Book Review: The World Thinker and Other Stories-Jack Vance

Book Review: The World Thinker and Other Stories-Jack Vance

Vancealot: Jack Vance in Review, TJ Jones

Spatterlight Press trade paperback, 291 pages

Release Date: 2017

Foreword: David B. Williams

Cover art: Howard Kistler

Contents:

·       Foreward: Jack Vance: The World-Thinker: David B. Williams, 27 pages

·       The World-Thinker, 27 pages, novelette

·       I’ll Build Your Dream Castle, 18 pages, short story

·       The Ten Books, 21 pages, novelette

·       The God and the Temple Robber, 15 pages, short story

·       Telek, 69 pages, novella

·       Noise, 13 pages, short story

·       Seven Exits from Bocz, 10 pages, short story

·       DP! , 22 pages, short story

·       The Absent Minded Professor, 16 pages, short story

·       The Devil on Salvation Bluff, 23 pages, short story

·       The Phantom Milkman, 13 pages, short story

·       Where Hesperus Falls, 10 pages, short story

·       A Practical Man’s Guide, 9 pages, short story

·       The House Lords, 16 pages, short story

·       The Secret, 10 pages, short story

This is a collection of fifteen shorter works by Jack Vance, including thirteen short stories, one novelettes and one novella.  These are all very early works, first published between 1945 and 1957 and will appeal mostly to dedicated Vance fans.  Other readers should probably start out with the some of the other Jack Vance Spatterlight Press short works collections such as The Moon Moth and Other Stories, or Chateau d’If and Other Stories.

This collection is a high quality trade paperback edition that is based on the Vance Integral Edition (VIE) that is the revised and author approved edition of the writings of Jack Vance.  Many of the original writings of Vance were edited, altered, expanded or cut by editors, especially shorter works that were published first in science fiction and fantasy magazines. Below is a brief review of each work in this collection:

The World-Thinker-Jack Vance novelette

"The World-Thinker" was the first story Vance ever published and was issued in Thrilling Wonder Stories in August of 1945. It is a 27 page novelette that Vance wrote while he was at sea.  I don’t think it is such a bad story for a first publication but years later in Vance said he found it embarrassing.  In Vance’s introduction to the 1982 collection Lost Moons he said that The World-Thinker and another story Dream Castle were both “so embarrassing that I rewrote a few stand-out passages, a lick-and-a promise operation rather like putting rouge on a corpse.” The story involves Isabel May who escapes prison on Earth and flees in a spaceship pursued by Lanark who is hired to capture her alive.  She possesses a very valuable code that is highly important to the government. Lanark finally tracks her spaceship down on another planet but cannot find Isabel. Instead he encounters a godlike creature named Laoome, "the one-time Sage of the Fifth Universe--Laoome the World-Thinker, the Final Sage of the Fifth Universe."  Laoome has the ability to create through his mind other planets and realities and has placed Isabel under his protection on one of the planets he created.  Lanark convinces Laoome to allow him to visit this planet to talk with her. A number of cosmological ideas are explored in this early work.  I’ve read this three times.  It is a bit clumsy and amateurish and certainly not one of Vance’s best stories but I rated it a 3 "Liked it."

I'll Build Your Dream Castle-Jack Vance short story

"I'll Build Your Dream Castle" is an18 page short story that was first published in the magazine Astounding Science Fiction in September of 1947. According to the International Speculative Fiction Data Base: "In 1982, Vance revised this story to create "Dream Castle.” Vance himself did not care for the original story Dream Castle and in his introduction to the 1982 collection Lost Moons he said this story and another one called The World-Thinker were both “so embarrassing that I rewrote a few stand-out passages, a lick-and-a promise operation rather like putting rouge on a corpse.” I’ll Build Your Dream Castle features an intelligent and enterprising protagonist named Farrero, a fairly recent graduate who designs and markets homes for a contracting firm.  His boss, Angker, wants him to sign over patents that he created when he was in school.  When he refuses to do so, he is immediately fired.  Farrero strikes out on his own even though he does not have a contractor's license.  His ideas are revolutionary and very profit making so that he is soon in competition with his old firm.  They decide to try to rehire him or at least attempt to duplicate what he is doing, but Farrero seems to have anticipated this.  The story is quite clever.  I’ve read it several times and rated it a 4 “Really liked it.”

