F/SF

Much more enjoyable than the first book in the trilogy, due largely to the exposure of the protagonist to many new cultures and races. This is the sort of thing Vance excels out, and here he tosses aside one-page encounters with curious societies that a lesser author might spend an entire novel on.

Of course, some of the flaws in science fiction writing of the period are well in evidence here, in particular the notion that a young man of good character can do anything he sets his mind to. In this case, we have an uneducated musician who somehow designs a parliamentary government from scratch. Also a balloon-tender/lifelong-prisoner who trains an entire military in tactics. Where did they learn this stuff? Why does nobody else seem to know it?

The finale of the book is a huge departure from how things started out. I've seen this before in Vance's work: a provincial, often rural beginning that then thrusts the characters onto the international (or, more generally, interplanetary) stage. I think it is necessary, as the zero-to-hero story starts to sag a little on its own. In this case, it sets up the third book of the series nicely, which is a good thing because I was considering chucking the trilogy entirely after the first one. ( )

This sparsely told tale is the sequel to The Faceless Man (AKA The Anome) and the second book of the Durdane trilogy. The books are no longer in print but Kindle editions can still be purchased. The copy I have (shown here http://dlmorrese.wordpress.com/2012/07/31/book-review-the-brave-free-men-by-jack... is a limited hardcover edition published in 1983 that I found at my local library. Apparently, they are quite rare.
This book continues the adventures of Gatzel Etzwane as he tries to defend his country, Shant, from the mutant Roguskhoi. Unfortunately, the culture and government of Shant, as they currently exist, are ill equipped to address the situation, so Etzwane must first take control of the government, revamp society, restructure the bureaucracy, develop new technology, and oust the Roguskhoi -- and he has only 251 pages to do so. Vance manages to have him pull it off believably, which is quite an accomplishment.
The way he does it may not appeal to some modern readers, though. He summarizes much of what happens, ‘telling’ the story rather than ‘showing’ it. He restricts the point of view to a single character, Etzwane, and therefore relates much of what occurs in either narrative or exposition.
The plot is interesting, and the setting and characters are imaginative and well conceived. I recommend it.
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The following is a review of the Durdane Chronicles as a whole (without spoilers):

http://speculiction.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/review-of-durdane-chronicles-by-jack.... ( )