Marune: Alastor 933-Jack Vance novel, book review

Marune: Alastor 933-Jack Vance novel

AKA: Alastor Book 2

Marune: Alastor 933 is a 188 page novel that was first published in 1975 and is the second of the three novels that comprise the excellent Alastor series.  I recommend reading the first in the series Trullion: Alastor 2262 before moving on to Marune: Alastor 933. The first book is not as outstanding as Marune but is well worth reading and has some background information about the Alastor Cluster government, laws, the Connatic, etc. that can add to the understanding of the second book. Each novel takes place on a different planet within the Alastor Cluster with unrelated characters and plots. 

Marune: Alastor 933 begins with our main character, Glinnes Hulden, arriving at a spaceport on a strange planet where he has no memory and is unknown. He earns enough money to fly to another planet where medical and psychological testing cannot bring back his memory but do determine which planet he was from originally.  He then returns to his home planet, Marune, where he is recognized and learns that he was about to be appointed to a very high ruling position prior to his absence.  Not only must he determine how and why his memory was eliminated and he was sent away on a spacecraft to a distant planet, but he must do this in an extremely strict and formal culture whose customs and protocols he cannot remember. 

The plot is infused with political intrigue, secret religious rituals, hidden motives, suspenseful mystery and humor, but that is only one dimension of this multi-layered, marvelous novel that becomes a fascinating analysis and critique of customs, mores, beliefs and traditions in Swift like fashion. It is ripe with sociological and anthropological themes and becomes as thought provoking as it is entertaining.

This is one of Vance’s very best novels.  Given what an exceptionally creative, interesting and talented writer Vance was, that is very high praise. This is a wonderful novel that I highly recommend to anybody who appreciates very good writing, interesting plots, wry humor, and an entertaining and fascinating anthropological like view of other worlds, beings and cultures.  I’ve read this several times so far and rated it a 5.

Alastor Cluster-Jack Vance Series

1. Trullion: Alastor 2262 (1973)
2. Marune: Alastor 933 (1975)
3. Wyst: Alastor 1716 (1978)