Assault on a City-Jack Vance novella
Assault on a City - Jack Vance novella AKA: “The Insufferable Redheaded Daughter of Commander Tynnott, OTE” (author’s preferred title) Assault on a City is a 49/51 page(17,400 words) novella that was issued first in 1974 in the anthology Universe 4 under the title “Assault on the City.” It placed fourth in the 1975 Locus Awards for Best Novella and was a semifinalist in the 1975 Hugo Awards for Best Novella. It has been listed as a novelette and as a novella but at 17,400 words it is just above the 17,000 word minimum level for novellas. The main character in this novelette is Alice Tynnott, daughter of Commander Tynnott, O.T.E. The O.T.E. title stands for Order of the Terrestrial Empire and is an honorary designation of “ galactic nobility ” that elevates the entire family to superior status. Alice and her parents have reserved an aerie on Earth because her father has a work related assignment to complete. These aeries are like luxurious mobile homes...