/lit/ - Literature

>>10076206
No need to apologize; I thoroughly enjoy discussing Vance and have yet to find another fan in local meatspace to sperg out with.

It's truly a tough call. The Cugel books are Vance's humor at maximum density and that's probably my single favorite characteristic of his writing. The Cadwal series I consider his most thoughtful and well-rounded work. However if there is a counter ticking over somewhere, tracking my re-reads, "Clarges" is probably in the lead. It is lacking in deliciously understated humor but I find the story wonderfully engaging: perhaps because Waylock is so singleminded and self-possessed, willing to operate within convention when treated justly but remorseless when all else fails. Some of that last is because I watched "Platoon" tonight and my fresh impression is that ultimately, the individual decides justice; the system is an illusion.

Sorry, this post is longwinded, perhaps pretentious and still doesn't have what should be a simple answer. Gun-to-my-head? Cadwal. Hammer cocks back because that's three books, you rambling oaf? "Clarges".

What's yours? Oh and what led you to Vance?