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Clement Jackson wrote:

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I've often thought that the Cadwal series would make more sense as two books:
Book 1. "Araminta Station + "Ecce". Glawen comes of age, solves the murder of Sessily Veder, and rescues his father. There are intimations of deeper currents, which are explored in
Book 2. "Old Earth" and "Throy". The 3-way struggle for control of Cadwal. The perspective is widened and not as focused on Glawen.

I agree. Whenever I'm rereading Araminta Station, one of my favorites, I always include the first two chapters of Ecce and Old Earth. The rescue of Glawen's father is an essential part of the first book. And when I reread Ecce and Old Earth (a bit less frequently, but as I get older, I seem to like Old Earth more and more) I start with the third chapter, Wayness' arrival at Fair Winds. From there, the story develops logically, Wayness coming down the ladder, Glawen going up. Ah, it's a pleasure to reread the very names again : "Gohoon Galleries to Funusti Museum to Mirky Porod to Trieste, to Casa Lucasta, ad finally to Moonway." (and here my favorites are Funusti Museum and Old Trieste).

The last lines of Araminta Station are :

"He (Glawen) said nothing. He turned and at best speed trotted up Wansey Way."

Although Kirdy's death is an important episode, I have always considered this end to be too abrupt, not at all a typical Vancean open-end as in Tschai, the Demon Princes or Durdane. I would have preferred the last lines of the second chapter of Ecce and Old Earth, where the fact of Bodwyn Wook assigning a new mission to Glawen provides the logical end to the story and the somewhat cynical conclusion of their dialogue a perfect Vancean touch :

"Your request is denied," said Bodwyn Wook. "I am assigning you to a special mission. You must proceed to Earth at best speed and there clarify this matter we have been discussing to the best of your ability."
"Very good, sir," said Glawen. "I withdraw my request."
"Quite so," said Bodwyn Wook.

To cut it short : I suspect that Jack's editor showed some alarm and dismay at the increasing length of the first book of the trilogy, and decided that 500 pages were more than enough. It's even possible that the first two chapters of Ecce and Old Earth were already finished when that decision was made. It would be interesting to hear from Jack or others (David, perhaps) if such was indeed the case.

David B Williams wrote:

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Alas, I have no information regarding the writing and editing of the Cadwal Chronicles. However, your editorial instincts are correct

Regarding the demise of Kirdy, I have to interject a criticism of Jack Vance (eek!). This whole scene is nonsensical

The other fiasco in the Cadwal Chronicles is the ridiculous death of Milo. Would any sane people try to adapt these monstrous, savage beasts for tourist transporation?

Regarding the editing of the Cadwal Chronicles, I feel that the bigger part of the praise should go to Clement, since he was the first to remark upon this (unless the matter has already been discussed and is now buried in the archives).

I do not agree with you that the whole scene of Kirdy's demise is nonsensical. Quite the contrary : The cases of both Arles and the four Oomps from Thurben Island show us the proper procedure to be followed when capital crimes and major felonies have to be punished : Bodwyn Wook, as superintendent of Bureau B, has to convoke 1) the functionaries dealing with the case 2) the Housemaster of the family to whom the accused belongs 3) the Conservator.

In the case of Arles, both the Clattuc Housemaster Fratano and Bodwyn Wook were called to Riverview House, not because Egon Tamm is the victim's father, but because he is the Conservator ("to whom power flows from the Grant through legitimate Wardens"). The Thurben case is even more elucidating : "Present at the inquiry were Scharde, Egon Tamm the Conservator and Glawen." By now all readers know that Egon Tamm is the conservator;but in this sentence, the mentioning of his office was essential (the Housemaster is obviously not needed here).

So Bodwyn Wook is right that "this is not a formal hearing", since neither the Wook housemaster nor the Conservator are present. Therefore he is right to state that first "I will consult my associates." There are other complications as well : both he and Kirdy are Wooks, and maybe it is proper procedure to appoint a special judge in these cases. Secondly, the Sessily Veder case may even harm Araminta Station's economic interests (since her body was dumped in a wine barrel and then exported). Thirdly, Kirdy's guilt has not been established yet beyond all doubt, nor has he given a full confession, which is why he is advised to take counsel. So Bodwyn Wook is right to say that, together with the Conservator and the Housemaster, "we will decide upon our procedures." Kirdy cannot leave Cadwal anyway, and is warned not to leave Araminta Station. I cannot see anything extraordinary in the fact that Kirdy, with his mind in turmoil, then decides to attack Glawen, responsible for his demise. The fact that the Conservator was not called immediately does not surprise me;as High Court Judge, he was probably still busy with the paperwork for Floreste's trial and execution.

Regarding the bunters : As with riding horses and climbing mountains, it is transparently simple. No one stands in the slightest danger unless he rides horses or climbs mountains.

David B Williams wrote:

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* Something's got to be done about the lack of distinction between the present tense and the past tense of "read"! How can a word with the same spelling have different pronunciations depending on tense? Lead** (not the metal) and led offer the obvious solution.

** Something's got to be done about lead and lead!


To further muddy the waters : I have realized that recently it has become fashionable in the U.K to pronounce the "ee" in "years" (like "in recent years") like "yearning".

As to "lead" and "lead", things are easy, unless one feels called upon to pronounce "instead" as "insteed". One only has to memorize two lines of one of my favorite songs, The Sick Note (the Dubliners) :

"So when I untied the rope, the barrel fell like lead
and clinging tightly to the rope, I started up instead."

Here's the song : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_Vfxuk8x_A

The Sick Note

Title: The Sick Note

Lyrics by: Pat Cooksey

Recorded by: The Corries, The Dubliners, The New Barleycorn and Donal O'Shaughnessy

Category: Humour and Sarcasm and Must Know Song

Dear Sir, I write this note to you to tell you of me plight
And at the time of writing I am not a pretty sight
Me body is all black and blue, me face a deathly gray
And I write this note to say why Paddy's not at work today

While working on the fourteenth floor some bricks I had to clear
Now to throw them down from such a height it was not a good idea
The foreman wasn't very pleased, he bein' an awkward sod
He said I'd have to cart them down the ladders in me hod

Now clearing all these bricks by hand it was so very slow
So I hoisted up a barrel and secured the rope below
But in me haste to do the job I was too blind to see
That a barrel full of building bricks was heavier than me

So when I untied the rope the barrel fell like lead
And clinging tightly to the rope I started up instead
Well, I shot up like a rocket 'til to my dismay I found
That halfway up I met the bloody barrel coming down

Well, the barrel broke me shoulder as to the ground it sped
And when I reached the top I banged the pulley with me head
While I clung on tight all numb with shock from this almighty blow
And the barrel spilled out half the bricks fourteen floors below

Now, when these bricks had fallen from the barrel to the floor
I then outweighed the barrel and so started down once more
Still clinging tightly to the rope I sped towards the ground
And I landed on the broken bricks that were all scattered round

Well, I laid there groaning on the ground I thought I'd passed the worst
When the barrel hit the pulley wheel and then the bottom burst
Well, a shower of bricks rained down on me, I hadn't got a hope
As I lay there moaning on the ground, I let go the bloody rope

The barrel then being heavier it started down once more
And landed right across me as I lay upon the floor
Well it broke three ribs and my left arm and I can only say
That I hope you'll understand why Paddy's not at work today