Tales Of The Dying Earth: The influential science fantasy masterpiece that inspired a generation of writers (FANTASY MASTERWORKS)

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Wolfe’s writing isn’t anywhere near as difficult as Hodgson’s, but it’s definitely more effort than Vance’s or Smith’s. Puppet wizards and puppet women now moved through a muted landscape, in a world of distilled evil dominated by a decadent sun. He is also a wizard of considerable power, from whom Mazirian stole the secrets of unnaturally long life.

Instead of one long narrative it's just a collection of short stories that are loosely connected by the land of the dying earth and the stories are titled by the character the story follows. This Renaissance reference must have unearthed old memories, for soon I was transported back to grad school at Ohio State, some forty years ago. It was retitled Mazirian the Magician in the Vance Integral Edition (2005), [1] according to Jack Vance's expressed preference. In addition to the comic Magnus Ridolph stories, two major stories feature the effectuator 'Miro Hetzel', a futuristic detective, and Araminta Station is largely concerned with solving various murders.At the edges of the Reach, out in the lawless 'Beyond', conditions are sometimes, but not always, less secure. Again, the seeker travels into strange lands, encountering strange customs and cultures, in a story that is, at first, less about the magic (though magic does play a part) and more about the men and women Guyal meets in his journey.

Gene Wolfe's The Book of the New Sun (1980–83) is set in a slightly similar world, and was written under Vance's influence.The Dying Earth collects all of these stories, tragic, comic and charming--they take us to one of the strangest places and attractively affected styles in all fantasy. Magicians in lavish manses struggle to master Earth’s last great spells, while all-powerful cabals intrigue against rivals or plot revenge for ancient feuds.