Review
"Jack Vance is one of the truly important science fiction writers of our day."--Los Angeles Times Book review

"Vance's descriptive eye is sharp, and his ear for the language is close to infallible."--New York Newsday

"(Vance has) a velvety elegance that rivals John Gielgud reciting poetry....One of the treasures of science fiction."--Washington Post Book World



Review
"Jack Vance is one of the truly important science fiction writers of our day."--Los Angeles Times Book review

"Vance's descriptive eye is sharp, and his ear for the language is close to infallible."--New York Newsday

"(Vance has) a velvety elegance that rivals John Gielgud reciting poetry....One of the treasures of science fiction."--Washington Post Book World



Book Description
Jack Vance is undoubtedly one of the most gifted and versatile authors of science fiction today. The winner of a Hugo, a Nebula, and a World Fantasy Award, Vance lays claim to a career that spans more than five decades of critical acclaim and devoted readership. Tor Books has recognized his widespread audience and for years has brought classic Jack Vance novels back into print--most recently The Demon Princes, Volume One, and omnibus containing the first three books of Vance's beloved Demon Princes series. Tor now presents The Demon Princes, Volume Two, and omnibus containing the series' final two novels, The Face and The Book of Dreams.

Kirth Gersen carries in his pocket a slip of paper with a list of five names written upon it--the names of five Demon Princes. The Demon Princes are a race of beings who disguise themselves as humans and delight in power and destruction. however, to Kirth they are merely murderers who killed his family and destroyed his home planet--and who deserves to die for those misdeeds. Three have already fallen in Kirth's hands, but there are two more names on his list, two more Princes who will live only long enough to regret their evil ways.

Lens Larque was just as unique as the other Demon Princes--uniquely appalling. He was personally ugly, startling vicious, and arrogant above all others. Larque's own mission was a villainy of the highest order, and his personal obsession with success kept him hidden well from attackers--almost well enough. Howard Alan Treesong poisoned his friends, tortured his colleagues, and wrote his own horrific holy book, The Book of Dreams. But, clever as he may be, a galaxy-wide guessing game will be his undoing--and Kirth Gersen's sworn vengeance will be complete.



About the Author
Jack Vance is one of the greats of science fiction. He has been writing for more than 60 years, and in 1997 was honored as a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America. He is the author of dozens of science fiction and fantasy novels, including the World Fantasy Award winning Lyonnesse series, and the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning The Last Castle. He lives in Oakland, California.

ANNOTATION

Grandmaster Jack Vance (b. 1916) may be best known for the five novels in his Demon Princes series, starring avenging hero Kerth Gersen. The Demon Princes, Volume One collects the initial three books of the five: The Star King (1964), The Killing Machine (1964) and The Palace of Love (1967).

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Kirth Gersen carries in his pocket a slip of paper with a list of five names written upon it - the names of five Demon Princes. The Demon Princes are a race of beings who disguise themselves as humans and delight in power and destruction. However, to Kirth they are merely murderers who killed his family and destroyed his home planet - and who deserve to die for those misdeeds. Three have already fallen at Kirth's hands, but there are two more names on the list, two more Princes who will live only long enough to regret their evil ways. Lens Larque was just as unique as the other Demon Princes - uniquely appalling. Howard Alan Treesong poisoned his friends, tortured his colleagues, and wrote his own horrific holy book, The Book of Dreams. But, clever as he may be, a galaxy-wide guessing game will be his undoing - and Kirth Gersen's sworn vengeance will be complete.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

Collected here are the first three novels in Vance's classic "Demon Princes" series. Kerth Gersen seeks the demon princes, a destructive race that disguises itself as human, to exact revenge for the death of his family and planet. Recommended for sf collections not owning the separate titles.

Kirkus Reviews

The first three books (originally published in 196467) of Vance's superb space opera series (the subject of an October 15, 1995, Kirkus editorial), presenting the related yet independent novels The Star King, The Killing Machine, and The Palace of Love. These are rare, rattling adventures, with fearsome villains, damsels in distress, and swashbuckling avengers, but there are more subtle delights to be found, too: One can linger with Smade of Smade's Tavern, meet Navarth the mad poet, or ponder the "Scroll from the Ninth Dimension." A writer of many remarkable qualities, here Vance displays his considerable ability to render imaginary worlds so compellingly that, by comparison, reality itself seems wan and insubstantial.

Sublime examples of the master storyteller's art.