Loyalties Book

Tales of a trickster god.

Like stories about Anansi, Coyote and Loki Jack Vance describes the misadventures of Cugel the Clever in picaresque fashion. Set in Vance's far, far future world of the The Dying Earth, in his inimitable style blending elements of science fiction and fantasy, this 1966 publication is at times hilarious but always entertaining.

While reading I smiled frequently and laughed out loud at least a couple of times and Vance made me think about the irascible nature of loveable rogues. No doubt from time immemorial, their have been stories about those who think outside the box, those who march to the beat of a different drummer, who - for all purposes - make their own rules and make the rest of us insane, make us roll our eyes and smirk.

My wife and I raised three boys and there were times when, as parents, we needing to punish a child for some behavior. I can recall many times when, even amidst the scolding, I had to turn my head so the little imp would not see me smile.

What is it about mischievous comportment that draws the grudging veneration from us all at some time or another? Is it a latent sense of respect for creativity? Are we inside at least a little jealous or admiring of those who can set convention aside and accomplish outside of rules what we wish we could?

Reading Vance's story, I thought of the fascination with outlaws and criminals, of the charisma of gangsters and ne'er do wells. Vance, in describing Cugel, has hit the nail on the head of a true anti-hero and Vance with his tongue in cheek wit and his subtle humor is uniquely qualified to deliver such a work.

A must read for Vance fans, this is just fun reading and let me opine that American readers who do not quite get Sir Terry Pratchett's British humor, may enjoy Vance's quirky writing.