The name of the planet is Trullion! World #2262 of the Alastor Cluster! The descriptions of this beautiful world and its backwoods society of islands and watery fens were the best part of the novel. As always, the author conveys a lot with a little; his spare prose is wonderfully stylish and his dry voice is just as wonderfully ironic. This is the kind of light world-building that I can only sit back and droolingly admire. Vance knows how to envision a world where I actually want to live!The name of the game is Hussade! It is the most celebrated pasttime on Trullion! It appears to be a combination of rugby, baseball, and soccer that takes place above a shallow pool of water. Much like the many descriptions of Quidditch in the Harry Potter novels, I fear my disinterest in the minutia of made-up sports forced me to skim a good number of paragraphs!The name of the hero is Glinnes! He "entirely enjoyed the pleasures of the Fens: feasts, amorous adventures, star-watching and sailing, hussade, nocturnal merling hunts, simple idleness." Upon returning to Trullion after some years of military service, he finds much in disarray regarding his family, property, and finances - disarray that must be put back in order and which require brooding, long-game planning, and the playing of many games of hussade. Glinnes is a charming character and an ideal protagonist!The name of the monsters are Merlings! They live in the water and creep out at night, to snatch unwary children and drunken adults foolish enough to wander waterside in the evening. They are fearsome and fascinating but unfortunately rarely appear on the page. But when they do appear, their actions are quite eye-opening!The name of the people are Trills! Much like amiable Glinnes, a typical Trill, Trill society is casual and low-key; the Trill way of life centers on relaxing on their porches while gazing at the water, eating, making love, sailing their little boats, watching sports, and after those strenuous activities, relaxing some more. Surely this is an ideal society. If only it included the reading of books as a regular past time, I would immediately move there!The name of the cult is Fanscherade! Its proponents detest the Trill way of life as lazy, slovenly, without purpose, and far too focused on making love, watching sports, and eating. As always, Vance wryly caricatures any group or person who thinks arrogant tunnel-vision is an appropriate perspective. And it surely must be true that such uptight cults that do not know how to relax only deserve what will inevitably come to them!The name of the author is Jack Vance! For the Vance enthusiast such as myself, even this bit of minor-note inside baseball provided me several hours of pleasure and amusement!
What do You think about Trullion: Alastor 2262 (1973)?
reviews.metaphorosis.comTrullion: Alastor 2262Jack VanceAlastor, #14.5 stars(#2 Marune, #3 Wyst)Trullion is classic Vance. Arcane vocabulary, lush landscapes, disaffected characters - this book has it all. It also introduces Alastor Cluster, ruled by the idosyncratic Connatic, who wanders incognito amongst his subjects. Briefly, Glinnes is an ex-policeman, come home to Trullion after retirement. Naturally, he finds that all is not well, and part of his patrimony has been squandered. He turns to his skills at hussade, a complex team sport, to raise funds. As always with Vance, there are quirky customs, strange habits, and unattainable, stand-offish women. The plot is on the thin side, but the language and characterizations are fantastic (in several senses).If you're a Vance fan, this is a must. If you're not (yet), this is a great place to start. Highly recommended. CVIE VI
—Metaphorosis
