldly, combining tales that explore the workings of such mental powers with other stories selected from the earlier days of the Grandmaster's illustrious career.
Vance approached such things with a healthy, properly wary, scientific curiosity, even while embracing the liberties allowed any popular entertainer, and so made the exploration of such higher states part of his stock in trade.
Whether richly displayed in his Dying Earth stories with their wizardly spellcasting, eldritch beings and strange dimensions, or in his science fiction tales with the incredible mental powers afforded races like the Green Chasch, the Fwai-chi, the Meks of Etamin 9 besieging the final human strongholds in 'The Last Castle,' even given to divergent human peoples on Koryphon, Maske and countless other worlds, or to the likes of his most extraordinary Demon Prince, Howard Alan Treesong, Vance was forever drawn to what else might comprise human (and other) natures in all their myriad forms.
Minding the The Early Jack Vance Volume 4 reflects this beguiling blend of the practical and the otherworldly, combining tales that explore the workings of such mental powers with other stories selected from the earlier days of the Grandmaster's illustrious career.
367 pages, Hardcover
First published March 31, 2013
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61 people want to read
About the author
Jack Vance
779 books1,529 followersAka John Holbrook Vance, Peter Held, John Holbrook, Ellery Queen, John van See, Alan Wade.
The author was born in 1916 and educated at the University of California, first as a mining engineer, then majoring in physics and finally in journalism. During the 1940s and 1950s, he contributed widely to science fiction and fantasy magazines. His first novel, The Dying Earth , was published in 1950 to great acclaim. He won both of science fiction's most coveted trophies, the Hugo and Nebula awards. He also won an Edgar Award for his mystery novel The Man in the Cage . He lived in Oakland, California in a house he designed.
The author was born in 1916 and educated at the University of California, first as a mining engineer, then majoring in physics and finally in journalism. During the 1940s and 1950s, he contributed widely to science fiction and fantasy magazines. His first novel, The Dying Earth , was published in 1950 to great acclaim. He won both of science fiction's most coveted trophies, the Hugo and Nebula awards. He also won an Edgar Award for his mystery novel The Man in the Cage . He lived in Oakland, California in a house he designed.
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November 11, 2017
Minding the Stars: The Early Jack Vance, Volume Four (The Early Jack Vance #4)
This collection of eight Vance shorter works is available as a Kindle edition and as an out of print hardcover book. It consists of four novellas, one novelette and three short stories. I really like three of these stories so am rating the collection as a 4. They are listed alphabetically below with brief descriptions:
Alfred's Ark
"Alfred's Ark" is an eight page short story first published in New Worlds Science Fiction in 1965. It is a short, simple story that cuts to the quick of human behavior. Alfred believes there will be a Biblical flood in less than a year so he sells his business for very little profit in order to build an ark. He even runs an ad in the local paper asking for donations and volunteers but receives mostly ridicule in response. Alfred will only take a few domestic animals along because he does not have the resources to include wild ones. He hopes that some woman will offer to join him but says if necessary he will hire a woman to board the ark with him on the day of the predicted storm. He feels she will eventually grow to like him if they end up being the last two surviving people on Earth. How Alfred is treated by people in his local community and human behavior in general is the underlying theme. In the Introduction Vance informs us that "Alfred's Ark" is one of his favorite stories and that it "tells you all you need to know in regard to the human condition." I really liked it and rated it 4.
Four Hundred Blackbirds
The twenty three page novelette "Four Hundred Blackbirds" was issued first in Future Science Fiction in 1953. A means of telepathy is developed so that fighter pilots can wear helmets that allow them to communicate with the other pilots and rest of the crew. The idea is that they are able to coordinate like a flock of blackbirds in perfect unison when attacking. But for every arms invention there are counter inventions. Here we have an arms race based on telepathy. I thought the story was somewhat interesting. Rated 3.
Milton Hack from Zodiac
"Milton Hack from Zodiac" was first published in 1967 and is a 40-49 page novella. It is also known as "Man from Zodiac." This is a clever, witty story about a company called Zodiac that offers contracts to bring government and organization to other societies. Milton Hack is their field representative and travels to other planets to try to sell contracts. He also owns 8% of the company. The rest of the company has just been inherited by a brother and sister after their father died. Hack has been screening out applicants to avoid those that are especially problematic and unlikely to meet their financial commitments, but his new boss wants him to sign up anybody. Giving in to pressure, Hack contracts with an especially uncivilized, warring group called the Phrones from Ethelrinda Cordas. The Phrones, however, are not really interested in a government. They just want arms to kill off their enemies, the Sabols. The Sabols in the meantime have signed a contract with a different company that is in competition with Zodiac. Hack is tenacious and clever as he tries to explain that he is there to set up a government, not to provide arms. The story is interesting with many twists. I rated it a 4.
