Pages : 380
Overall Mark : 8/10
Jaro Fath’s past is lost – and his future is in peril.
Found as a child with no memory of his past, adopted by a scholarly couple who raise him as their own, Jaro never quite fit into the rigidly defined society of Thanet. When his foster parents are killed in am mysterious bombing, Jaro Fath sets out to discover the truth of his origins – a quest that will take him across light years and into the depths of the past...
JACK VANCE (1916-2013)
Jack Vance served in the merchant navy during World War II. He published his first story in 1945 and his first major work, The Dying Earth, in 1950. He has won the Hugo, Nebula and World Fantasy Awards, among others, and in 1997 was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America.
VERDICT
Vance takes what could have been a simple story of revenge and twists it into a satirical look at how society compartmentalises people into strict groups that they can never escape from. The characterisation of Jaro is fun, and the supporting characters expertly assist him through his journey to discover what happened to his family and, indeed, who they were. Filled with witty rejoinders and sideways looks at the world, this is an entertaining and multi-layered read.
