First, the Tor paperback edition has the least appropriate cover art imaginable: for this series in particular, Vance has absolutely no interest in the technology that allows his characters to travel the breadth of the Gaean Reach, and there is no description of what happens between the purchase of the travel ticket and arrival at destination.The entire attitude toward technology was interesting. Despite traveling the galaxy and the remarkable sights--as well as dropped-in comments to the effect that certain terraforming problems had been conquered--the science and mechanics of the society are hidden from the reader and apparantly from the people themselves. Tourists may ship themselves across the galaxy to planets where the entire surface is edible fungus, but their legal documents are still tracked on paper, and people have to walk to a telephone booth to communicate with someone. Even if Vance keeps his flamboyant culture-making under wraps for this novel, it's these details that remind one that the future doesn't have to look like Star Trek.I liked this one more than Araminta Station. The author kept the story moving and changed settings frequently enough that it never bogged down the way its prequel did. In particular, he divided attention between Glawen Clattuc, of the previous book, and Wayness Tamm, his romantic interest, as they travel the Reach to track down their goals from either direction. I can't recall Vance focusing on a strong female protagonist for this extended period in his other books. It is refreshing in that Wayness approaches problems differently than the usual male adventurous hero that Vance favors.In fact I rather like Glawen and Wayness separately and especially together, and it is a mild annoyance that they are apart for the vast majority of the book. Their low-key and circumspect romance and attachment was a highlight and I will likely try to obtain the third of the series just to find out the end of their story.
Jack Vance is definitely the most efficient user of the English language that I have ever read, he can use fewer words and paint a more complete picture with them than any other writer I've ever encountered. The Araminta Station series is in my opinion one of the best of his output, and introduces unique characters that you can really care about. Vance can create a whole world that is utterly bizarre yet completely believable. In Araminta Station he introduces several memorable characters but my favorite has to be Wayness Tamm. She is one of the most believable fictional characters I've ever encountered, and definitely my favorite female character.I highly recommend the series, if for nothing else than to encounter Wayness.