Miss Universe
"Miss Universe" was published first in 1955 in Fantastic Universe. More often it is titled "Meet Miss Universe." This is a twenty five page short story involving the California Tri-Centennial Exposition. Harderman Clydell, the Exposition's General Director asks his assistant, Tony LeGrand, if he can think of events or exhibits to enhance the exposition and Tony suggests a Miss Universe contest. LeGrand likes the idea so they begin making plans. They decide to include all species of intelligent alien creatures as long as they come from a socially organized society, an interpreter can be found and the species is not dangerous. Comparing humans to Pleiades dragon women would be difficult so they decide to score the contestants based on the standards of their home planet. The story is intended to be light and humorous and has an unpredictable ending, although it is clearly dated. I rated it a 3.
Nopalgarth
"Nopalgarth" is a 99-108 page novella that was first released in book form in 1966 in an Ace Double under the title "Brains of the Earth." The title was changed to "Nopalgarth" in 1980 when DAW issued it. A scientist, Paul Burke, from Earth is kidnapped by aliens (Xaxans) and is charged with saving Earth by helping eliminate a parasite called "nopals" that attach themselves to Xaxans and also to humans and can influence the feelings, thoughts, perceptions and behavior of their host. Nopals are usually invisible because they are not composed of matter and are from the "para-cosmos." The Xaxans call Earth "Nopalgarth" because all people on Earth are infected with nopals. The nopals on Earth use it as a breeding grounds and then travel to other planets to infect the Xaxans and other. The Xaxans are planning a mass assault on Earth to kill all nopals if Burke does not succeed. They provide him with gold and a machine that painfully detaches nopals one at a time from those infected. Note that "Chitumih" and "Taukptu" are not two different species. A Chitumih is any creature, Earthling or Xaxan, who is infected with a nopal. Taukptu is any person or alien who is not infected with a nopal. I found this initially rather confusing. Although some of the prose and the discussions between the scientists was rather flat for Vance, a master writer, the odd story held my interest and is recommended to dedicated Vance fans. My rating: 3 "Liked it"
Parapsyche
"Parapsyche" was first published in Amazing Science Fiction Stories in 1958. It is a 115 page novella and one of Vance's few excursions into parapsychology. Telepathy, clairvoyance, ghosts, ESP and séances with mediums all play a role. Don Berwick has been interested in spiritualism since he saw ghosts as a child. Years later he attended college with the goal of becoming a parapsychologist. After he and his wife find oil on the property they inherited, they decide to establish an institute for psychic research. Berwick's brother in law is a fanatical, bigoted revivalist preacher, named Fighting Joe Bronny, who considers spiritualism and the occult to be the workings of the devil. As Fighting Joe gains followers, he begins to advocate that his followers join him in his "fight" against "atheism," "communism" and "blood pollution." By "fight" he means physical fight, and he is especially outraged by the sinful activities going on by his brother in law and sister at Berwick's institute. A major conflict seems about to erupt. In the Introduction Vance mentioned that he wrote "Parapsyche" after reading about psionics. I did not find the story very interesting and rated it a 2 "Okay."
Telek
Telek is a 58 page novella that was first published in 1952 in Astounding Science Fiction magazine. It is set in the future where the world is controlled by Teleks who are humans who have learned telekinetic powers. These Teleks live apart from regular humans but interact with them and manage much of the industry and finances of the world. Although vastly outnumbered by humans, Teleks have immense power to do damage and to control society. If a Telek is attacked or killed by ordinary humans, there is terrible retribution against them so they are usually treated with deference. In our story a Telek is suddenly killed by an angry worker and the other workers decide to cover this up to avoid retaliation. But Teleks have bug like spying devices that fly around keeping surveillance, making such cover ups extremely difficult. One human, Shorn, who joins a group that is conspiring against the Teleks, offers the Teleks some vital information in exchange for their teaching him telekinesis so he can be a Telek. He hopes to teach other ordinary people this power so they are not dominated and terrorized by the Teleks. The alternative plan is to try to kill all of the Teleks. But if they do not kill every one of them, if even one is left alive, there will be terrible retaliation. This story was likeable enough but not top drawer Vance and I rated it a 3 "Liked it."
