Throy-Jack Vance novel, book review

Throy-Jack Vance novel

AKA: Cadwal Chronicles Book 3

Throy was first published in 1992 so is one of Vance's later works.  My hardcover copy is 248 pages, making it significantly shorter than the first two novels in the series The Cadwal Chronicles which were 554 pages and 326 pages each respectively.  Although Throy is worth reading if one has read the other two novels, it is for me the weakest of the three in the series.  It does not have the fascinating world building, complex plot and interesting character development of the brilliantly written Araminta Station nor does it have the mystery, suspense, drama and intriguing investigative work that is in Ecce and Old Earth.  Throy does, however, provide a satisfactory conclusion to the trilogy, and anybody who has read the first two novels will certainly want to read it.

After our two main characters, Glawen Clattuc and Wayness Tamm, finally find the lost original Charter, The Naturalist Society is taken over by the LPFers (Life, Peace and Freedom Party) who want to open Cadwal to settlement and development.  But Glawen and Wayness moved quickly and out foxed the LPFers.  The old Charter has been replaced by a new much stricter Charter and The Naturalist Society is no longer in control of the planet Cadwal  Having legal control of the planet and a new Charter, however, mean little if you don't have the power to enforce your authority.  And the LPFers are planning to take over the planet with the help of over 100,000 Yip people and the two Straidor-Ferox gunships they have hidden.  The LPFers are now split into two factions that have some conflicting interests.  Both factions of the LPFers agree to coordinate efforts to arrange transportation for the Yips.  They plan to move them from Lutwen Atoll to the continent of Deucas.  At Araminta Station, the headquarters of The Naturalist Society, they want to overpower the members there and take control of the planet.  But the two LPFer factions are in disagreement about how many Yips to allow to remain on the planet and who should be in control of Cadwal.  In addition, Lewyn Barduys, a shipping magnate who lives on another planet, is the only one with the means to transport that many people.  The entire plans of both factions are totally dependent on Badruys' cooperation and assistance. 

Glawen and Wayness travel to the planet Rosalia and visit Shadow Valley Ranch to try to meet with Lewyn Barduys to attempt to dissuade him from assisting the LPFers.  On Rosalia they encounter bizarre alien creatures called tree-waifs, water-waifs and wind-waifs.  The water-waifs become especially problematic and even dangerous for them and others.  The waifs are described as being "notorious for their mysterious habits.  Their activities seemed motivated by caprice mingled with a weird logic, so that their antics were a constant source of horrified fascination."  Will Wayness and Glawen find Barduys and persuade him not to cooperate with transporting the Yips?  Time is limited because an important meeting has been scheduled for the two LPFer factions to meet with Barduys to finalize transportation plans. 

I’ve enjoyed reading Throy and thought it provided a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, The Cadwal Chronicles.  But it is not as interesting as the other two novels in the series and is the least well written.  The first novel of the series, Araminta Station, though, is an amazing novel that is well worth reading.  And Ecce and the Old Earth is a very good follow up novel.  Because The Cadwal Chronicles are long, complex and detailed, though, the series might not appeal to readers who are unfamiliar with Vance's writings.  But for Vance fans The Cadwal Chronicles are essential reading.  I’ve read this several times and rated it a 4 “Really liked it.”