Book Review – The Dying Earth

Author: Jack Vance
Publisher: Lancer Books
Binding: Paperback
Publication Date: 1969

The Dying Earth is without a doubt one of the classics of Fantasy. When this collection of six linked short stories, all of which had appeared in pulp fantasy magazines, was first published as in 1950 is was a big hit. Jack Vance went on to expand this universe in a number of other books and collections which have been very influential in the genre. The six original stories are not printed separately any more, but a number of omnibus Dying Earth publications are still widely available. I found a second hand copy of a 1969 reprint by Lancer Books, which in true pulp fashion, is falling apart after my first reading. Of course one can’t expect too much for the € 1,50 I paid for it. The Dying Earth is my first exposure to Vance and given my dislike of pulp in general, it’s probably no surprise that I am not overly impressed.

The sun is slowly dying, the earth still basks in it’s red light but the few people who are left among the ruins of millennia of civilizations are quite fatalistic about the fact the light is about to go out on them. Mind, this is fantasy, science tells us life as we know it will be blasted off the earth long before the sun turns red (and swallows the inner planets in the process). Science and technology have taken the back seat and magic seems to be the main focus of those pursuing knowledge. Even in that field knowledge has faded though. A few magicians are trying to recapture the science and magic of earlier ages. In this strange dim world the following stories are set:

• Turjan of Miir: in which the wizard Turjan attempts to create intelligent live in the vats in his laboratory. He is forced to admit defeat and seek the help of wizard Pandelume. His efforts bring him conflict with the magician Mazirian as well as the acquaintance of Pandelume’s creation T’sais.
• Mazirian the Magician: in which Mazirian imprisons Turjan to acquire the secrets of creating intelligent life.
• T’sais: in which T’sais slays Liane the Wayfarer and helps Ettar escape a demon’s curse.
• Liane: the Wayfarer in which Liane (apparently the stories aren’t chronological) sets out to steal a tapestry to win the heart of a beautiful witch who is resisting his charms.
• Ulan Dhor Ends a Dream: in which Ulan Dhor seeks a pair of ancient tablets supposedly the key to great magical power.
• Guyal of Sfere: in which the ever curious Guyal sets out to seek the Museum of Man, a repository of all human knowledge and possibly the key to escape from the dying earth.

While these stories are obviously interconnected they should not be seen as one continuing story. There is no overarching story line that I have noticed, in fact only the last story in the collections conveys the impression that Vance plans to take this setting further. Each of the stories could be read independently. While some of the characters appear in several stories there doesn’t seem to be much development. Apart from the setting the connection between the stories is minimal. This lack of continuing story line, common themes or characters may disappoint some readers. I must admit is was not quite what I expected either.

The Dying Earth is a collection of classic pulp fantasy stories, nothing less, nothing more. If you can stand cardboard characters and fantasy clichés, this is probably as good as it is going to get. Vance’s command of the English language is impressive. He pulls off what many other pulp writers didn’t manage: to use kind of rich, colourful prose pulp is know for, without sounding completely ridiculous. That is about as much praise as I can give the book though. These stories are not particularly good, there is very little character development or worldbuilding, the writing is largely descriptive and the prose takes some getting used to. Perhaps in the context of the expanded Dying Earth universe these stories are more interesting but in hindsight it might have been wiser to try some later Vance first before getting into this.

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