science fiction

Rhialto the Marvelous - Jack Vance Book Review

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"Rhialto the Marvelous"
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Review Summaries
"This is a set of tales about a wizard named Rhialto the Marvelous. He is a member of a council of other powerful wizards. There are three stories about Rhialto that compose this book. One is about a powerful witch from the past, who is attempting to destroy the wizard council and bring about a reign of witches. The second story deals with how a rival mage in the council tries to discredit Rhialto, and eventually even goes so far as to try to change the immutable "blue laws" of the council. Rhialto is forced to go searching through time to prove his innocence and to preserve the council. Last, there is a story set at the edge of the universe. The wizard council members go and recover a long-lost member who has been trapped there for a long time, but of course run into trouble, both before and after the rescue."
Isaac Brown, Resident Jack Vance Scholar


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Overall Review
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Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 40%




Tone of book - cynical or dry-wit
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Mental/magical powers focus Yes
magical powers: - clash between evenly matched magical power(s) (fantasy)
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - mage/magician
Age: - 40's-50's
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - can cast many different spells
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - mage/magician
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can cast all sorts of spells
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Terrain - Forests
Earth setting: - distant future
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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