Showboat World is not a sequel to Big Planet. It shares the first book's planetary setting and introduces new, native characters and a different scenario, revolving around the traveling 'showboats' that ply entertainment spectacles around the Tinsitala Steppe region. The back cover led me to believe that the book amounts to a showdown between the rival boatmasters Apollon Zamp and Garth Ashgale, but this proved inaccurate: the conflict between these two was largely relegated to the first third. Likewise, Big Planet's weird societies, here, are not really the menacing obstacles of the first book. Instead they form the background element for the interplay between and competition among the central characters: the scoundrel Apollon Zamp, the mysterious and strangely detached Damsel Blanche-Aster, and the parsimonious and unadventurous Throdorus Gasson. All work at cross purposes to one another towards sometimes incompatible goals (whether this be escaping with one's hide intact, reaching the distant Mormune for a performance competition, or avoiding the amorous advances of Zamp and Gasson) and this results in a complicated three-way dance of bluster, negotiation, conciliation, and obstinate refusal.Much of the book is therefore assorted bickering and lack of plot advancement, which made it--especially the middle third or so--extremely difficult for me to read. Each protagonist had an odious quality that seemed to hamper progress, whether it be Zamp's unwelcome advances upon Damsel B-A, the Damsel's lifelessness, or Gasson's unenterprising and conservative nature.
Apollon Zamp, master of the Showboat Miraldra's Enchantment has just been informed of a contest held by King Waldemar for the best entertainment. He almost misses the preliminary competition because of the machinations of rival Garth Ashdale, which rivalry continues throughout the the journey undertaken toward the final tournament, staging exhibitions at various and multifarious hamlets along the way. Comic tragedy befalls at times, at others no small profit. This is Big Planet, of course, and if you're not familiar it was colonized by refugees from assorted marginalized groups, religious cults, and barbarians of Earth. These settlements and civilizations have remained apart and retained their flavor. Each has interesting laws and prejudices that the showmaster has to contend with in staging his productions, sometimes with unfortunate results. Vance's strengths lie in describing these denizens and Zamp's productions. His weakness is creating sympathetic characters. It may be that he intends the reader to not mind as much when tragedy befalls his characters if we don't really like them. I suppose I was compelled to continue reading, and I do feel that I enjoyed the book, so Vance largely succeeded. I also think that Vance intended to set more books on Big Planet, and it's unfortunate that he hasn't because it's a very interesting place.
What do You think about Showboat World (1989)?
A fun read with some neat twists (especially at the end).Having a unique interest in the David Mattingly cover, I was particularly interested in this passage: The entire bow of the boat seethed with flames. Whants ran crazily back and forth, yelling and hooting. The open hold deterred them from attacking the quarterdeck and they were finally forced by the flame to jump overboard. "Down river!" roared Zamp. "We'll ride the current as far as we can. Man the pumps! To the fire hoses!" But no one cared to venture down into the hold, under the burning rigging. "Downstream with all speed!" cried Zamp, waving Evulsifer's sword defiantly toward Port Whant. "We'll drive our good ship as far as shell carry us, then we'll beach here and let any who molest us beware!" Bonko, still wearing his executioner's costume, politely disputed the order. "Better that we take to the boats, sir!..."Said interest originates from the fact that I was fortunate enough to obtain the two paperback-sized preliminary paintings for Showboat World many moons ago which apparently used the above prose as inspiration.Preliminary Paintings:https://www.goodreads.com/photo/user/...
—Steve Joyce
