Robert reviewed Ports of call by Jack Vance
Review of 'Ports of call' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Another picaresque novel, but one that lacks direction.
Myron Tany meanders the Gaen Reach as a crew member on the Glicca, a tram ship that stops at a never ending series of small, strange and entertaining planets. As is Vance's way the local customs on each are ridiculous and novel. Unlike his other books, the other crew members get large amounts of focus.
Like a warm autumn breeze its is enjoyable but lacks concreteness. This is a novel where really nothing happens. Ports of Call leads directly into Lurulu, but ends not on a cliffhanger, rather like the author had taken a larger work, and selected a chapter at random, slicing it in half. This book is a trifle, though an enjoyable one.
