Ports of Call
Encyclopedia
Ports of Call is a science fiction
adventure novel
by Jack Vance
, the first of a duology along with its sequel Lurulu
. It follows a young man named Myron Tany on a picaresque journey through the Gaean Reach
.
; however, when his wealthy and eccentric great-aunt Dame Hester came into possession of a space yacht, Myron suddenly found his long suppressed dreams of adventure within reach. Serving as Dame Hester's nominal captain on her journey to find a clinic reputed to restore lost youth to wealthy clients, Myron soon finds that his aunt is capricious as she is flamboyant, and after an argument, finds himself castaway
on a remote planet. With no resources to return home, he obtains the position of supercargo
on a tramp freighter, which enables him to travel further across the Gaean Reach to exotic lands.
, for the sheer outrageous of its characters and the precision of Vance's often lunatic descriptive powers."
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
adventure novel
Adventure novel
The adventure novel is a genre of novels that has adventure, an exciting undertaking involving risk and physical danger, as its main theme.-History:...
by Jack Vance
Jack Vance
John Holbrook Vance is an American mystery, fantasy and science fiction author. Most of his work has been published under the name Jack Vance. Vance has published 11 mysteries as John Holbrook Vance and 3 as Ellery Queen...
, the first of a duology along with its sequel Lurulu
Lurulu
Lurulu is a science fiction adventure novel by Jack Vance, the second of a duology along with its prequel Ports of Call. It continues to follow Myron Tany on a picaresque journey through the Gaean Reach....
. It follows a young man named Myron Tany on a picaresque journey through the Gaean Reach
Gaean Reach
The Gaean Reach is the setting of an informal grouping of a number of science fiction books by author Jack Vance ....
.
Plot summary
Myron's family intended for Myron to follow a staid and respectable career in economicsEconomics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
; however, when his wealthy and eccentric great-aunt Dame Hester came into possession of a space yacht, Myron suddenly found his long suppressed dreams of adventure within reach. Serving as Dame Hester's nominal captain on her journey to find a clinic reputed to restore lost youth to wealthy clients, Myron soon finds that his aunt is capricious as she is flamboyant, and after an argument, finds himself castaway
Castaway
A castaway is a person who is cast adrift or ashore. While the situation usually happens after a shipwreck, some people voluntarily stay behind on a deserted island, either to evade their captors or the world in general. Alternatively, a person or item can be cast away, meaning rejected or discarded...
on a remote planet. With no resources to return home, he obtains the position of supercargo
Supercargo
Supercargo is a term in maritime law that refers to a person employed on board a vessel by the owner of cargo carried on the ship...
on a tramp freighter, which enables him to travel further across the Gaean Reach to exotic lands.
Reception
F&SF reviewer Elizabeth Hand praised Ports of Call as "delightful," declaring that "one enjoys Ports of Call as one does a Restoration comedyRestoration comedy
Restoration comedy refers to English comedies written and performed in the Restoration period from 1660 to 1710. After public stage performances had been banned for 18 years by the Puritan regime, the re-opening of the theatres in 1660 signalled a renaissance of English drama...
, for the sheer outrageous of its characters and the precision of Vance's often lunatic descriptive powers."