Morreion: A Tale Of The Dying Earth by Jack Vance

Morreion: A Tale Of The Dying Earth Reviews

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  TJ

  Morreion was first published in 1973 as a novella in the anthology Flashing Swords! #1 which had both hardcover and paperback issues. In 1979 Underwood-Miller offered a limited edition hardcover publication that was limited to 1200 copies with 200 of them being signed and numbered. In 1984 Morreion was issued as chapter 3 of the novel Rhialto the Marvellous. (with two l's.) Rhilato and a group of other magicians decide embark on a journey to the end of the universe to locate another magician named Morreion who had gone on a trip many years ago seeking the origin of magical IOUN stones. Morreion had never returned. The magicians pretend to be mostly concerned about the welfare and whereabouts of Morreion but are actually more interested in obtaining more IOUN stones. It is a humorous journey with the odd, eccentric and often verbose magicians traveling on "Vermoulian's wonderful peregrine palace," an ornate, glittering ship that takes them to the edge of the universe. The flying palace has loggias, formal gardens, an entrance pavilion with three acres with a marble balustrade and a center fountain with a hundred jets of water.. "Vermoulian's guests occupied suites in the wings; under the central spire where the various salons, the morning and afternoon rooms, the library, the music chamber , the formal dining room and the lounge." While aboard this flying palace the magicians engage in such odd dialog as, "Enough of this intolerable inanity! I propose that such loquacity passes beyond the scope of nuisance and over the verge of turpitude." It reminded me somewhat of Terry Pratchett's bumbling wizards and was light and humorous to read.
  
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  Johan

  Jack Vance staat niet bepaald bekend om de diepgang van zijn personages, maar in deze verhalenbundel is het armoe troef. Het eerste verhaal, Het Smalle Land, valt nog mee, maar in het tweede en derde verhaal, Morreion en Rumfuddle, dienen de personages enkel om het decor wat verlevendigen of om iets met de technologie te doen.
  PS: Het is natuurlijk mogelijk dat er een en ander fout gelopen is bij de vertaling. Ik was niet onder de indruk van De Duivelsprinsen van Jack Vance, The Demon Princes (origineel werk) was stukken beter en levendiger.
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  Seizure Romero

  I read this story when it first appeared in
  Flashing Swords! #1, in the very early days of my addiction. Stephen Fabian's art is a lush and decadent addition to the tale.
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  Edwin

  Ben niet zo dol op boeken met meerdere verhalen. voor je goed en wel aan de personages van een verhaal gewend bent zout je al weer in een ander verhaal. Toch zaten er wel wat leuke tussen.
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  Caitria O'Neill

  Lovely stories
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  Ziburan

  Typical weird science fantasy like Vance can produce. Sometimes a bit too weird.
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  Ronaldo Siète

  I love Jack Vance, but... his short stories miss the magic of his novels.