Jack Vance mastered his craft over more than sixty years, garnering awards including the Nebula, Edgar, two Hugos, and the 1997 SFWA Grandmaster. The stories in this collection were written through the early-mid period of his career, spanning twenty years from the early 50's on. Vance would dismiss his early work as juvenile, "gadget"-oriented, lacking subtlety and polish. Even so, these stories are hearty and entertaining. Vance's perception, imagination and eventful personal experience are all visible, staking the way ...
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Jack Vance mastered his craft over more than sixty years, garnering awards including the Nebula, Edgar, two Hugos, and the 1997 SFWA Grandmaster. The stories in this collection were written through the early-mid period of his career, spanning twenty years from the early 50's on. Vance would dismiss his early work as juvenile, "gadget"-oriented, lacking subtlety and polish. Even so, these stories are hearty and entertaining. Vance's perception, imagination and eventful personal experience are all visible, staking the way for significant things to come. Extraterrestrials are difficult to portray, but Vance takes a swing with Phalid's Fate (1951), Nopalgarth (1966), and The Narrow Land (1967). Shape-Up and Crusade to Maxus are classic SF. The Augmented Agent and Milton Hack from Zodiac are intrigues, with recognizable prototypes of Magnus Ridolph and Miro Hetzel. The conflict between conservers and exploiters is a theme Vance would return to with Maske: Thaery and The Cadwal Chronicles . The Gift of Gab (1955) throws in a twist: the challenge to communicate with a non-human race having no language. Chateau d'If (1950) highlights the collection. Critics were divided on the merits of the story (originally published as New Bodies for Old ) but agreed the atmosphere was the creation of a major talent. In a future city all needs are met, and the greatest threat is ennui. Seeking novelty, Roland Mario gets more than he bargained for when his mind is placed in the flaccid body of an unhealthy man, having an unhappy family and messy professional life. Inhabiting every uncomfortable aspect of the man's life, Mario determines to win back his own body. This won't be easy or quick, but he rolls up his sleeves, and the venture ultimately provides what Roland sought in the first place. In the end, he faces an unexpected choice. Chateau d'If and Other Stories is Volume 13 of the Spatterlight Press Signature Series.Released in the centenary of the author's birth, this handsome new collectionis based upon the prestigious Vance Integral Edition. Select volumes enjoyup-to-date maps, and many are graced with freshly-written forewords contributedby a distinguished group of authors. Each book bears a facsimile of theauthor's signature and a previously-unpublished photograph, chosen from family archives for the period the book was written. These uniquefeatures will be appreciated by all, from seasoned Vance collector to new reader sampling the spectrum of this author's influential work forthe first time. - John Vance II
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Add this copy of Chateau d'If and Other Stories to cart. $14.88, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2017 by Spatterlight Press.
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New. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 474 p. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Add this copy of Chateau D'If and Other Stories (Paperback Or Softback) to cart. $19.46, new condition, Sold by BargainBookStores rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Grand Rapids, MI, UNITED STATES, published 2017 by Spatterlight Press.
Add this copy of Chateau D'If and Other Stories to cart. $23.80, new condition, Sold by Russell Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Victoria, BC, CANADA, published 2017 by Spatterlight Press.
Add this copy of Chateau D'If and Other Stories to cart. $39.13, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2017 by Spatterlight Press.
Add this copy of Chateau D'If and Other Stories to cart. $50.00, very good condition, Sold by AARDVARK RARE BOOKS, ABAA rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Eugene, OR, UNITED STATES, published 1990 by Underwood-Miller.
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Very Good Plus / Very Good Plus. Octavo, 9.5 in. x 6.25 in., pp. 284. White cloth-covered boards with blue title to spine. Very light rubbing to board edges. Very light rubbing to dustjacket edges. Protected in mylar. Contains five, short science fiction novellas: 1) Abercrombie Station; 2) Cholwell's Chickens; 3) Chateau D'If; 4) Gift of Gab; 5) Rumfuddle. "Jack (John Holbrook) Vance (San Francisco, August 28, 1916-Oakland, May 26, 2013) was an American mystery, fantasy and science fiction author. Most of his work has been published under the name Jack Vance. Vance has published 11 mysteries as John Holbrook Vance and 3 as Ellery Queen. Other pen names (each used only once) included Alan Wade, Peter Held, John van See, and Jay Kavanse. Among his awards are: Hugo Awards, in 1963 for The Dragon Masters, in 1967 for The Last Castle, and in 2010 for his memoir This is Me, Jack Vance! ; a Nebula Award in 1966, also for The Last Castle; the Jupiter Award in 1975; the World Fantasy Award in 1984 for life achievement and in 1990 for Lyonesse: Madouc; an Edgar (the mystery equivalent of the Nebula) for the best first mystery novel in 1961 for The Man in the Cage; in 1992, he was Guest of Honor at the WorldCon in Orlando, Florida; and in 1997 he was named a SFWA Grand Master. A 2009 profile in the New York Times Magazine described Vance as 'one of American literature's most distinctive and undervalued voices. '" (from Jack Vance FB site).
Add this copy of Chateau D'If: and Other Stories to cart. $60.00, very good condition, Sold by Midtown Scholar Bookstore rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Harrisburg, PA, UNITED STATES, published 1990 by Underwood Books.
Add this copy of Chateau D'If and Other Stories to cart. $60.00, good condition, Sold by Second Story Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Rockville, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1990 by Underwood-Miller.
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Book. Octavo, 284 pages; VG-/VG; spine pictorial, with red lettering; dust jacket protected with a mylar covering; mild shelf wear and soiling; price uncut '$29.95'; mild soiling to boards; some soiling to upper edge of textblock; pages clean; shelved below Front Counter. 1350952. Shelved Dupont Bookstore.
