Emphyrio (S.F. MASTERWORKS)
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Jack Vance began to publish SF in 1945, and his 1950 science- fantasy classic The Dying Earth established him as a master of exotic, ironic style--still the hallmark of his 1990s novels. Emphyrio dates from 1969 and is perhaps his best handling of a favourite theme, a young boy's rebellion against a fossilized and unfair society. Ambroy, on the far world Halma, is a city of fine craft-workers where quiet tyranny wears the smiling face of a welfare state. Social workers with draconian powers enforce strict laws against mechanical duplication (each work of art must be unique), while priests of the absurd state religion go from door to door being loftily officious. Dissatisfied young Ghyl Tarvoke more or less prankishly runs for Mayor of Ambroy under the name of legendary hero Emphyrio--a quixotic act which leads indirectly to his master-craftsman father's tragic punishment and death, to despairing involvement in his wild friends' spaceship hijack plan, and to shocking revelations about Ambroy's real rulers. Legend says that Emphyrio long ago brought peace to Halma by uncovering truth, at the cost of his life. After colourful adventures Ghyl finds himself similarly placed: the truth can redeem the city he loves but means great personal loss. A fine, strangely underrated novel, now reissued as #19 in the Millennium SF Masterworks series. --David Langford
Product Description
Far in the future, the craftsmen of the distant planet Halma create goods which are the wonder of the galaxy. But they know little of this. Their society is harshly regimented, its religion austere and unforgiving, and primitive -- to maintain standards, even the most basic use of automation is punishable by death.
When Amiante, a wood-carver, is executed for processing old documents with a camera, his son Ghyl rebels, and decides to bring down the system. To do so, he must first interpret the story of Emphyrio, an ancient hero of Halman legend.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having been a great fan of Jack Vance I have read many of his books and recently embarked on Emphyrio for the third time. It is a gloriously simple story to read and any reader will be aware that the core of the story is the nature and power of Truth - very much with a capital "T" - and the folly of deception. Less obvious is the powerful tale of the ultimate futility of hidden measures of control; powers behind the throne, puppet masters on the stage of affairs and secret rulers hidden from view are ultimately vulnerable to the power of truth.
One aspect of the story often missed is the satirical critique it offers against the ultimate in socialist welfare state mechanisms. Most of all of the stultifying effects of hyper-regulation even in an apparently benevolent society. Event the names are crafted skilfully - the father-figure of the hero is named for "friendliness" and the story tells how he became a victim of the society he was impartially observing with a friendly eye. His son, the hero of the tale, is named for guilt and together they show how obsessive regulation can inculcate guilt in the subjects of those rules.
While most of Vance's books layer such meanings into the tale, this is one of the most powerful and moving - as well, incidentally, as being one of the best written. It has long been a puzzle to me how this story could be overlooked by the awards bodies since it is by head and shoulders a greater work than many which have been credited with a raft of Hugo and Nebula awards.
One aspect of the story often missed is the satirical critique it offers against the ultimate in socialist welfare state mechanisms. Most of all of the stultifying effects of hyper-regulation even in an apparently benevolent society. Event the names are crafted skilfully - the father-figure of the hero is named for "friendliness" and the story tells how he became a victim of the society he was impartially observing with a friendly eye. His son, the hero of the tale, is named for guilt and together they show how obsessive regulation can inculcate guilt in the subjects of those rules.
While most of Vance's books layer such meanings into the tale, this is one of the most powerful and moving - as well, incidentally, as being one of the best written. It has long been a puzzle to me how this story could be overlooked by the awards bodies since it is by head and shoulders a greater work than many which have been credited with a raft of Hugo and Nebula awards.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
What a book! I found this book totally satisfying. Sci-fi with a deep and meaningful undertone. The story is as mad as they come, but written superbly. I read it during a 2 week holiday and I didn't realise how good it was when I was reading it, even though I was gripped. It was only when I read Dune and the Stars My Destination (both V Good)later in the holiday did I realise how good emphryrio was, as that was the one i was thinking about. Totally unique.
A Highly recommended, thought provoking, piece of excellant literature.
A Highly recommended, thought provoking, piece of excellant literature.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A swift story to read, written with that unique vocabulary that is typical of Vance, this is not science fiction in the true sense. It's a fantasy, with planets. That's a good thing, because Vance immerses you in a strange world with a stifling society that works with a strange logic. The central theme of Emphyrio is Truth - the motivation of the protagonist. The prologue is deceitful and clever, instilling the protagonist's fate with a sense of unease. I disagree with other reviewers' criticism of the rushed ending: Vance has a habit of sweeping major events at a fast pace; the ending is satisfying, and will leave you pondering the book for a long time afterwards.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great book, but a slow start
It took me a little while to get into this book, the first few pages open the story with an interrogation performed with futuristic machinery. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Peter
Fantastic, meaningful ending rewards for a steep climb
Without wanting to give away anything about the story, I have to say, during some phase of this book, it got to me so much, I had to put down the book for a while... Read more
Published 6 months ago by niels
Emphyrio Rising
The city of Ambroy, on the planet Halma, is a place best described as "medieval Stalinist" with secret police, remote lords in their Eyries, powerful nepotistic guilds, and a... Read more
Published 7 months ago by John Middleton
SF of its time - one man saves the world whilst women are dull or...
Jack Vance's Emphyrio, published in 1969, is both one of his best books and an example of the limitations of much science-fiction of that era. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mark Pack
Vance at his best
Jack Vance is my favourite author and I hope to eventually read everything that he has written. I have started my review this way to make my bias clear. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Emphyrio
Classic Vancian SF, with a strong libertarian streak
"In the chamber at the top of the tower were six individuals: three who chose to call themselves "lords" or sometimes "remedials"; a wretched underling who was their prisoner; and... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mark Poles
Best Ever
In approximately 30 years of reading Sci-Fi this is my number 1 rated book of all time. Jack Vance is simply the greatest author out there. Read more
Published on 8 April 2006 by Mr. M. Wass
After 3 months - Still think about this tale
Quite an angular book to read. Having never read any Vance before, and heard of him quite often, I expected quite a different type of style. Read more
Published on 6 Jun 2002
One of his best
Definitely one of Vance's best works. It has a decent, dark storyline with a strong central character. Read more
Published on 5 Jun 2001 by J. Bloss
Engrossing, but flawed.
This is a book of slow, deep, powerful, hugely atmospheric prose. It builds gradually & inevitably towards... what, sadly, is an underdeveloped & slightly cliched ending. Read more
Published on 15 April 2001
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