World Between
"The World Between," a 29 page novelette written in 1953, is also known as "The Ecological Onslaught." A potentially habitable planet is discovered by beings from Blue Star who are in direct competition with residents of another planet called Kay. When the Blue Star explorers try to introduce organisms to the planet to eventually make it habitable, the Kay citizens, who want the planet for themselves, decide to release diseases and predators to disrupt things. This quickly becomes an ecological battle between two planets. It is an interesting story and easy to read. I rated it a 4.
This collection of eight Vance shorter works is available as a Kindle edition and as an out of print hardcover book. It consists of four novellas, one novelette and three short stories. I really like three of these stories so am rating the collection as a 4. They are listed alphabetically below with brief descriptions:
Alfred's Ark
"Alfred's Ark" is an eight page short story first published in New Worlds Science Fiction in 1965. It is a short, simple story that cuts to the quick of human behavior. Alfred believes there will be a Biblical flood in less than a year so he sells his business for very little profit in order to build an ark. He even runs an ad in the local paper asking for donations and volunteers but receives mostly ridicule in response. Alfred will only take a few domestic animals along because he does not have the resources to include wild ones. He hopes that some woman will offer to join him but says if necessary he will hire a woman to board the ark with him on the day of the predicted storm. He feels she will eventually grow to like him if they end up being the last two surviving people on Earth. How Alfred is treated by people in his local community and human behavior in general is the underlying theme. In the Introduction Vance informs us that "Alfred's Ark" is one of his favorite stories and that it "tells you all you need to know in regard to the human condition." I really liked it and rated it 4.
Four Hundred Blackbirds
The twenty three page novelette "Four Hundred Blackbirds" was issued first in Future Science Fiction in 1953. A means of telepathy is developed so that fighter pilots can wear helmets that allow them to communicate with the other pilots and rest of the crew. The idea is that they are able to coordinate like a flock of blackbirds in perfect unison when attacking. But for every arms invention there are counter inventions. Here we have an arms race based on telepathy. I thought the story was somewhat interesting. Rated 3.
Milton Hack from Zodiac
"Milton Hack from Zodiac" was first published in 1967 and is a 40-49 page novella. It is also known as "Man from Zodiac." This is a clever, witty story about a company called Zodiac that offers contracts to bring government and organization to other societies. Milton Hack is their field representative and travels to other planets to try to sell contracts. He also owns 8% of the company. The rest of the company has just been inherited by a brother and sister after their father died. Hack has been screening out applicants to avoid those that are especially problematic and unlikely to meet their financial commitments, but his new boss wants him to sign up anybody. Giving in to pressure, Hack contracts with an especially uncivilized, warring group called the Phrones from Ethelrinda Cordas. The Phrones, however, are not really interested in a government. They just want arms to kill off their enemies, the Sabols. The Sabols in the meantime have signed a contract with a different company that is in competition with Zodiac. Hack is tenacious and clever as he tries to explain that he is there to set up a government, not to provide arms. The story is interesting with many twists. I rated it a 4.
Miss Universe
"Miss Universe" was published first in 1955 in Fantastic Universe. More often it is titled "Meet Miss Universe." This is a twenty five page short story involving the California Tri-Centennial Exposition. Harderman Clydell, the Exposition's General Director asks his assistant, Tony LeGrand, if he can think of events or exhibits to enhance the exposition and Tony suggests a Miss Universe contest. LeGrand likes the idea so they begin making plans. They decide to include all species of intelligent alien creatures as long as they come from a socially organized society, an interpreter can be found and the species is not dangerous. Comparing humans to Pleiades dragon women would be difficult so they decide to score the contestants based on the standards of their home planet. The story is intended to be light and humorous and has an unpredictable ending, although it is clearly dated. I rated it a 3.
