The NYT magazine had an article on the science fiction writer Jack Vance a few years ago and, ever since, I've looked for his books in used book stores. I've turned up a couple of things, but I wasn't awed by what I read.
One of the characteristics of Vance's writing that the NYT article pointed to was his use of obscure words. I'm a supporter of rich and challenging language, but at times it seemed too "forced" in Vance. Are words just lakin? (I'm simply asking).
But, this week, I read something by JV that I found truly awesome, and I'll copy it and mail it to any of my regular reader (ha ha - singular noun. Get it?) who want to see it. I owe a debt of gratitude to H. a loyal symmachy if there ever was one, for recommending the story.
If you want to find the story for yourself, it's called "The Moon Moth" and it was originally published in 1961. I found it in: The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume Two B, Edited by Ben Bova (1973) (p. 493-526).
ADDED to this post later: I'm currently reading Vance's "Dying Earth" novels, and I now think maybe I was unfair to him. The second of the series, The Eyes of the Overworld, really grew on me, and I'm about 60 pages into the third novel, Cugel's Saga. I feel like I'm reading a cross between The Odyssey and Don Quixote; a fairly unlovable hero endures insane adventures which he brings upon himself. (And, yes, the author uses obscure words here - but they flow naturally from the story and the character of these books.) You'll laugh, you'll ... Well, you'll start thinking what the heck it is about this book that is pulling you in.
Vocabulary and writing ... I have been thinking about that recently ... and it may be that my vocabulary isn't as big as other peeps 'cuz I admit to finding quite a bit of language that I don't know in my recent reads. Hmmmm.
ReplyDeletePlease send me a copy of the short story only if it was particularly good, and not just because the vocab was grand. I need more than words and sometimes I find that big or obscure words just get in the way.
Don't know if you'll know what I mean here, since I think that it could be that you and Humbe are smarter than me ... and if not that, then I KNOW that Humbe vocab is waaay bigger than mine.
your waaay humble sister
(who would've called you a few days ago, but I didn't have any time on my l-dist card ... so call me if you're lonely or miss me ... sob!)
I mailed a copy of the story to the two people who requested it. Then I lent the book to somebody else...
ReplyDeleteThanks -
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