Jack Vance was born on this date, August 28, in 1916. We lost him on May 26, 2013. Vance was a master of both science fiction and fantasy. He often wrote in a highly stylistic manner. I first read Vance in The Hugo Winners, edited by Isaac Asimov, when I was a freshman in high school. That volume contained “The Dragon Masters” and “The Last Castle”. Later I read The Demon Prince Novels, a quintet in which a man seeks revenge on the criminals who destroyed his home world. He goes after a different one in each book. I highly recommend them.
I’ve read some of his other works through the years, including the first two volumes of his Planet of Adventure series.
One of the series Vance is best known for is The Dying Earth. This is a far future milieu in which the sun has become a red giant and magic has returned to the world. Today’s story, “Liane the Wayfarer”, take place in that setting. Liane is a scoundrel who has found a magic ring. This isn’t one that fits on his finger but is wide enough he can slide it over his entire body. When he does, he finds himself in a dark place. To get out, all he has to do is lift the ring over his head.
Liane continues on his way and meets a small man riding on a dragonfly. When the little man asks for salt, Liane gives him some in exchange for information. One piece of information is that a beautiful golden witch has taken up residence by a nearby pond. Liane goes to check her out with intentions that are less than honorable. The witch manages to get into her hut before Liane can reach her. He forces his way in, but once inside he discovers that she cannot be force to do anything against her will as long as she is inside her home.
The witch tells Liane she will yield to his desires on one condition. She shows him beautiful tapestry embroidered with a scene from her homeland. The problem is that half of it is missing. It’s being held in a castle about a day’s journey. All Liane has to do to have his way with the witch is to steal the other half and return it to her. He readily agrees.
Of course it isn’t going to be that simple…
I really liked the way Vance wrapped this one up. The twist was brilliant. To find out what that is, you’ll have to read the story yourself.
I’ve always enjoyed everything I’ve read by Jack Vance. This story reminded me how much I need to read more.
And now I want to read that story.
It’s been reprinted a lot. Just do a search on ISFDB. I’m not sure what’s available in your part of the world, but you should at least be able to pick up an electronic copy on the cheap in one of Vance’s books or an anthology. It’s a short, fast read, and I think you’ll like it.
I still remember where I was when I read this. I spent several years tracking down THE DYING EARTH after reading about it in THE BLADE OF CONAN. As much as I love Jack’s later Dying Earth stuff, that collection has a magic that he never quite reattained. All said, one of the few, true masters of SFF.
I’ve got The Dying Earth on my ereader and intend to dip into it later this year.
I prefer early Vance to late. The first Vance story that made me remember his by-line was Big Planet. After that I began to seek out his works and discovered the original Dying Earth book. That to me remains the high point of his output.
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Jack Vance is one of the greatest. Between him, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Robert E. Howard I am complete.
Although I reserve the right to peruse about a million other authors while waiting for those first three to produce more works.
🙂 Good approach!