Thought I'd start a new topic to describe this book that I mentioned recently.
http://www.siriusfiction.com/vance.html
The main body of the book is a listing of planets and stars in Jack Vance's works with codes to identify the work(s).
For example, the first entry is:
1012 Aurigae home star system of the intelligent Golespods, wide, rubbery creatures (UM).
(UM = The Unspeakable McInch)
Many of the entries are similarly brief because the places are only mentioned in the originals.
Other entries are longer eg Aerlith is about a page and a half and covers subjects including Population, Technology and History, as well as types of Dragons, etc. Tschai is perhaps the longest entry with about five and a half pages.
Some aliens and societies are described under the relevant planets but they don't have entries of their own eg if you want to know about the Dirdir you have to know to look under Tschai (Sibol does rate a listing which only mentions it's the Dirdir homeworld).
Similarly, countries and cities usually only appear under the name of the planet eg there's a map of Amboy included under the entry for Halma.
Individuals are not mentioned eg as far as I can see there's no mention of Adam Reith in the entry for Tschai.
Naturally, some of the information would constitute "spoilers". A few entries have coded spoiler information.
There are some maps and diagrams included with the entries, and Star Maps at the end of the book.
There are a number of brief Appendices including Spaceships, Sports, and a Tentative Unified Timeline.
I decided to go for the paperback which I expect to suit me fine.
Why did I buy the book?
I like maps and gazetteers and Jack Vance.
What will I do with it?
I'll use it to look up Vancian place names that spring to mind when I can't recall which story they're from (and hope they're not cities or countries). I'll keep it handy for reference when I reread the books in future. I may read it from cover to cover after the next reread.
Regards,
Peter.
http://www.siriusfiction.com/vance.html
The main body of the book is a listing of planets and stars in Jack Vance's works with codes to identify the work(s).
For example, the first entry is:
1012 Aurigae home star system of the intelligent Golespods, wide, rubbery creatures (UM).
(UM = The Unspeakable McInch)
Many of the entries are similarly brief because the places are only mentioned in the originals.
Other entries are longer eg Aerlith is about a page and a half and covers subjects including Population, Technology and History, as well as types of Dragons, etc. Tschai is perhaps the longest entry with about five and a half pages.
Some aliens and societies are described under the relevant planets but they don't have entries of their own eg if you want to know about the Dirdir you have to know to look under Tschai (Sibol does rate a listing which only mentions it's the Dirdir homeworld).
Similarly, countries and cities usually only appear under the name of the planet eg there's a map of Amboy included under the entry for Halma.
Individuals are not mentioned eg as far as I can see there's no mention of Adam Reith in the entry for Tschai.
Naturally, some of the information would constitute "spoilers". A few entries have coded spoiler information.
There are some maps and diagrams included with the entries, and Star Maps at the end of the book.
There are a number of brief Appendices including Spaceships, Sports, and a Tentative Unified Timeline.
I decided to go for the paperback which I expect to suit me fine.
Why did I buy the book?
I like maps and gazetteers and Jack Vance.
What will I do with it?
I'll use it to look up Vancian place names that spring to mind when I can't recall which story they're from (and hope they're not cities or countries). I'll keep it handy for reference when I reread the books in future. I may read it from cover to cover after the next reread.
Regards,
Peter.
