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Summary

Two vintage stories from the 1950s by science-fiction Grand Master Jack Vance, who wrote stories of adventure, detection, horror, and humor.
Public Domain (P)2010 Wonder Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"'Worlds of Origin': A mystery novel and a fine example of Vance's trademark imagination with worlds and customs of alien origin. No less than a dozen wholly unique Vance worlds come to light during Magnus Ridolphs' inquiry into the mysterious death of a man on a space-station retreat. 'The Men Return': [A] completely alien earth where our universal rule of cause and effect no longer has any meaning and only the insane flourish in the new dynamics." (Amazon reviewer "Coriolous")

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Joel D Offenberg
  • Joel D Offenberg
  • 18-03-10

Oddities from Jack Vance

Two somewhat odd stories from Jack Vance.

"Worlds of Origin" is a funny sort of sci-fi mystery story. The lead character, Mangus Ridolph, is asked to find out who committed a murder in a space hotel. The mystery revolves around the psychology of the suspects, and their native cultures. Ridolph's character is interesting as are the invented societies of the suspects....

"The Men Return" describes a surrealistic future world (Earth?) where the laws of physics and causality have been temporarily suspended. The few surviving humans are struggling to survive in a fatally irrational world.

The two stories are not interconnected or related to each other (except their common authorship).

Tim Rowe's narration is good without being great.

In conclusion: I liked these stories (and I would like to see more Mangus Ridolph stories on Audible...nudge, nudge) but they might not be everyone's cup of tea.

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Profile Image for ozgribbo
  • ozgribbo
  • 11-01-13

Short Sci-Fi

Two very good short stories. I am sure Magnus Ridulph has appeared elsewhere in Jack Vance's work but can't place him. Tim Rowe has a good voice for general narration, but I don't think he put enough feeling or differentiation into voicing the characters. Nevertheless, very interesting and not readily available in book form.

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Profile Image for Maarten
  • Maarten
  • 30-07-12

finally the good old vance stories

Where does The Men Return & Worlds of Origin rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

this is a class of its own, I used to read them when I was young, and loved to be in his colorful and real other worlds.

Have you listened to any of Tim Rowe’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I haven't, but its well read