An amusing little quiz for Jack Vance fans

Cafe Society
1

Having a few minutes of respite, I whacked together this tiny little quiz for fans of one of sci-fi’s most eminent stylists. Have at it, gents; answers tomorrow!

  1. Name the five Demon Princes.

  2. Name the four alien races (not counting humans) on Tschai.

  3. Who sent Cugel the Clever far away across the Dying Earth?

  4. Who was Zap210?

  5. In what novel did a travelling showman, owner of a tattered tabard, become involved in a dynastic struggle?

  6. In what novel did stranded Earthmen ride the monoline?

  7. Name the Galactic Effectuator.

  8. Extra credit: name three of Kirth Gersen’s romantic interests.

2

Being a huge Demon Princes fan, I can answer the first and last; still working my way through the other stories and novels.

It’s a good idea for a quiz, as Vance’s names are notoriously convoluted and difficult to remember (or spell!).

3

And what title did “Muffin” go by?

4

Yep, same as Tim (whose name may have been inspired by Navarth for all I know): 1. Attel Malagate the Woe; Kokkur Hekkus, the Killing Machine; Viole Falushe; Lens Larque; and Howard Alan Treesong.
8. Pallis Atwrode; Alusz Iphegenia Eperje-Tokay; Drusilla Wayle a.k.a. Zan Zu; Jerdain… somebody; and Alice Wroke.

5

I think I know this one, Pnume,Wank (wang?), Dirdir,Chasch?

6

I can’t answer any of those questions, alas. But Vance’s short stories “The Moon Moth” and “Sail 25” are two of my all-time favorites.

7

Man, I’m drawing a blank on this. Though it sounds deuced familiar. :frowning:

8

A further refinement occurs to me: Perhaps we should Spoiler our responses.

9

Funny, I can’t answer any of the questions off the top of my head except #6 but I know where in my library to find each and every one.

10

The Grey Prince

11

Bingo! I took my screen name from my favorite of Navarth’s poems.

12

Ioconnu (sp?) the laughing magician

That’s all I know, sadly. Only read the Dying earth series from Vance.

Forlorn encystment has its advocates, Cugel observed.

13

I would have said five, perhaps it’s time to drag out Planet of Adventure again.

I know #3 of course, though I can’t spell it. And also #5

14

You ought to be able to spell #5. ;):D:D

15
  1. Name the five Demon Princes.

[spoiler]Attal Malagate, Kokkor Hekkus, Viole Falushe, Lens Larque, Howard Alan Treesong

  1. Name the four alien races (not counting humans) on Tschai.
    Chasch (Blue & Green), Pnume, Dirdir, Wankh (or Wannek)

  2. Who sent Cugel the Clever far away across the Dying Earth?
    Icounnu the Laughing Magician

  3. Who was Zap210?
    Human female freed by Adam Reith from the Pnume on Tschai

  4. In what novel did a travelling showman, owner of a tattered tabard, become involved in a dynastic struggle?
    Maduc, the 2nd Lyonesse book

  5. In what novel did stranded Earthmen ride the monoline?
    Big Planet

  6. Name the Galactic Effectuator.
    Miro Hetzel

  7. Extra credit: name three of Kirth Gersen’s romantic interests.
    Alice Wroke, Pallis Atwrode; Alusz Iphegenia Eperje-Tokay (had to check the spelling)[/spoiler]

Took less than 2 minutes for the main questions, with another couple to dredge up the names of the romantic interests…
I may have got #5 wrong…

16

As promised, here are the answers:

[SPOILER] 1. Attel Malagate / Malagate the Woe (Gersen tries the ale at Smade’s Tavern and has a row with a Beauty)
Kokkor Hekkus (Gersen is kidnapped and takes an interest in handicrafts)
Viole Falusche (Gersen meets a poet and a girl from Eridu)
Lens Larque (Gersen plays hadaul and acquires shares in the Kotzash mining company)
Howard Alan Treesong (Gersen takes up the flute and learns something of the mortuary arts)

  1. Chasche (Meurglys points out that there are two varieties of Chasch, Blue and Green), Wankh, Dirdir, Pnume

  2. Iaconnu the Laughing Magician

  3. A Pnumekin and Adam Reith’s love interest in The Pnume; eventually they consummate their love in the cabin of a cog during a thunderstorm (a lovely little cameo of a scene).

  4. Showboat World

  5. Big Planet (I seem to remember that Kirstendale, where everyone works half-time, is on Big Planet, too.)

  6. Miro Hetzel

  7. Alice Wroke, Pallis Atwrode, Alusz-Iphigenia Eperje-Tokay (Malacandra adds Drusilla Wayle/Zan Zu from Eridu (Gersen also meets one of Drusilla’s sisters at the end of that novel) and Jerdian Chanseth) [/SPOILER]

17

Apropos of not much, I’ve always loved the very last line of the last Demon Princes novels:

[spoiler]I have been deserted by my enemies. I am done."

…or something like that…[/spoiler]

I think of that line often, and how we are all defined by our own demons. I wonder if Vance selected the title of the series to make that analogy?

18

I suspect that someone as vital as Gersen will find another way to occupy himself; certainly the Beyond has no shortage of malefactors… :smiley:
I hadn’t thought of that meaning behind the use of “demon”; interesting thought!

19

I see I was right in that I got #5 wrong!

Now Im home I’ve just flipped through a copy of Showboat World and see the tabard is actually a key point of the plot… Maybe it’s time to re-read it!

20

I suppose I should start a new thread, but WTF, all us Vance fans are already following this one. Here’s the question: has anyone read his recent autobiography? Is it worth a look? I’m guessing his life story, in his own words, might be a fascinating read.