Posted by Diana Hamilton on August 18, 1998 at 06:07:32:
In Reply to: Re: Best short story posted by Richard Simms on August 17, 1998 at 20:17:26:
: : : I found a pulp magazine with a Vance story I had never read, accompanied by some pretty Kelly Freas artwork- such as a prince on horseback out in space (?). I recall thinking it was one of Vance's weaker efforts, but redeemed by the art.
: : ====> The title is SJAMBAK, and it is indeed one of JV's
: : Patrick
: SJAMBAK eh ? Nice work Patrick on linking the cover description to the story. I wonder if it was Thrilling Wonder Stories? I seem to recall SJAMBAK as one of those early few I have yet to read - I've seen it mentioned in reference works.
I did dig out the pulp and it turns out to be Worlds of If, July 1953. However, I was very startled to find that the artwork was actually by Virgil Finlay, another favorite illustrator, but one with a style markedly different from Freas'. Thus, the linchpin of my memory was a creation of my own imagination! I can still see the picture that Freas "would have done" in my mind.
: Of course there is the problem that, as much as I am a big fan of all things Vance, if the story isn't all that great is it worth paying quite alot of money for the vintage magazine issue ?
You may be able to find a copy of _The Augmented Agent_ collection at a cheaper price; it includes Sjambak. Speaking of which, I remember Vance's rueful comment in one of these anthologies of harder-to-find stories about how they were getting around to collecting "The Worst of Jack Vance." :)
Diana Hamilton -- hamilton@umbc.edu -- Baltimore, MD USA