The Ten Books-Jack Vance novelette (author’s preferred title), AKA: Men of the Ten Books

"The Ten Books" is also known as "Men of the Ten Books" and was first published in Startling Stories in 1951.  It is a 21 page short story.  A couple, Ralph and Betty Welstead from Earth, are exploring other planets in their spaceship and discover a planet about the size and temperature of Earth.  When they land they find a thriving society that greets them as long awaited heroes or rescuers.  The planet called Haven is inhabited by humans who are the descendants of those who crash landed there 271 years previously. Other than a few verbal stories passed on from their predecessors, the only thing they know about Earth is from some books they have, the ten volume edition of "The Encyclopedia of Human Achievement."  These books adulate human achievement on Earth and do not mention poverty, crime or any social or cultural problems. Although Haven society runs in perfect harmony and is almost a paradise, the people from Haven idolize Earth and have glorified it into something that is far grander than their own planet.  Now that a ship from Earth has arrived, many of them want to visit Earth, a planet they think is magnificent beyond their imagination.  The Welstead's have to decide whether or not to tell them the truth about Earth, that it is not the idealized paradise the books depict.  They are concerned about what will happen to the people of Haven because they have been eagerly awaiting rescue for nearly three centuries.  I’ve read this story several times, found  fairly interesting, and rated it a 3 "Liked it."

The God and the Temple Robbers-Jack Vance short story (author’s preferred title), AKA: “The Temple of Han”

“God and the Temple Robbers” is a 15 page short story that was first printed in the magazine Planet Stories in July, 1951. Vance explained how this story was originally part of an epic novel that was rejected for publication. It was one episode that he salvaged from the novel.  It has also had the title "The Temple of Han." The main character is an Earth man, Briar Kelly, who disguises himself as a Han, an alien species that outnumber humans on Earth, and goes to one of their temples where he steals a religious jewel called the Seven-year Eye that he hopes to sell. While fleeing, however, the sky suddenly changes and a new sun appears in place of the old one.  The Han have somehow moved Earth to a different location, and that is merely the first step in the drastic measures they will take to regain the jewel.  The story is engaging and worth reading. I’ve read it three times and rated it a 4 “Really liked it.”

Telek-Jack Vance novella

Telek is a 69 page novella that was first published in January, 1952 in Astounding Science Fiction magazine.  It is set in the future where Earth is controlled by Teleks who are humans who have learned telekinetic powers. These Teleks live apart from regular humans but interact with them and manage much of the industry, finances and law enforcement on Earth.  Although vastly outnumbered by humans, Teleks have immense power to do damage and to control society. If a Telek is attacked or killed by ordinary humans, there is terrible retribution against them so they are usually treated with deference.  In our story a Telek is suddenly killed after the Telek kills an angry worker and the killer and other workers who saw the incident decide to cover up the death to avoid retaliation. But Teleks have bug like spying devices that fly around keeping surveillance, making such cover ups extremely difficult. One human, Shorn, who joins a group that is conspiring against the Teleks, decides offer the Teleks some vital information (which does not exist) in exchange for their teaching him telekinesis so he can be a Telek.  He hopes to teach other ordinary people this power so they are not dominated and terrorized by the Teleks. The alternative plan is to try to kill all of the Teleks. But they would have to kill every one of them because if even one was left alive, there would be terrible retaliation.  I suspect Telek was a story Vance wrote for his editor, John Campbell, who was editor of the magazine Astounding Science Fiction from 1937 to 1971 and who liked parapsychological themes. Telek was engaging enough to read but is not, by any means, top drawer Vance.  I rated it a 3 "Liked it."

Noise-Jack Vance short story (author’s preferred title), AKA: “Music of the Spheres”

"Noise" was published initially in August, 1952 in Startling Stories magazine.  It is also known as “Music of the Spheres” and is a 13 page short story.  A man crash lands on a distant planet and begins sending out distress signals, hoping to get rescued.  He gradually begins to see and hear strange seductive things and is not sure if his senses have become more responsive or if he is hallucinating. It is a strange, moody, psychological, fantasy piece that is rather fascinating.  I’ve read this several times and rated it a 3 “Liked it.”

Seven Exits from Bocz-Jack Vance short story

"Seven Exits to Bocz" is a 10 page short story that was published initially in June, 1952 in the fanzine “The Rhodomagnetic Digest, Volume 2, #3.”  The main character, Nicholas Trasek, visits a scientist, Dr. Horzabky, to confront him about his role at the Bocz prison camp. Years ago Dr. Horzabky was a scientist assigned to a prison that was really more of a concentration camp during a war.  During their conversation we learn of Dr. Horzabky’s activities in the prison. He also discusses the six panels with abstract paintings on them and a seventh one that is blank.  Dr. Horzabky explains that each of these panels has a portal to another universe.  The seventh panel leads to a universe that “is so alien to our world that light refuses to penetrate it.”  These portals were a product of an experiment done by Dr. Horzabky years ago. While working at Bocz Dr. Horzabky conducted cruel experiments including a final experiment with Sixty eight thousand slave prisoners when he had them all drugged and then forced them to focus their mutual attention on panels of plywood.  His instruction to all of them was to use their focused concentration to try to pierce holes in plywood panels painted with targets.  He hoped  that the combined mental power of 68,000 people would have a telepathic effect on the targets.

