Title: Early Jack Vance
Product review: The following comments are for the short novel House of Iszm.To be frank this novel is not one of Jack Vance's better efforts. It was written in the 1950's, published by Ace and reads like a modest first draft in need of revisions.The author constructs a detailed framework to hang an uninteresting tale of inter-planet stratagems. What really exasperating are the possibilities inherent in the plot that are not developed.The saga is pure space opera; two planets vie to control a third to increase wealth and power. One of the planets is dominated in it's physical and religious aspect by an enormous tree; an idea ripe with possibilities that is discarded after a few tantalizing paragraphs. Fortunately for the reader Vance's extraordinary imagination shines through in spots preventing this book from being a total loss.Fans of Vance should read these early novels to appreciate the maturity in later books. Casual readers should look to later works; this story will disappoint.
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