Servants of the Wankh-Jack Vance novel, book review

Servants of the Wankh-Jack Vance novel

AKA: Wannek, The (author’s preferred title)

Planet of Adventure Book 2

Tschai Book 2

Servants of the Wanhk was first published as a paperback novel in 1969. It has also been called Planet of Adventure #2, Tschai Book 2, and The Wannek. In the Vance Integral Edition the name Wankh was changed to Wannek because of the meaning of the British slang words wank or wanker. This is the second of four novels in the Planet of Adventure series about the planet Tschai. It is in print in the four novel omnibus titled Planet of Adventure and in a Spatterlight trade paperback. My copy of Servants of the Wankh is 131 pages long.

The novel continues the story of Adam Reith who is marooned on the planet Tschai where four intelligent civilizations exist, each a different species and an enemy of the others. In the first novel Reith interacted mostly with the three types of Chasch. In Servants of the Wankh he engages mostly with the Yaos in the city of Cath and then with the Wankh and their underlings the Wankhmen. In the previous novel he was accompanied by two recent friends, Traz Onmale (an Emblem Man) and Ankhe at afram Anacho (a Dirdirman). He had rescued, and was accompanied by, a Yao woman named Ylin-Ylan who had been kidnapped by a religious cult. Reith was informed by Ylin-Ylan that her father was very wealthy Yao who lived in Cath and would reward Reith for rescuing her. Reith wants the money to try to obtain or build a spaceship to return to Earth. So he makes plans to take Ylin-Ylan back to Cath where she is known as The Flower of Cath. On the way they encounter a flamboyant Yao cavalier named Dordolio who plays a significant role. There is an adventurous and tragic journey by sea followed by encounters with the Yao and their intricate and rigid customs.

Reith thinks that to present himself to Ylin-Ylan's father and obtain his thanks and a reward, all he has to do is explain how he rescued his daughter after she had been abducted. But he finds out that the type of clothes he wears when he meets the father and what his social status is considered to be in Yao culture is far more important than the act of saving a daughter's life. It is a satirical critique of a society that is reminiscent of some cultures that have existed here on Earth. What Reith considers rational and normal is frequently dismissed because of the laws and social rules that vary widely from one culture to another. It is very unpredictable. Dordolio, for example, threatens to hire a Guild assassin if Reith does not pick up Dordolio's hat. Reith does pick it up but Dordolio's threats and the ongoing conflict between the two make us suspect Dordolio as the instigator when an assassin is hired to kill Reith. The person who actually hired the assassin, however, turns out to be not Dordolio but a person Reith would never suspect. I can easily imagine myself in Reith's place doing what is sensible in an alien culture only to find that what is considered reasonable, rational, and fair behavior in one culture is considered offensive, illegal or dangerous in another society. How easy it is to offend others, to get into trouble or to be ridiculed when you don't know the expectations and social ground rules of an unfamiliar culture. Reith even finds that by claiming to be a human and not a sub-human and by admitting he is from Earth, he suddenly is a heretic and considered a dangerous cult member who is a threat to society

The second part of the novel involves Reith's interaction with the Wankh culture and his attempt to steal a space ship. Reith hires a Lokhar (a type of human) named Zarfo who is to assist him with the stealing of a Wankh space ship. Other Lokhars work as technicians at the space yards at Ao Hidis where the Wankh keep and maintain their space ship fleet. Zarfo acts as an intermediary with other Lokhars to try to recruit them to work with Reith to steal and operate a space ship. No space ship has ever been stolen so the yards are only lightly guarded.

The Wankh are amphibious, plump reptilian like creatures who are at war with the Dirdirs and Dirdirmen. They are a very intelligent, mysterious alien creature who use chime like sounds to communicate. The only other beings on the planet who can understand Wankh communication are their underlings, the Wankhmen. The Wankhmen are humans who with costumes, props, surgery and possible genetic manipulation look somewhat similar to the Wankh. The Wankhmen represent the Wankh at diplomatic functions and are intermediaries in all communication between the Wankh and others. They have a life that is much easier and more rewarding than the humans who serve the Dirdirs, Chasch and Pnume. They also have much more power because they serve as the sole translators for the Wankh. The Wankhmen oppose all changes because they want to maintain everything the way it is. The Wankh culture and interactions between the Wankh and Wankhmen is fascinating, and Reith's encounters with them become an intriguing adventure. It is difficult to provide many details, however, without using spoilers.

As often the case, Vance not only builds detailed, amazing worlds and cultures with fascinating alien creatures, but he uses the settings for humor and satire, often reminding me of Jonathan Swift or even Mark Twain or Terry Pratchett. Here we have a dazzling display of social anthropological insights punctuated with satire and ironic humor. It is a delicious treat for those who love or appreciate such imaginative brilliance. And then we have Vance's magical use of language, phrases and words and his often brilliant, frequently humorous dialog. Vance takes all of this to even greater heights in The Dirdir and The Pnume.

The previous novel City of the Chasch is a lighter, easier read with less of the elaborate, intricate, world building that we find in Servants of the Wankh. Both are highly entertaining books that I did not want to put down. Each can easily be read in a day or two and both are highly recommended Vance novels. It is well worth reading. I preferred it slightly to the earlier novel City of the Chasch. But I found the final two of the four novels to be the finest and most interesting of the series, namely The Dirdir and The Pnume. I highly recommend that all four novels be read and in order. I’ve read this novel several times and rate it a 4, “Really liked it.”