Masque World

by Alexei Panshin | Science Fiction & Fantasy |
ISBN: Global Overview for this book
Registered by Torve of Stockport, Cheshire United Kingdom on 2/28/2004
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2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Torve from Stockport, Cheshire United Kingdom on Saturday, February 28, 2004
This is one of my favourite books ever. I can across it as a remaindered book as a teenager and fell in love with it. I then tracked down the rest of the Anthony Villiers trilogy, namely Star Well and the Thurb Revolution.

Sadly Panshin never bought out the promised fourth book, The Universal Pantograph. He says the series was getting dark overtones and anyway he had decided that he was going to write all future books in collaboration with his wife. I suppose we have to respect his decision, but it was major loss to literature.

This book tells of Villiers and his companion, Torve (yes this is where I got my screen name from), who must dally awhile on the planet of Delbalso.

The supposition of the Villiers trilogy is that the Universe is made up of small communities each with there own pressing concerns and aspirations. While each community is as valid as another, the most rewarding role is to be a traveller able to observe and indulge in a detached participation. But above all, live for the moment and take pleasure in what life presents.

I don't know if Douglas Adams ever read, Villiers, but some of Hitchhikers's Guide seems inspired by Panshin. Not least the rambling but amusing introductions to each chapter.

If you never read a Villiers adventure before, you should do, but please forget or ignore all the above. I don't want to raise your expectations and then find it fails to grab you. Because the books are just quietly seductive.

By the way, the only reason I am even considering leeting go this book is that I do have another copy. But even so it is difficult, but I feel an imminent conjugation.(Thurb)

Journal Entry 2 by Torve from Stockport, Cheshire United Kingdom on Thursday, March 11, 2004
I read this book again on my way to Edinburgh. I read it first in my teens and many times in my twenties when I ws adapting it for a role-playing game. It is as good as I remembered it and remains my favourite book, along with the others in the series.

I do hope it is appreciated when I release it.

Journal Entry 3 by saintchris from South Queensferry, Scotland United Kingdom on Friday, March 12, 2004
Couldn't resist picking this one up, since it has the character that gave its name to the original releaser of the book.

It is to be read because it is # 3 in a series, and I am a bit pernickety in that I HAVE to read the first 2 before this one. So it may be a while.

Just to confirm that it is in safe hands.

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