Dr. Horzabky’s plan was successful and each of the seven panels now had a hole in it.  When he examined the holes he found that each one was a portal to a different universe.  The enemy, the United Army of Occupation, was approaching and Horzabky did not want the prisoners to survive to become witnesses to his experiments so he forced all the prisoners to divide into seven groups and then for each group to go through one of the seven portals. Each of the seven portals led to a different experience for the person going through it with some turning to dust, some living but inside out humans, etc.  Each of the seven pieces. One of these victims was Trasek's brother so Trasek has some ideas for revenge, but Dr. Horzabky has his own plans for dealing with Trasek and other visitors. I’ve read this story three times so far, found it fairly engaging, and rated it a 3 “Liked it.”

DP!-Jack Vance short story

"DP!" is a 22 page short story that sometimes does not have an exclamation point after the title.  It was first released in April, 1953 in the Avon Science Fiction and Fantasy Reader.  Vance wrote this story while vacationing in a village in the Austrian Tyrol and uses this location as the setting for the story. White humanoid troglodytes begin coming up out of the fissures in the earth after a lava flow forces them to the surface. The "Trogs" are initially killed by fearful humans until they are recognized as also being human.  The harmless and helpless Trogs are blind and have no food or shelter. Prolonged exposure to the sun kills them. They are refugees, totally dependent on others.  Eventually millions of Trogs climb up out of the earth and are stranded in a small area in Austria called Trog City. The United Nations becomes involved and some countries offer to take some of the Trogs as immigrants. Some citizens find this threatening and campaign against it. One country wonders if the Trogs could be used for cheap or free labor. It is a classic refugee ethical dilemma done Vancian style.  I’ve read it several times rated it a 4 “Really liked it.”

The Absent-Minded Professor-Jack Vance short story (author’s preferred title), AKA: “First Star I See Tonight”

"The Absent-Minded Professor" is a 16/17 page short story first published in Malcom's Mystery Magazine in March of 1954 under the pseudonym of John Van See. It is also known as "First Star I See Tonight." Vance mentioned in the Introduction to the collection The Dark Side of the Moon that he was rather fond of this story. It was influenced by some information Vance received regarding the competition between scientists in academia.  The story is written in the first person singular and involves the rivalry between two astronomy professors who compete to gain more access time to the observatory telescope. It is more of a mystery story than science fiction.  The main character, Sisley,  is an assistant professor of astronomy who shares observatory time with elderly, fussy, cantankerous full professor named Dr. Patchen.  Sisley’s frustration has reached a breaking point and he has made elaborate plans to deal with Patchen. I thought it was fairly interesting and entertaining story.  I’ve read it four times and rated it a 3 “Liked it.”

Devil on Salvation Bluff-Jack Vance short story

"The Devil on Salvation Bluff," a short story of 23 pages, was published initially in 1955 in the  book anthology Star Science Fiction Stories #3.  Two missionaries, a married couple, live outside the main city on a planet called "Glory" where their ancestors from Earth crash landed 500 years ago. They maintain a huge clock (which is very symbolic) and adhere to Earth time (and customs) even though it does not apply to this planet which has a number of suns that seem to rise unpredictably. The two missionaries are responsible for "civilizing" the local natives, who live in the wild, by teaching them about manners, social behavior, adherence to schedules, and the importance of time and clocks.  The locals raise goats, run around half naked, live in filthy conditions, refuse to live in the houses that the missionaries built for them, copulate in public and destroy the canals the missionaries make. The chief of the tribe is the only one who speaks their language, but he won't cooperate and calls the giant clock the devil, threatening to roll boulders down on it. The couple are concerned how an upcoming inspection will reflect on them and think the chief must be mentally ill to be so uncivilized, so they decide to take him to one of their hospitals for mental health treatment. Things do not work out as they expect, however.  This is very easy to read, enjoyable and fairly interesting.  I’ve read this four times so far and rate it a 4 “Really liked it.”

The Phantom Milkman-Jack Vance short story

"The Phantom Milkman" is a 13 page short story that was published initially in Other Worlds Science Stories in 1956.  The main character, Isabel Durbrow, moves alone into a rural cabin where she hopes her estranged husband cannot find her. She places an outgoing letter in her mailbox addressed to the local dairy requesting milk delivery.  But she notices that the letter disappeared from the mailbox before the mailman even arrived.  Isabel does begin to receive milk even though her letter seemed to have been intercepted, but the milk delivery is from a different dairy, one that none of the local people have ever heard of. Her cats do not like this milk but do like milk she buys at the store from a different dairy. So Isabel leaves a note stating that her cats do not like the milk and asking for deliver to be cancelled. She receives a return note from the company, however, refusing to cease delivery but offering to purchase additional items for her. Isabel cannot locate the address of the dairy or even a phone number and is also unable to catch the person as the milk is delivered. Vance informs us in the Introduction that the idea for this story came when he was visiting friends at an old farm house and a quart of milk mysteriously appeared on the doorstep on morning. The story is engaging to read, and unpredictable. I’ve read it several times and rated it a 4 “Really liked it.”

