Books in series
#1
Big Planet
1952
The objective of the mission from to stop the ruthless Barjarnum of Beaujolais from expanding his empire on the Big Planet...and prevent the world from falling under this tyrant's domination. Then sabotage forces the craft to crash land, and the survivors face an epic 40,000-mile trek across the dangerous landscape. A SF landmark. "One of the finest writers the science fiction field has ever known."—Poul Anderson. "Vividly compelling...Vance at the top of his form."—Damon Knight.
#2
Showboat World
1975
Two deadly rivals fight a battle of wits along the treacherous waterways of an alien world.
In Showboat World, Jack Vance returns to the exotic and fantastic Big Planet, a world colonised by criminals and outcasts.
Apollon Zamp is adept at dodging the dangers of sailing a showboat from port to perilous port along the Vissel River. And his labours aren't helped by his archrival, Garth Ashgale, constantly threatening to undermine Zamp's plans. But their rivalry reaches boiling point when Zamp sets out to compete at the Grand Festival at Nornune, with a menacing Ashgale not far behind.
"One of the finest writers the science fiction field has ever known" Poul Anderson
Author
Jack Vance
Author · 84 books
Aka John Holbrook Vance, Peter Held, John Holbrook, Ellery Queen, John van See, Alan Wade. The author was born in 1916 and educated at the University of California, first as a mining engineer, then majoring in physics and finally in journalism. During the 1940s and 1950s, he contributed widely to science fiction and fantasy magazines. His first novel, The Dying Earth , was published in 1950 to great acclaim. He won both of science fiction's most coveted trophies, the Hugo and Nebula awards. He also won an Edgar Award for his mystery novel The Man in the Cage . He lived in Oakland, California in a house he designed.
