Rhialto Marvelous

Vance's baroque and vibrant style is in full force here. I must admit that the "Dying Earth" books are among my favorites, as they were my introduction to Vance's work to begin with. This book features Rhialto, a magician residing on Earth at the end of time. As in previous books of this series, there is some time travel...and one of the adventures takes place at the end of the universe (that's right, a finite wall marking the limits of the universe). Vance's characters are fascinating, as usual; unscrupulous, arrogant, witty and clever. His dry humor is evident throughout. Another reviewer takes issue with Vance's use of obscure and self-created words. I think this just adds flavor to Vance's work. Regardless, "made-up" words are a fairly common convention in this genre and I don't think it amounts to much of an issue. Clearly Vance's style is unique, but not so unusual as to be inaccessible (witness his Hugo, Nebula and Edgar awards). If you're familiar with Vance, you've probably already bought everything you can find. If not, this would make as good an introduction to his work as any. They're all good.

This is a collection of stories about Rhialto, a magician who lives in Vance's Dying Earth. Fans of Cugel's Saga and the previous Dying Earth books will love it, as will those who just want a good read. Vance's command of the English language is formidable, and his descriptive passages are priceless. This book is humorous, sardonic, and very rich indeed.