Dragon Masters, The-Jack Vance novella

Dragon Masters, The-Jack Vance novella

Dragon Masters is a 81/116 page novella that was first published in the Galaxy Magazine in August, 1962. It was initially released in book form in 1963 in an Ace Double paperback. It won a Hugo Award in 1963 for “Best Short Fiction.” This is a very well known Vance work and should have rather widespread appeal to science fiction readers. It is an entertaining and enjoyable novel that involves much imaginative combat and action, using strange lizard like creatures referred to as dragons and large genetically modified humanoids.

The story takes place on the planet Aerlith, a rocky planet with a few fertile valleys.  One colony of humans, led by Joaz Banbeck, lives in Banthen Valley in caves and another, led by Ervis Carcolo, resides in Happy Valley in huts. Another group of humans called the Sacerdotes live in deep caverns and consider themselves to be a different species, referring to other humans as "Utter Men."  They are mysterious ascetics who have long hair, never wear clothes and have golden torcs around their necks. Sacerdotes are devoted to truth and knowledge and cannot tell lies but often answer questions in a vague indirect way.  They refer to the other humans as “Utter Men” and trade with them for food but otherwise avoid Utter Men affairs.  The Sacerdotes consider themselves superior to other humans and wait for the time when all Utter Men are extinct so they can take over.  Sacerdotes are also very secretive and are suspected by some of having some hidden advance technologies, possibly even advance weapons or spaceships. The Sacerdotes spend their time smelting metal, boiling glass and performing their rituals.

Many years ago aliens called "Graphs" or "Basics" invaded Aerlith and kidnapped many humans. The Graphs continue to sometimes return to Aerlith to bomb the towns and to abduct humans whom they enslave and genetically modify to make warriors. Years ago some of the Graphs were captured by the humans and served as the breeding stock to create fighting dragons. So the humans have dragon like fighters who are descendants of the Graphs and the Graphs have warriors who are bred from genetically modified humans.

The different types of dragons developed in the breeding programs are described in detail and include Spiders, Termagants, Striding Murderers, Long-horned Murderers, Fiends, Blue Horrors, and Juggers.  Each type has its uses in battle. Some have horns or pincers they use to fight with while others are trained to use pistols, swords or mace.  Dragons come in a variety of sizes from human size to gigantic. This is also true of the soldiers the Graphs use that are genetically modified humans. These include Trackers, Mounts, Heavy Troopers, Weaponeers, and twelve feet tall Giants.  Some Graph soldiers carry powerful guns and their ships have heat-beams and ion-rays.

The leader of Banthen Valley, Joaz Banbeck, meets with the leader of Happy Valley, Ervis Carcolo, to ask for his assistance in preparing to defend the planet from another Graph attack. He suggests that they align forces and that Carcolo follow his lead by making underground tunnels and caves so their citizens can retreat to them when the Graph’s return. Carcolo refuses to cooperate or assist, however, and is more interested in attacking other humans to expand his territory. Banbeck also tries to enlist the aid of the Sacerdotes in defending against the Graphs but they refuse to be involved in mutual defense or in any of the affairs of the Utter Men. They are not just devout pacifists but refuse to take action of any kind for any reason.

Carcolo is not concerned about the basics returning in their ships to kidnap humans because they have not done this in several years. Instead he is preoccupied with breeding dragons, fighting and expanding his territory.  So rather than joining Banbeck to prepare their defenses against the basics, he decides to attack Banbeck.  Vance depicts the battles between Carcolo and Banbeck with Banbeck getting the better of the two.  During one of their fights Carcolo hears that the basics have landed in Happy Valley so he calls for a truce and asks Banbeck to join him to combat the basics.  But Banbeck refuses, saying that Carcolo is as much of a danger to his people as the Basics are so aiding him makes little sense.

The story continues with exciting, detailed fighting scenes depicted between the different dragons of the humans and the strange Graph fighters .The Graphs have blast cannons and advanced weapons, including ones mounted on their spaceship, and the humans have mostly muskets, swords and maces so the humans must rely more on stealth and strategy than on brute strength and firepower.  Dragon Masters is a fast paced and engaging story and should appeal to all Vance fans and many science fiction and fantasy readers.  I've read it three times so far and rate it a 4 out of 5 “Really liked it.”

Note: The Dragon Masters has had many releases on its own and in collections and anthologies.  The original Galaxy magazine issue was heavily edited and the Ace Double paperback had many word changes.  It was included in the out of print collection Jack Vance Treasury (2017, Subterranean) that can still be located used.  And it is currently  in print in the VIE restored version in the collection The Dragon Masters and Other Stories (2016, Spatterlight).