Shabacus #7: The Dying Earth by Jack Vance

This was one of my SantaThing books, so I knew almost nothing about it when I began. What I discovered is a classic of speculative fiction. I'm very glad that all four volumes were part of this book, because I'll want to read the others very soon.

http://www.librarything.com/work/82075/reviews/92283768

Up Next:

I'll about to start The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the second in the John Carter series. I've also begun the third volume of my series of Go books. Next, I'll probably pick out something by P. G. Wodehouse. Beyond that, my wife has suggested that I read Warm Bodies, and I still have The Girl Who Went Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There to look forward to, not to mention more Jack Vance. So many good books to read!

Scoreboard for the year:

1) The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter, 1/2/2013
2) A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, 1/8/2013
3) Learn to Play Go: A Master's Guide to the Ultimate Game (Volume I) by Janice Kim and Soo-hyun Jeong, 1/11/2013
4) Dodger by Terry Pratchett, 1/14/2013
5) The Sultan of Monte Cristo by Holy Ghost Writer, 1/15/2013
6) Learn To Play Go, Volume II: The Way of the Moving Horse by Janice Kim and Soo-hyun Jeong, 1/16/2013
7) The Dying Earth by Jack Vance, 1/19/2013

Year Elapsed: 5.21%
Goel Complete: 9.33%
Days Ahead: 15.1
Avg. Days per Book: 2.7

Nice scoreboard so far! I bought The Dying Earth several years ago but have not managed to get it read. I need to rectify that!

I've read more about it since, and it seems like the magic system in D&D was directly inspired by The Dying Earth, even down to the names of some of the spells. I love discovering those kinds of connections!