Jack Vance

ECCE

AND

OLD EARTH

Cadwal Chronicles #2

TOR hardcover (©1961)

CONDITION:  GOOD; no jacket, minor shelfwear (the front cover is slightly bent upward), no markings. Pages are in fine shape.

NOTE:  This is almost certainly the book club edition.

NOTE:  I wasn't sure whether to put this under “fantasy” or “science fiction.”

The planet Cadwal has an ecosystem unique in the human-explored galaxy; a thousand years past it was set aside as a natural preserve, protected by law and covenant against colonization and exploitation.

But now the elite Conservator culture that has developed on Cadwal is facing a conspiracy of humans and aliens to open the planet, and its rich resources, to full commercial use. Glawen Clattuc, scion of one of the scientific houses of Cadwal, must discover who exactly is behind all the sabotage, and bring them to interplanetary justice.

But Glawen soon discovers that he is investigating his own family - there are ancient crimes to be discovered, as well as the key that will resolve the crisis that threatens Cadwal and its way of life.

Commentaries on line:

this one in particular had the sophistication of mid-period H.G. Wells. The man is a brilliant writer and I will be reading more of his work or sure. It was, in some ways, much like one of LeGuin's Hainish stories.

What to say about this bizarre and wonderful book?

I simply can't remember enjoying a piece of fiction quite as much as Wayness's adventures on Old Earth, and would have gleefully read another 400 pages about her if Jack had written them.

One of the better of the late Vance novels, and purer science-fiction than most of his stuff. I'm planning to reread it, starting with Cadwal #1.

The second book of the Cadwall Chronicles where Glawen and Wayness travel the galaxy to recover some lost documents. It also shows the second reason why I am so fond of reading Vance; his ability to imagine new worlds with their own flora and fauna, continents, moons and, especially, cultures. So strange and again so natural that it is a pleasure to read. Not only does he describes these anthropological marvels, he also lets them be acted out by the persons in the books. 

How interesting it would be to travel among those stars and planets…

Very good sci fi. Vance is an excellent writer. This book, is contrast to the first of the trilogy, included the narrative perspective of a strong, clever female character.

still superb

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