http://speculiction.blogspot.com/2020/09/review-of-alastor-trilogy-by-jack-vance... ( )

Aardig verhaal. Niets meer of minder dan dat. ( )

Eigentlich mehr ein Gesellschaftsroman als ein Science-Fiction. Jantiff Ravensroke beschließt, auf dem Planeten Wyst in Arrabus zu leben. Dort herscht eine egalitäre Geselllschaft. Leider sind die Arrabier dekadent, stehlen und sind unpersönlich. Jantiff fühlt sich immer weniger Wohl auf den Planeten und wird dann sogar in einen Komplott hineingezogen.

Spannender, intelligenter Science-Fiction. ( )

A typical Vance: a charming idea, a lush setting and an impressive vocabulary, but marred somewhat by a straightforward plot, and an over-the-top mystery damsel. It seemed like Vance grew impatient after the section in Balad, because the ending feels extremely rushed. ( )

This books is just shy of perfection. An unexpected tale, a sly satire on socialism and leftist thought in general, as well as statist control in general, the tale is marred only by the too-pat deus ex machina ending. And yet . . . I've this feeling that Vance started the book with the ending in mind! As usual with Vance, the prose is magnificent. And the character of Jantik Ravensroke is brilliantly conceived. The comedy at the start, with the Connatic (supreme ruler of that part of the galaxy) interviewing a bunch of politicians and likely criminals, is even funny. ( )