Durdane

Oakland: The Vance Integral Readers Edition, 2005. Octavo. 617 pages. Jack Vance was one of the finest science fiction writers of the 20th Century. He is credited for creating the "Dying Earth" sub-genre. Vance's first published works were often changed or in some cases butchered by editors who wanted his books to conform to standard science fiction. Between Vance, Norma Vance, his wife, and his friends who were volunteers, they were able to consult the originals which were in the Special Collections of Boston University and create the original text, using his precise language and eradicate the errors which found their way into the earlier editions. Here (truncated) is the Durdane trilogy: The Anome; The Brave Free Men, and The Asutra. "On the fringes of the Gaean Reach, the planet Durdane is united under the federation of Shant, and ruled by the reclusive Anome, who coerces the population using explosive rings around the neck of every adult citizen. The Durdane trilogy follows the life of Gastel Etzwane, who grows from childhood in the dust of Rhododendron Way to become a musician of renown, and almost against his will, a man of action. When remote cantons are brutalized by the depredations of inhuman Roguskhoi, Etzwane goes before the Anome with a case for response. The Anome proves oddly reluctant to act, and Etzwane must stage a coup to turn Shant against the hordes. Eventually he discovers the sinister fact that the Roguskhoi tribes are pawns of the Asutra, alien elements who seek to bend all of humanity to a disturbing end. The Durdane Omnibus traces the rise, struggles and ultimate triumph of Gastel Etzwane and through him, of humanity itself over alien subjugation." Bound in ¼ light brown cloth over light brown paper covered boards lettered and decorated in black, spine lettered and rule in gilt, endpapers are maps. This volume, number 27, is a very scarce copy. A lovely copy, near fine. (Inventory #: 031102)