Crusade to Maxus-Jack Vance novelette

Crusade to Maxus-Jack Vance novelette (author’s preferred title)

AKA: Overlords to Maxus

Crusade to Maxus is a 49/71 page novella that was first published in the magazine Thrilling World Stories in February, 1951 under the title "Overlords to Maxus."  The main character, Dyle Travec, goes to the planet Maxus to try to find his family members who were kidnapped by a slave trader ("slaver") who is taking them to the planet to sell as slaves.  The planet has an extensive manufacturing economy that is based on slavery. Travec is hoping he can arrive in time to buy back his mother, two sisters and a brother at the "Slave Distribute" when they are put up for auction. By the time arrives, though, his mother is dead and all of his other family members have been sold. He is able to speak with one of his sisters who asks him to save a friend of theirs who was very helpful and kind on the flight to the planet.  Travec is able to do so and then leaves the planet with this friend to track down the "slaver" and kill him for what he has done.  Travec does find the slave trader but encounters something he never anticipated. The "slaver" is actually planning a revolution to free all the slaves on Maxus.  Can he support this "slaver" after what he did to his family or should he follow through with justifiable revenge?  It all becomes pleasantly complicated with self interest, politics and economics each playing a role. Some ethical issues to ponder are also involved.  I’ve read this story multiple times, found it to be quite engaging and rated it a 4 “Really liked it.”

Included in the Vance collection titled The Augmented Agent (1986 Underwood-Miller)

Included in the Vance collection titled The Augmented Agent (1988 Ace) pb

Included in the Vance collection titled The Augmented Agent (1989 New English) pb

Included in the Vance collection Son of Trees and Other Stories (2005 VIE) hc

Included in the Vance collection titled Grand Crusades: Early Jack Vance, vol. 5 (2012)

Included in Chateau d'If and Other Stories (2017, Spatterlight): CD (pb)

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