View from Chickweed's Window, The-Jack Vance mystery novel, book review
View from Chickweed's Window, The-Jack Vance mystery novel The View from Chickweed's Window, probably written in 1959, is a 177 page “mystery” novel written by Jack Vance that was first published in 1979. It was subsequently released as part of the Vance Integral Edition in 2002 and as an eBook in 2012. Hardcopies have been out of print and very difficult to find so this new (released 2/3/18) high quality Spatterlight paperback is most welcome. Our story begins in Shanghai in 1907 when a widower, Harry Botham, returns home to find some thieves ransacking the house. After a scuffle in which Botham and his sword prevail, one of the thieves throws himself at Botham's feet and pleads for mercy. He says that the police will torture him and his son but that if Botham promises to let them go he will return with a priceless vase from the Sung Dynasty. Botham agrees to the proposal and is given a precious 700 year old vase. Botham, who alrea...