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I am in the middle of reading Space Opera for the first time. One of the few books I have not read before. And yet it feels familiar.

Here is a favorite section so far:

" ... Sirius planet is a rather dim place, about as bright as an Earth twilight. One's eyes rapidly adapt to the dimnes and the landscape takes on a weird charm. .......... byzantaurs, probably the most civilized tribe of the planet. Like the landscape, I fear they will seem initially ugly to your eyes, and they are certainly not anthropoid. The have four arms and four legs, and what appear to be two heads, but these latter simply contain the sense organs, as the brain is in the body itself. In spite of their nightmarish appearance they are responsive creatures, quite ready to adopt those human manners, methods, and institutions which seem useful to them. This is especially true of ..., who have a settled existence in their caves. They derive their livelihood by a kind of agriculture, and their lichen terraces are extremely interesting."

The weird charm of the Sirius dimness, it's as if it never happened. And yet Vance is able to extract it, out of Earth twilight. Very subtle, and cosmically ringing true. Vance is unique in his profound sensibility.

"The have four arms and four legs, and what appear to be two heads, but these latter simply contain the sense organs, as the brain is in the body itself."

What great stuff! This is the Vancean horror I love! Kind of Lovecraftian, at yet unique to Vance in its refinement and humour.

Reminds me of the unrestrained imagery in such favorites as Meet Miss Universe.

Think, in the year of 2009, to still discover such Vance gems!!!!! 45 year old treasures unearthed today. I feel very privileged!

Some may say that Vance is at his best in capturing the human condition. But I say THIS is Vance at his best!

Such bizarre things, of distilled intenseness, are generally limited to his early work, and short-stories. Vance's longer, and newer works, are more polished up. For example, in Night Lamp, while beautifully written, I don't remember a single strange creature. It's as if he thinks, "I am grown-up now, must write in a mature way, can't have any of those childish monsters."