Gold and Iron

This is a fairly short book, but I like short books. No padding, perfect for a quick read when you don't have a lot of time. As far as Jack Vance goes, Gold and Iron (previous title: Slaves of the Klau) isn't one of his better books. But it's perfect for a die-hard Vance fan like me, who thought he'd read every sci-fi book by Vance, only to stumble across all these wonderful releases on Amazon. Just do your research before you buy a Vance book on Kindle that you think you haven't heard of before, because it might be one you've already read, but with a new title.Gold and Iron lacks the highly stylized writing that usually makes Vance books so great, so the writing is a bit bland and unremarkable. But at least the usual outlandish characters, with their quirky and outrageous behaviors, are here.http://www.amazon.com/Scott-Reeves/e/B002HHJUQ4

Vance is a master as anyone who has read his novels knows. All his protagonists are men of honor, men with whom the reader can empathize, men whom we can hope to emulate. This protagonist, Roy Barch, has to be one of his best. Vain, yes, but able to recognize it in himself and repulsed by it. Barch is also strong willed and thoughtful, but no superman---he learns as he goes. If you enjoy Vance, if you enjoy damned good SF, then don't miss this.

Lots of familiar Jack Vance themes and some good reading but a rather abrupt ending - possibly due to original length restrictions.

I love Jack Vance but this book had one of the most ridiculous endings I've ever read.

Mediocre

Full disclosure: I was involved in the production of the Spatterlight Press edition, as I was years ago in the Vance Integral Edition. That said, I regard this as one of Vance's most underrated early works, a novel of character disguised as space adventure.Originally published as Planet of the Damned in a 1952 issue of a fairly obscure SF magazine called Space Stories, it is best known in an abridged version, appearing as Slaves of the Klau in an Ace Double with Big Planet (which was even more brutally abridged). The abridgment excised all vestiges of the relationship between the golden-skinned Lekthwan woman, Komeitk Lelianr, and the iron-willed Earthman, Roy Barch, who are captured together by the brutal Klau. It is this relationship that raises Gold and Iron (Vance's preferred title, under which it was published in a limited edition by Underwood-Miller and by the VIE) above the usual run of space opera. Barch never quite overcomes his inferiority complex, even after proving his mettle against a totalitarian industrialized race; Lelianr, product of an advanced but effete culture, learns rather more from the experience. The tension between them, both in their initial interactions on Earth and as fugitives from the Klau, is the stuff of great storytelliing.The Spatterlight Press edition contains the full text as published in Space Stories and by Underwood-Miller, and is thus the only mass market edition that presents this novel as Jack Vance originally conceived it.

Gold and Iron play no more than a metaphorical role in this early Vance story. The original title, Slaves of the Klau, while considerably less poetic, is more accurate. The story concerns an Earthman and a woman from another, more advanced race, who are taken captive by the Klau.This is a very John Campbell-esque story, in that it's apparent early on that only Earthmen, despite their low level of civilization, have the strength and dynamism to keep going in the face of adversity. There's little of the usual Vance wordplay and aloof would-be sophisticates come in only via the aliens. Instead, it's a straightforward adventure story. That said, it's still well-written, and worth reading.Not a good introduction to Vance, but if you're looking for good old fashioned space opera, when men were men (and women were unfortunately mostly decorative), this fits the bill.CVIE vol III

CVIE vol IIIGold and Iron play no more than a metaphorical role in this early Vance story. The original title, Slaves of the Klau, while considerably less poetic, is more accurate. The story concerns an Earthman and a woman from another, more advanced race, who are taken captive by the Klau.This is a very John Campbell-esque story, in that it's apparently early that only Earthmen, despite their low level of civilization, have the strength and dynamism to keep going in the face of adversity. There's little of the usual Vance wordplay and aloof would-be sophisticates come in only via the aliens. Instead, it's a straightforward adventure story. That said, it's still well-written, and worth reading.Not a good introduction to Vance, but if you're looking for good old fashioned space opera, when men were men (and women were unfortunately mostly decorative), this fits the bill.

An early work and not one of his best. Still it is Jack Vance and well worth the read.

Gold and Iron—which was previously released under the titles Slaves of the Klau and Planet of the Damned—tells the story of Roy Barch and his personal and physical struggle against two alien races: the Lekthwan and the Klau.The Lekthwans are an advanced species who have peacefully made contact and settled amongst humans on Earth. They see themselves as superiors to humans, being that they are far more technologically advanced. Roy Barch—the story's main protagonist—has developed a strong dislike towards the Lekthwans, due to the way that they patronise the human race and view them as inferior. Despite this fact, Roy works as an attendant for a successful Lekthwan called Markel, who has a home on Earth.Komeitk Lelianr is the daughter of Roy Barch's employer, Markel, and she is typical of the Lekthwan race: brash, confidant, ambitious and dismissive of “Earthers” and their place amongst the various races of the galaxy. At first Roy sees Komeitk as somewhat of a challenge; he thinks her beautiful and exotic and strives to make her see that he—and the rest of his species—are equals to the Lekthwan. As the story progresses it becomes clear that this is no mean feat and the essence of the story is that the human race is unique in character and spirit—despite being technologically behind the Lekthwans.The other race prominant in Gold and Iron is the mysterious Klau—who are at war with the Lekthwans. When Roy and Komeitk are taken prisoner by the Klau and sent to a slave world called Magarak, it is only because of the human endeavour displayed by Roy—who refuses to accept this fate—that a way back to Earth becomes a possibility. The Klau themselves and the grim slave world of Magarak are intriguing at first, but—uncharacteristic of Vance—are rather underdeveloped, which is unusual but understandable giving consideration to the date that that the novel was written.The most enjoyable part of the story is the opening section, seeing how the relationship between Roy and Komeitk develops. Unfortunately, it felt like the story lost it's way somewhat after the characters arrived on Magarak. Therefore, Gold and Iron was a slightly disappointing read; it started off strongly with an intriguing theme and cast of characters, but unfortunately, it didn't quite deliver. There was little of Vance's usual wit and characteristic world building, and instead, a large part of the story felt laboured and slightly tedious. It was still an enjoyable novel in parts, but definitely lacking that magic spark.

An early novel, I guess. The Vancean qualities are still blooming.

The story was very simple, one Terran against the slavers of the galaxy. I think this story was written a long time ago, and has not aged well.

Not sure where this book came from - I thought I knew all of his SF(ish) books but I'd never heard of this one. Slightly familiar feel to the story though, so I wonder if it's a re-write/pre-write (is there such a word?). Definitely worth reading though!