Suldrun's Garden (Lyonesse, Book 1)

Jack Vance is somewhat of an overlooked gem in the worlds of SF and fantasy. Although his critical reputation is great (and well-deserved), his books always seem to struggle to stay in print, especially his fantasy. Lyonesse is a case in point. It's the first book in a "high fantasy" trilogy about adventures in Atlantis before its descent beneath the waves. It is extraordinarily original and well-written. Plus, if you are someone who reads a great deal of fantasy, there is another bonus - this is one of the few fantasy works of the last half-century which owes no discernable debt to Tolkien - Vance's style and subject matter are entirely his own, and will seem much more fresh than the latest "Middle-Earth" clones from various bestselling authors.

I was reading Lyonesse once when the phone rang. Coming out of the bright world of Lyonnesse-reality was as hard as waking from a perfect dream. And why would anyone do that? When I put down the phone afterward, I had no recollection of who it was or what they'd had to say.This is Jack Vance at his best, and even his worst is better than most.

Is this really out of print? In that case I will purchase "Suldrun's Garden" second hand, and the publishers shall get not a groat.This is the first of a fantasy series from the 1980s, by an author whose first work in the genre ("The Dying Earth", 1950) predates publication of "The Lord of the Rings" ... consequently one does NOT get the immitable bits of Tolkein filtered through the D & D Dungeon-Master's Guide, but a book that re-creates mythology in its own right. Well, it sort of re-creates fairytale as well. "Suldrun's Garden" especially.This was (and will be) many people's first Vance book; and so I should mention the most salient point: the style. Unlike most of his competitors Vance can put a sentence together - nay, even a paragraph: imagine that! - and his dialogue is always crisp and delicious. (Supposedly wise wizards mouthing empty inanities are nowhere to be found in Vance.) Inventive, unpredicatble, beautiful ... the publishers can stick that on the back cover of the next edition, if they want. Just so long as they print one.