Songs of the Dying Earth: Short Stories in Honor of Jack Vance

Amazon.com Review Amazon Best Books of the Month, December 2010 : Sixty years ago, in The Dying Earth , Jack Vance introduced his own version of the distant future, where the sun has become a red giant, powerful wizards fight over the scraps of ruined civilizations, and a handful of colorful and eccentric characters insist on having a few adventures before oblivion descends. In Songs of the Dying Earth , 22 sci-fi and fantasy writers, from newcomers like Liz Williams and Byron Tetrick to established names like Neil Gaiman and George R.R. Martin, each offer their own snippets of Vance's Dying Earth. In one story, an apprentice architect stumbles into a duel between two powerful mages, for example, while in another a poet-philosopher tries (and fails) to forget the coming apocalypse in a drunken haze. Some stories capture Vance's style and inventiveness, while others recreate his perfect combination of black humor and creeping dread. Songs of the Dying Earth is both a respectful homage to a sci-fi master and a whirlwind tour of a world that readers will want to revisit. --Darryl Campbell From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. This stellar anthology features 22 original stories set in the far future of Grand Master Jack Vance's 1950 classic The Dying Earth , wherein sorcerers, rogues and demons squabble for power beneath the waning light of a bloated red sun. Some of the field's most talented writers successfully adopt Vance's convoluted style, ironic dialogue and amoral protagonists, as in Dan Simmons's epic novella The Guiding Nose of UlfГ¤nt Banderoz, which relates the desperate quest of Shrue the diabolist to find a dead wizard's Ultimate Library, and Liz Williams's excellent Caulk the Witch-chaser, concerning a minor wizard forced to ally himself with his quarry. Exquisitely illustrated by Tom Kidd, these are tales to savor and a fitting tribute to one of the field's finest authors. (Oct.) Copyright ''© Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. This tribute anthology celebrates the work of SF/F legend Jack Vance, featuring original stories from George R. R. Martin, Neil Gaiman, Dan Simmons, Elizabeth Moon, Tanith Lee, Tad Williams, Kage Baker, and Robert Silverberg, along with fifteen others—as well as an introduction by Dean Koontz. To honor the magnificent career of Jack Vance, one unparalleled in achievement and impact, George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, with the full cooperation of Vance, his family, and his agents, have created a Jack Vance tribute anthology: Songs of the Dying Earth . The best of today's fantasy writers to return to the unique and evocative milieu of The Dying Earth, from which they and so many others have drawn so much inspiration, to create their own brand-new adventures in the world of Jack Vance's greatest novel. Half a century ago, Jack Vance created the world of the Dying Earth, and fantasy has never been the same. Now, for the first time ever, Jack has agreed to open this bizarre and darkly beautiful world to other fantasists, to play in as their very own. To say that other fantasy writers are excited by this prospect is a gross understatement; one has told us that he'd crawl through broken glass for the chance to write for the anthology, another that he'd gladly give up his right arm for the privilege. That's the kind of regard in which Jack Vance and The Dying Earth are held by generations of his peers. Each story includes an afterword by the author. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied. To Honor The Magnificent Career Of Jack Vance, One Unparalleled In Achievement And Impact, George R.r. Martin And Gardner Dozois, With The Full Cooperation Of Vance, His Family, And His Agents, Have Created A Jack Vance Tribute Anthology: Songs Of The Dying Earth. The Best Of Today's Fantasy Writers To Return To The Unique And Evocative Milieu Of The Dying Earth, From Which They And So Many Others Have Drawn So Much Inspiration, To Create Their Own Brand-new Adventures In The World Of Jack Vance's Greatest Novel. Half A Century Ago, Jack Vance Created The World Of The Dying Earth, And Fantasy Has Never Been The Same. Now, For The First Time Ever, Jack Has Agreed To Open This Bizarre And Darkly Beautiful World To Other Fantasists, To Play In As Their Very Own. To Say That Other Fantasy Writers Are Excited By This Prospect Is A Gross Understatement; One Has Told Us That He'd Crawl Through Broken Glass For The Chance To Write For The Anthology, Another That He'd Gladly Give Up His Right Arm For The Privilege. That's The Kind Of Regard In Which Jack Vance And The Dying Earth Are Held By Generations Of His Peers. This Book Contains Original Stories From George R. R. Martin, Neil Gaiman, Dan Simmons, Elizabeth Moon, Tanith Lee, Tad Williams, Kage Baker, And Robert Silverberg, Along With Fifteen Others--as Well As An Introduction By Dean Koontz. At The Publisher's Request, This Title Is Being Sold Without Digital Rights Management Software (drm) Applied. An anthology prepared in tribute to the career of Jack Vance features original tales inspired by "The Dying Earth" and includes contributions by such genre masters as Neil Gaiman, Tanith Lee, and Robert Silverberg