Status
Available
Call number
Series
Publication
Hodder & Stoughton Ltd (1980), Paperback
Description
Arrabus on the planet Wyst is an "egalistic" nation, where everyone is supposedly equal to everyone else. Arrabins work only two hours per week ("drudge"), which is drawn at random each week. In return, they receive food in the form of gruff, deedle, and wobbly-all synthetically produced food-and are housed in gigantic block tenements. Natural food ("bonter") is very rare, resulting in a flourishing black market trade with the "Weirdlands", the lands beyond Arrabus. An executive committee of four, selected at random and known as the Whisperers, governs Arrabus.
User reviews
LibraryThing member wirkman
This books is just shy of perfection. An unexpected tale, a sly satire on socialism and leftist thought in general, as well as statist control in general, the tale is marred only by the too-pat deus ex machina ending. And yet . . . I've this feeling that Vance started the book with the ending in
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mind! As usual with Vance, the prose is magnificent. And the character of Jantik Ravensroke is brilliantly conceived. The comedy at the start, with the Connatic (supreme ruler of that part of the galaxy) interviewing a bunch of politicians and likely criminals, is even funny. Show Less
LibraryThing member Petroglyph
A typical Vance: a charming idea, a lush setting and an impressive vocabulary, but marred somewhat by a straightforward plot, and an over-the-top mystery damsel. It seemed like Vance grew impatient after the section in Balad, because the ending feels extremely rushed.
Subjects
Awards
Prometheus Award (Nominee — 1984)
Language
Original publication date
1978-11
Physical description
224 p.
ISBN
0340260963 / 9780340260968