Songs of the Dying Earth: Stories in Honour of Jack Vance

To honor the magnificent career of Jack Vance, one unparalleled in achievement and impact, George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, with the full cooperation of Jack Vance, his family, and his agents, have created a Jack Vance tribute anthology: Songs of the Dying Earth. The best of today's fantasy writers return to the unique and evocative milieu of The Dying Earth, from which they and so many others have drawn so much inspiration, to create their own brand-new adventures in the world of Jack Vance's greatest novel. 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 ever, he has agreed to open this bizarre and darkly beautiful world to other fantasists, to play in as their very own. To say that other fantasy writers are excited by this prospect is a gross understatement; one told us that he'd crawl through broken glass for the chance to write for the anthology, another that he'd gladly give up his right arm for the privilege. That's the kind of regard in which Jack Vance and The Dying Earthare held by generations of his peers. This book contains original stories from George R. R. Martin, Neil Gaiman, Dan Simmons, Elizabeth Moon, Tanith Lee, Tad Williams, Kage Baker, and Robert Silverberg, along with fifteen others and an introduction by Dean Koontz. Songs of the Dying Earth * interior artwork by Tom Kidd 11 * Thank You, Mr. Vance * essay by Dean R. Koontz [as by Dean Koontz ] 15 * Preface (Songs of the Dying Earth) * essay by Jack Vance 19 * The True Vintage of Erzuine Thale * novelette by Robert Silverberg 41 * Afterword (The True Vintage of Erzuine Thale) * essay by Robert Silverberg 45 * Grolion of Almery * novelette by Matthew Hughes 70 * Afterword (Grolion of Almery) * essay by Matthew Hughes 75 * The Copsy Door * novelette by Terry Dowling 98 * Afterword (The Copsy Door) * essay by Terry Dowling 103 * Caulk the Witch-Chaser * shortstory by Liz Williams 114 * Afterword (Caulk the Witch-Chaser) * essay by Liz Williams 119 * Inescapable * shortstory by Mike Resnick 131 * Afterword (Inescapable) * essay by Mike Resnick 135 * Abrizonde * novelette by Walter Jon Williams 160 * Afterword (Abrizonde) * essay by Walter Jon Williams 165 * The Traditions of Karzh * novelette by Paula Volsky 196 * Afterword (The Traditions of Karzh) * essay by Paula Volsky 201 * The Final Quest of the Wizard Sarnod * [Dying Earth] * novelette by Jeff VanderMeer 230 * Afterword (The Final Quest of the Wizard Sarnod) * essay by Jeff VanderMeer 235 * The Green Bird * novelette by Kage Baker 259 * Afterword (The Green Bird) * essay by Kage Baker 283 * The Last Golden Thread * shortstory by Phyllis Eisenstein 297 * Afterword (The Last Golden Thread) * essay by Phyllis Eisenstein 301 * An Incident in Uskvosk * shortstory by Elizabeth Moon 320 * Afterword (An Incident in Uskvosk) * essay by Elizabeth Moon 323 * Sylgarmo's Proclamation * [Dying Earth] * novelette by Lucius Shepard 351 * Afterword (Sylgarmo's Proclamation) * essay by Lucius Shepard 355 * The Lamentably Comical Tragedy (or The Laughably Tragic Comedy) of Lixal Laqavee * novelette by Tad Williams 380 * Afterword (The Lamentably Comical Tragedy (or The Laughably Tragic Comedy) of Lixal Laqavee) * essay by Tad Williams 383 * Guyal the Curator * novelette by John C. Wright 417 * Afterword (Guyal the Curator) * essay by John C. Wright 421 * The Good Magician * novelette by Glen Cook 449 * Afterword (The Good Magician) * essay by Glen Cook 453 * The Return of the FIre Witch * novelette by Elizabeth Hand 485 * Afterword (The Return of the FIre Witch) * essay by Elizabeth Hand 489 * The Collegeum of Mauge * shortstory by Byron Tetrick 507 * Afterword (The Collegeum of Mauge) * essay by Byron Tetrick 511 * Evillo the Uncunning * novelette by Tanith Lee 539 * Afterword (Evillo the Uncunning) * essay by Tanith Lee 543 * The Guiding Nose of Ulfant Banderoz * novella by Dan Simmons 609 * Afterword (The Guiding Nose of Ulfant Banderoz) * essay by Dan Simmons 613 * Frogskin Cap * shortstory by Howard Waldrop 620 * Afterword (Frogskin Cap) * essay by Howard Waldrop 625 * A Night at the Tarn House * novelette by George R. R. Martin 655 * Afterword (A Night at the Tarn House) * essay by George R. R. Martin 659 * An Invocation of Incuriosity * novelette by Neil Gaiman 669 * Afterword (An Invocation of Incuriosity) * essay by Neil Gaiman