Where Hesperus Falls-Jack Vance short story

"Where Hesperus Falls" is an 10 page short story that was published first in October, 1956 in Fantastic Universe magazine.  Henry Revere is a man who lives in a very technologically advanced society where he is told, "you are not your own property. You are a ward of the race." Henry, you see, is over 96,000 years old and is kept living even though, "life long ago lost that freshness and anticipation which makes it enjoyable."  Bored with life, Henry keeps trying to kill himself but is thwarted each time by the intense surveillance and advanced medical skills of those who watch over him as his "servants."  He is not really a prisoner, but he is not allowed to die. Thousands of years ago Henry had been a bio-chemist and offered himself as the subject of an experiment. But this resulted in "an incalculable error had distorted the experiment, with my immortality as the perverse result."  He now finds himself being, "a living fossil, a curio among curious, a public ward, a creature denied the option of life or death."  Henry's only interest other than suicide is writing his great "History of Man."  What Henry does about his dilemma and how he does it are the basis of the story.  I’ve read this three time so far and rated it a 3 "Liked it."

A Practical Man's Guide-Jack Vance short story

"A Practical Man's Guide" is a 9 page short story that was initially released on August, 1957 in Space Science Fiction Magazine.  It is a humorous story about a Ralph Banks, editor of Popular Crafts Monthly. In addition to articles, sketches, photographs and working models of various crafts and inventions, he also receives some very odd plans, formulas and suggestions that are filed in a large basked labeled Screwball Alley.  Ralph receives a bizarre set of directions with sensational claims from a man who provides a return address at the Archives of the Smithsonian Institute. He calls the Institute to talk with the man, but is unable to reach him initially. So while waiting for the return call he begins compiling ingredients for the formula that the man has provided.  It is all light hearted and fun I’ve read it several times and I rated it a 3 “Liked it.”

The House Lords-Jack Vance short story

"The House Lords" is a 16 page short story that was published initially in Saturn magazine in October, 1957. In later years, when discussing this story, Vance mentioned that he had little recollection of it.  An “Astrographical Societyz’ ship from Earth arrives on another planet where conditions for life are favorable.  They suddenly see a human child and then encounter some English speaking people who call themselves "Freemen." The Freemen have never heard of Earth and have no explanation of why they speak English.  Suddenly some other humans whom the Freemen call "House Lords" appear from a castle and the Freemen flee.  These House Lords refer to the Freemen as "Wild men" and have advanced weapons and a very superior attitude.  Two of the men from the ship accompany the House Lords to their castle where they try to determine who all of these people are and where they came from. It is a somewhat interesting story that I’ve read several times.  I rated it a 3 “Liked it.”

The Secret-Jack Vance short story

"The Secret" is a 10 page short story that was written in 1951 and first published 15 years lager in March, 1966 in the British magazine "Impulse," also known as "Science Fantasy" and "SF Impulse."  It is pure fantasy rather than science fiction and takes place on an island that could be somewhere in Polynesia.  It is inhabited by all younger people.  As islanders grow older they are tempted to find out the "secret" by taking a solo voyage to the west.  The secret is completely mysterious because nobody has ever returned to the island once they have left. Our main character, Rona ta Inga, is the oldest on the island.  Many of the others have formed a group and pledged to never leave their little paradise of an island and ask him to join in the pledge.  Rona, however, begins making a boat.  What does he find and what is the secret?  I’ve read this three times and rated it a 3 “Liked it.”

Note:  Spatterlight Press LLC is a publishing company that was created by the family and friends of Jack Vance.  So far they have published 62 high quality trade paperback editions of Vance’s novels (all except three Ellery Queen mystery novels: Strange She Hasn’t Written, Death of a Solitary Chess Player, and The Man Who Walks Behind.) and collections of his shorter works.  These are all based on the Vance Integral Edition (VIE) which were extensively reviewed and edited to be as faithful as possible to Vance’s original writings.  Many of Vance’s works were altered or heavily edited by book and magazine editors with even the author’s titles changed. Spatterlight now offers to the general public access to Vance’s writings the way he originally intended them to be.  In 2023 they began issuing hardcover editions of the same works they had previously printed in paperback.  They also have e-book editions available at: https://jackvance.com/

Spatterlight Vance books are listed here: 

https://jackvance.com/signatureseries/