Posted by Foppe Brolsma on October 31, 1998 at 05:52:56:
In Reply to: Some Thoughts on Re-reading "Araminta Station" posted by Rodger Whitlock on August 10, 1998 at 10:55:58:
I notice in the threads on this message a tendency to regard Araminta Station as the last of Vance's really good works. I don't quite understand this; I feel that both Ecce and Old Earth and Throy are very satisfying reads, and I think I have reread Ecce... more times than Araminta Station. I especially enjoyed the adventures of Wayness Tamm on Earth, both in Transylvania or thereabouts and in Patagonia. As far is I can remember, this is the first time Vance has given so much attention to a lady hero.
I definitely agree Vance has changed the last few years, beginning with Araminta Station and Lyonesse, possibly; I think his style has become even more ornate and descriptive, and all these books are my favourites.
The same thing goes for Night Lamp; I must admit that we have seen things like it before, but since I have reread it at least 4 or 5 times, it must be good.
I am really looking forward to the day when even his latest works, Ports of Call and Lurulu, will actually appear in bookstores here in the Netherlands.