Nopalgarth
"Nopalgarth" is a 99-108 page novella that was first released in book form in 1966 in an Ace Double under the title "Brains of the Earth." The title was changed to "Nopalgarth" in 1980 when DAW issued it. A scientist, Paul Burke, from Earth is kidnapped by aliens (Xaxans) and is charged with saving Earth by helping eliminate a parasite called "nopals" that attach themselves to Xaxans and also to humans and can influence the feelings, thoughts, perceptions and behavior of their host. Nopals are usually invisible because they are not composed of matter and are from the "para-cosmos." The Xaxans call Earth "Nopalgarth" because all people on Earth are infected with nopals. The nopals on Earth use it as a breeding grounds and then travel to other planets to infect the Xaxans and other. The Xaxans are planning a mass assault on Earth to kill all nopals if Burke does not succeed. They provide him with gold and a machine that painfully detaches nopals one at a time from those infected. Note that "Chitumih" and "Taukptu" are not two different species. A Chitumih is any creature, Earthling or Xaxan, who is infected with a nopal. Taukptu is any person or alien who is not infected with a nopal. I found this initially rather confusing. Although some of the prose and the discussions between the scientists was rather flat for Vance, a master writer, the odd story held my interest and is recommended to dedicated Vance fans. My rating: 3 "Liked it"
Parapsyche
"Parapsyche" was first published in Amazing Science Fiction Stories in 1958. It is a 115 page novella and one of Vance's few excursions into parapsychology. Telepathy, clairvoyance, ghosts, ESP and séances with mediums all play a role. Don Berwick has been interested in spiritualism since he saw ghosts as a child. Years later he attended college with the goal of becoming a parapsychologist. After he and his wife find oil on the property they inherited, they decide to establish an institute for psychic research. Berwick's brother in law is a fanatical, bigoted revivalist preacher, named Fighting Joe Bronny, who considers spiritualism and the occult to be the workings of the devil. As Fighting Joe gains followers, he begins to advocate that his followers join him in his "fight" against "atheism," "communism" and "blood pollution." By "fight" he means physical fight, and he is especially outraged by the sinful activities going on by his brother in law and sister at Berwick's institute. A major conflict seems about to erupt. In the Introduction Vance mentioned that he wrote "Parapsyche" after reading about psionics. I did not find the story very interesting and rated it a 2 "Okay."
Telek
Telek is a 58 page novella that was first published in 1952 in Astounding Science Fiction magazine. It is set in the future where the world is controlled by Teleks who are humans who have learned telekinetic powers. These Teleks live apart from regular humans but interact with them and manage much of the industry and finances of the world. Although vastly outnumbered by humans, Teleks have immense power to do damage and to control society. If a Telek is attacked or killed by ordinary humans, there is terrible retribution against them so they are usually treated with deference. In our story a Telek is suddenly killed by an angry worker and the other workers decide to cover this up to avoid retaliation. But Teleks have bug like spying devices that fly around keeping surveillance, making such cover ups extremely difficult. One human, Shorn, who joins a group that is conspiring against the Teleks, offers the Teleks some vital information in exchange for their teaching him telekinesis so he can be a Telek. He hopes to teach other ordinary people this power so they are not dominated and terrorized by the Teleks. The alternative plan is to try to kill all of the Teleks. But if they do not kill every one of them, if even one is left alive, there will be terrible retaliation. This story was likeable enough but not top drawer Vance and I rated it a 3 "Liked it."
World Between
"The World Between," a 29 page novelette written in 1953, is also known as "The Ecological Onslaught." A potentially habitable planet is discovered by beings from Blue Star who are in direct competition with residents of another planet called Kay. When the Blue Star explorers try to introduce organisms to the planet to eventually make it habitable, the Kay citizens, who want the planet for themselves, decide to release diseases and predators to disrupt things. This quickly becomes an ecological battle between two planets. It is an interesting story and easy to read. I rated it a 4.
January 30, 2019
Undoubtedly the worst collection of Jack Vance stories I've read.
The editors made the decision to lump all the pyschic/esp/afterlife stories into one volume, and it gets old quick.
Vance is not on stable footing here, and nowhere is this more evident than in the final story, which reads like the results of a late-nightpot bullshit session on whether things like seances could have any scientific basis and if so, how would you go about testing them. Let's face it, Vance is a science fiction writer, not a scientist - the reasoning here is just embarrassing.
The editors made the decision to lump all the pyschic/esp/afterlife stories into one volume, and it gets old quick.
Vance is not on stable footing here, and nowhere is this more evident than in the final story, which reads like the results of a late-night
December 23, 2019
It was mixed. I had already read Nopalgarth aka Brains of the Earth and enjoyed it very much. The last story did not seem like Vance at all. It was good and readible. But it had some comments on today's society and religion that I was not expecting. Not that I mind or disagree. I just was not expecting it.
Oh well, on to Volume 5
Oh well, on to Volume 5
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews