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Return to the unique and evocative world of The Dying Earth, edited by best-selling author George R. R. Martin, in this tribute anthology featuring the most distinguished fantasists of our day. Here are twenty-two brand-new adventures set in the world of Jack Vance's greatest novel. A dim place, ancient beyond knowledge. The sun is feeble and red. A million cities have fallen to dust. Here live a few thousand souls, dying, as the Earth dies beneath them. Just a few short decades remain to the long history of our world. At the last, science and magic are one, and there is evil on Earth, distilled by time... Earth is dying.Half a century ago, Jack Vance created the world of the Dying Earth, and fantasy has never been the same. Now, for the first time, Jack has agreed to open this intriguing and darkly beautiful world to other fantasists, to play in as their very own.The list of twenty-two contributors eager to honour Jack Vance by writing for this anthology includes Neil Gaiman, Tad Williams, Elizabeth Hand, Tanith Lee, Dan Simmons, Robert Silverberg, and George R.R. Martin himself.
This anthology gathers twenty-two original stories set in the twilight of a world where the sun is fading and civilization has long since crumbled into archaic decay. The contributors, including prominent figures in contemporary fantasy, navigate the specific constraints of Jack Vance's Dying Earth—a landscape where the boundaries between advanced science and arcane magic have dissolved. Each author adopts the distinct, ornate tone of the original setting to explore the lives of those clinging to existence in the final, waning moments of the planet. The narrative framework shifts between the diverse perspectives of these writers, offering a mosaic of tales that honor the original source material while expanding upon its themes of entropy and human persistence.
This anthology is widely regarded as a significant tribute to the foundational influence of Jack Vance on the fantasy genre. Readers and critics often highlight the success of the contributors in capturing the specific, idiosyncratic voice that defines the original Dying Earth series. The collection is noted for its ability to maintain a consistent atmosphere of melancholic wonder despite the variety of authors involved. It serves as both a celebration of Vance's legacy and a demonstration of the enduring appeal of his unique world-building. The work is frequently cited as a model for how modern writers can respectfully engage with and expand upon a classic literary setting.
Page Count:
660
Publication Date:
2009-07-20
Publisher:
Harper Voyager
ISBN-10:
0007277490
ISBN-13:
9780007277490
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