The Other (Luff Imbry)
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9 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Consistently wry, cleverly written, and entirely original
29 Oct 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Matthew Hughes is often referred to as "Vancean" or the "heir of Jack Vance," which is true enough, but this book, as with his other recent work, is totally original, while retaining the unique wry humor and wordcraft that we associate with the elder master.
Luff Imbry is great fun, and the world Fulda is as baroque and brilliantly conceived as any of Vance's, while not exactly resembling any of them. Unfortunately, like Vance, the mass audience seems to elude Hughes, which is a real shame, because there's no one out there who does this kind of far future science fantasy nearly as well... especially now that Vance has completely retired (at 95).
Don't THINK about it. BUY this book, right now!
Luff Imbry is great fun, and the world Fulda is as baroque and brilliantly conceived as any of Vance's, while not exactly resembling any of them. Unfortunately, like Vance, the mass audience seems to elude Hughes, which is a real shame, because there's no one out there who does this kind of far future science fantasy nearly as well... especially now that Vance has completely retired (at 95).
Don't THINK about it. BUY this book, right now!
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Yet another good novel of the Archonate universe
8 Nov 2011
Format:Paperback
Matthew Hughes' readers are likely already familiar with his character Luff Imbry, master thief and art forger. The Other begins with Imbry being kidnapped and deposited on a remote, backward desert planet called Fulda. Imbry then continuously devotes his formidable analytical powers to several problems. First, survival. Second, the Fuldans' peculiar history, customs, religion, and political conflicts, because understanding these turns out to be essential for survival. Third, the identity and purpose of his kidnapper, so that Imbry can avenge himself. And fourth, how Imbry can return to Old Earth from a planet that has no spaceports.
Fulda is inhabited solely by a cult devoted to physical conformity, which has been almost completely achieved after centuries of inbreeding. Formerly "irregulars" were killed. But since a subcult has developed where irregulars facilitate mystic revelations, they are permitted to live, though subjected to segregation and prejudice. Because Imbry is both an offworlder and obese, he is deemed an irregular. He finds himself forced to play a role in the cult's mythology.
Plotwise, The Other alternates between fast action and Imbry's discoveries, which then facilitate another part of the action. Imbry indulges in long meditations, which, although neatly fitted into breaks such as incarceration and slow traveling, sometimes become tedious. Imbry repeatedly gives the same history and analysis of the cult, narrows down the same list of potential kidnappers, and reiterates the same escape plans.
Imbry is also a rather wooden character, displaying almost no emotion and with no eccentricities other than an oft-mentioned love of gourmet cuisine. Matthew Hughes is marketed as a successor to Jack Vance, and Fulda is as colorful as any of Vance's societies. However, Hughes' works move increasingly away from Vance-style baroque language and ironic wit. True, the plot does, at the end, turn out to be ironic--but not witty. Hughes may (or may not) intend certain concepts to be funny--for example, the Fuldan requirement that everyone go nude except for a hat, sandals, and a pouch for carrying small items. If he does, the concept is not inherently funny (many primitive societies on Earth haven't worn much), and the book is not written in a way that makes it funny.
The direction Imbry chooses at the end of The Other doesn't quite make sense. But it does leave the door wide open for a sequel. I look forward to it.
Fulda is inhabited solely by a cult devoted to physical conformity, which has been almost completely achieved after centuries of inbreeding. Formerly "irregulars" were killed. But since a subcult has developed where irregulars facilitate mystic revelations, they are permitted to live, though subjected to segregation and prejudice. Because Imbry is both an offworlder and obese, he is deemed an irregular. He finds himself forced to play a role in the cult's mythology.
Plotwise, The Other alternates between fast action and Imbry's discoveries, which then facilitate another part of the action. Imbry indulges in long meditations, which, although neatly fitted into breaks such as incarceration and slow traveling, sometimes become tedious. Imbry repeatedly gives the same history and analysis of the cult, narrows down the same list of potential kidnappers, and reiterates the same escape plans.
Imbry is also a rather wooden character, displaying almost no emotion and with no eccentricities other than an oft-mentioned love of gourmet cuisine. Matthew Hughes is marketed as a successor to Jack Vance, and Fulda is as colorful as any of Vance's societies. However, Hughes' works move increasingly away from Vance-style baroque language and ironic wit. True, the plot does, at the end, turn out to be ironic--but not witty. Hughes may (or may not) intend certain concepts to be funny--for example, the Fuldan requirement that everyone go nude except for a hat, sandals, and a pouch for carrying small items. If he does, the concept is not inherently funny (many primitive societies on Earth haven't worn much), and the book is not written in a way that makes it funny.
The direction Imbry chooses at the end of The Other doesn't quite make sense. But it does leave the door wide open for a sequel. I look forward to it.
A wonderful romp by a master storyteller
28 Jan 2012
Format:Paperback
I won't mince words: Matt Hughes is one of the most entertaining writers in the SF/fantasy field, now or ever -- his writing is reminiscent of Jack Vance at his lightest, P.G. Wodehouse at his least cow-creamer-focused, and Arthur Conan Doyle at his most frivolous. This is not my opinion; it's a fact. See my reviews of his previous novels The Damned Busters, Hespira, Template, The Spiral Labyrinth, or Majestrum for more details -- or, better yet, just pick up one of his books, start reading a bit, and see if you can stop. I'll bet that you can't.
If you actually want to know something about this novel, well, let's see what I can remember of the details. Luff Imbry is a rich and successful con man on the Earth of the far future -- it's not quite Vance's Dying Earth, but Hughes's Earth is definitely on a restricted diet from its physician and watching its level of exertion closely to stay on this side of health -- whom we met previously in Hughes's novel Black Brillion, and he is kidnapped and abandoned on a far-away world. Even worse, Fulda -- the planet in question -- is not only low-tech, and almost completely cut off from the greater interstellar Spray of humanity, but is home only to a fanatical sect devoted to perfecting the human form -- that is, to remaining absolutely identical with each other. The corpulent and unique Imbry could no more hide among them than he could stand behind a grain of sand, and so his troubles begin.
On the other hand, Imbry is intelligent, clever, and entirely able to take advantage of every last opportunity that comes his way -- and, better yet, he has Matt Hughes on his side. THE OTHER is a sparkling, wonderfully amusing novel, full of great dialogue, odd situations, and quirky characters; it's a lovely, masterful souffle of a book, and I can think of no reason why any reader wouldn't love it.
If you actually want to know something about this novel, well, let's see what I can remember of the details. Luff Imbry is a rich and successful con man on the Earth of the far future -- it's not quite Vance's Dying Earth, but Hughes's Earth is definitely on a restricted diet from its physician and watching its level of exertion closely to stay on this side of health -- whom we met previously in Hughes's novel Black Brillion, and he is kidnapped and abandoned on a far-away world. Even worse, Fulda -- the planet in question -- is not only low-tech, and almost completely cut off from the greater interstellar Spray of humanity, but is home only to a fanatical sect devoted to perfecting the human form -- that is, to remaining absolutely identical with each other. The corpulent and unique Imbry could no more hide among them than he could stand behind a grain of sand, and so his troubles begin.
On the other hand, Imbry is intelligent, clever, and entirely able to take advantage of every last opportunity that comes his way -- and, better yet, he has Matt Hughes on his side. THE OTHER is a sparkling, wonderfully amusing novel, full of great dialogue, odd situations, and quirky characters; it's a lovely, masterful souffle of a book, and I can think of no reason why any reader wouldn't love it.
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