jeriendhal (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jeriendhal) wrote2008-08-16 12:16 pm
jeriendhal) wrote2008-08-16 12:16 pm
Short Review: Planet of Adventure, Jack Vance (mild spoilers)
Summary: This is a collection of the four short novels by Jack Vance, City of the Chasch, Servants of the Wahnk *, The Dirdir, and The Pnume chronicalling the adventures of Adam Reith, a human astronaut trapped on the planet of Tschai, after his scout craft is shot down by one of the four controlling alien species that inhabit the world, all of whom are served by humans brought to the world thousands of years ago. As he travels across the vast world, he meets many strange peoples and creatures as he quests to build a new spacecraft to take him home.
Review: The Planet of Adventure books are among the last of the old style "Sword and Blaster" style of planetary romance novels. And while Vance is fairly good at creating a wholly realized world, one that is vastly old and fought over for thousands of years, he's a bit less accomplished in the characterization department. Adam Reith (always refered by his full name) is a cypher of a main character. He's noble enough, rescuing fair damsels and certainly determined as he upsets applecarts everywhere in his quest for a ship home, but if he's got any interior life we never see it. He's a blank slate, with no past, no family, and no goals except Get The Ship. If he feels any exultation when he finally escapes, we're not privy to it. The story just ends.
* Gigglesnort. Fortunately Steve Jackson convinced Vance to let them change the name to "Wanek" for the GURPS supplement they published.
Review: The Planet of Adventure books are among the last of the old style "Sword and Blaster" style of planetary romance novels. And while Vance is fairly good at creating a wholly realized world, one that is vastly old and fought over for thousands of years, he's a bit less accomplished in the characterization department. Adam Reith (always refered by his full name) is a cypher of a main character. He's noble enough, rescuing fair damsels and certainly determined as he upsets applecarts everywhere in his quest for a ship home, but if he's got any interior life we never see it. He's a blank slate, with no past, no family, and no goals except Get The Ship. If he feels any exultation when he finally escapes, we're not privy to it. The story just ends.
* Gigglesnort. Fortunately Steve Jackson convinced Vance to let them change the name to "Wanek" for the GURPS supplement they published.