Songs of the Dying Earth cover art

Songs of the Dying Earth

Stories in Honor of Jack Vance

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Songs of the Dying Earth

By: Gardner Dozois - editor, George R. R. Martin - editor/author
Narrated by: Arthur Morey
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About this listen

Jack Vance was a seminal figure in the development of modern fantasy - so much so that it's nearly impossible to imagine the genre as we know it today without him. In the course of his more than 50-year career, he has published dozens of major novels, as well as collections filled with marvelously crafted stories, winning the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, the Edgar Award, the Grand Master Award from the Science Fiction Writers of America, and several World Fantasy Awards, including the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.

Vance's masterpiece, The Dying Earth, may be the most influential fantasy novel of the 20th century, surpassed only by J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. It has not only inspired several generations of fantasy writers, from Gene Wolfe and Michael Moorcock to Neil Gaiman and George R.R. Martin, but its influence has reached deep into the realms of graphic novels, comics, fantasy role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, and even computer gaming.

The anthology Songs of the Dying Earth has assembled one of the most distinguished casts of authors ever - including Dan Simmons, Neil Gaiman, George R. R. Martin, Paula Volsky, Mike Resnick, Robert Silverberg, Lucius Shepard, Tad Williams, Tanith Lee, Liz Williams, Glen Cook, and eleven other famous writers - to write stories in honor of the genius of Jack Vance, stories using the bizarre and darkly beautiful far future setting of the Dying Earth, near the very end of Earth's lifespan, where mighty wizards duel with spells of dreadful potency under a waning and almost burnt-out red sun, and adventurers and cutpurses strive to hoodwink and out-trick each other in haunted forests full of demons and monsters strange almost beyond comprehension.

Authors include George R. R. Martin (editor and author), Gardner Dozois (editor), Dan Simmons, Neil Gaiman, Paula Volsky, Mike Resnick, Robert Silverberg, Lucius Shepard, Tanith Lee, Liz Williams, Jeff VanderMeer, Kage Baker, Elizabeth Moon, Elizabeth Hand, Walter Jon Williams, Howard Waldrop, John C. Wright, and Glen Cook. Preface by Jack Vance.

©2009 George R. R. Martin (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.
Anthologies & Short Stories Fantasy Fiction Science Fiction
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What listeners say about Songs of the Dying Earth

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

As a Big JV Fan I thought I would give this a try

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No, I stopped after half-way through the 4th story. Yes, they were written in the context and followed JV, but the material just wasn't good. Started off good, but then quickly became amateurish.

What will your next listen be?

I moved onto Stephen Fry's Sherlock Homes, which were really good.

What does Arthur Morey bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

The richness of his storytelling helped, but the quality of the stories let him down

Did Songs of the Dying Earth inspire you to do anything?

No, apart from check the contributors more carefully next time.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very Strong Collection

Great collection with solid narration and set in the enticing and fantastic Dying Earth world

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A worthy version of a fun anthology.

Great writers give their homage to one of the most inspiring SF&F writer of the 20th century.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Songs of the Dying Earth

While I really enjoyed the stories which were written by some of my favorite Authors, it was largely spoilt by the poor narration and was more of monotone drone than anything else, unfortunatley I have another Jack Vance audio book waiting by the same narrator, it's been put to the back of the pile until I can steel myself to listed to him again.
While the stories rated 4 stars the narrator rated 1star in my opinion.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

For all lovers of Jack Vance

I learned to love Vance's quirky writing through Durdane, The Demon Princes (which I must have read some fifteen times) and Planet of Adventure. I came late to The Dying Earth through an original Lancer owned by my Dad. This collection is a wonderful and fitting tribute to an imaginative and mould breaking author. If you like his work - get this. Some fine authors working hard to extend and broaden a fantastic world. Each story has an afterword where the authors talk about how Vance influenced then. Very interesting.

Well narrated.

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1 person found this helpful