Araminta Station [Hardcover]

This book is the first of trilogy which concerns a whole world devoted solely to a "conservancy" established to preserve the flora and fauna of the world Cadwal. The main characters are as intriguing as the subject matter, and the comings and goings of the most daring members of the families who enforce and enjoy the "Cadwal Charter" are vastly amusing. There is a little of everything in these books: science fiction, of course, but also, murder, mystery, romance, and many other things. I, myself, believe this book and the other two in the series to be the best books Jack Vance ever wrote.

"Araminta Station" has a large cast of spirited characters, a plot with enough complexity to match "Dune", an array of bizarre human and alien behaviors and a tone that's one hundred percent Jack Vance. This adventure takes us to the planet Cadwal, which was permanently placed under the control of the Naturalist Society to preserve its great natural beauty. The official charter limits it to 240 inhabitants and their families, divided into six bureaus and structured on a rigid social system. Everyone knows their place, or at least is supposed to. But as usual, problems develop. A young officer named Glawen Glattuc finds himself dealing with family feuds, dangerous rivalries, political intrigue and a major crime spree while also swimming through the confusing currents of adolescent life, which remain quite similar on any planet.

Any detailed discussion would rob you of the delights of discovering this novel's twists and turns for yourself. I can, however, hit some of its main strengths. Of course at 554 pages in hardback, "Araminta Station" is longer than a typical Vance outing. Vance makes good use of this space. The plot is full of surprises, as entirely new aspects arise at the most unexpected moments. Moreover, Vance fully incorporates everything in the story. For instance we have the Yips, a race living on a remote island who perform the menial labor on Cadwal. They have a society packed with Vance-style weirdness (celebrating the foul odor known as the "Big Chife" and charging tourists money to see women doing the laundry) but also a role in the story. Yip maneuvers pop up to complicate life for the Clattucs at the most inconvenient times. (The Yip element also provides a surprising degree of relevancy in an age when we Americans all claim to hate illegal Mexican immigrants yet willingly enjoy the cheap labor that they provide.)

Dominating it all, however, is the unmistakable Jack Vance tone. Unmistakable, I say, yet who can really pinpoint precisely how Vance makes his voice so unique? We can say this much. In "Araminta Station", as in any Vance book, the heroes are a small handful of tough, intelligent, resourceful and clever individuals. Arrayed against them we find all manner of inferiors: murderers, criminals, con artists, ostentatious braggarts, political loons, religious fanatics, the petty, the weak and the stupid. A decently large chunk of the book shows us the good guys dealing with this scum. Vance's heros, if not sarcastic, are at least single-minded in the way they push through the rabble to do what must be done. The wit and wisdom of Vance lies in communication. How do people at cross purposes interact with each other? What happens when conversation becomes more like a battle? Almost every page of "Araminta Station" produces a notable quote. Here are a few:

"Whatever you have heard about me, dismiss it. I do not regard my class as a confrontation between the clear light of my intellect and twenty-two examples of sloth and willful stupidity. The exact number may be only half that, if we are lucky, and of course varies from term to term. Despite all, I am a kindly man, patient and thorough, but if I must elucidate the obvious more than twice, I often become gloomy." (p. 228)

"You are a willful young devil. If insolence were bricks and insubordination were mortar you could build a great palace for yourself." (p. 351)

Glawen said, "I believe that safety is important. It is better to arrive alive than dead."

"This is exactly my point," said Bant. "I have explained this to Esmer: what is the value of thirty minutes, more or less, to a corpse? He is already late and no longer in a hurry. The time is more useful on this side of the veil, such is my belief." (p. 491)

"The theft of this cloak from Arles' room will cause consternation but no surprise, and Arles will learn to dress more modestly in the future."

Kirdy gave a dry chuckle. "Arles might even volunteer his cloak, were he asked."

"Possibly, but when one asks permission, one often gets no for an answer. As it is, Arles has not specifically forbidden us the cloak, which is good enough for me." (p. 250)

This is a great novel. This is the first Jack Vance novel that I have ever read, yet already I think that he is one of my top 10-15 SF authors.

Jack Vance is one of the old-timers (he's been around since the fifties), and he appears to have pefected his craf...I don't understand why he doesn't get the respect he deserves.

This novel features, rich, rich dialogue, witty and entertaining. The plotting is a marvel, flowing and lifelike. Minor characters later turn out to be important...and other minor characters seem like they also could have become important.

In many ways, this novel reminded me of the seminal SF master, Edgar Rice Burroughs (another seriously maligned character...I personally consider his writing to be great literature, comparable with Dickens, Scott and the rest). The prose has a certain old-fashioned, 19th century slant.

Vance has a serious gift for names, placenames, and memorable aliens and planets.

Vance's prose is totally fluid and engaging...this is the kind of novel that requires me to read it in one single sitting.

Another sign of Vance's mastery is his perfect ability to craft the mood of the novel...on one hand, the first 1/2 of the book is pretty entertaining, even funny. There are numerous smiling points, and even a couple of parts that induce an out-loud chuckle. Vance definately can lull you into a sense of security, as the characters happily banter along, until suddenly WHAMMO! There is a brutal scene of violence, and one of the more likable major characters has died.

In summary, this truly is a great novel, I recommend it to all. You won't be dissapointed.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 22 reviews  4.3 out of 5 stars