THE DEMON PRINCES, VOL. I

The first three books (originally published in 196467) of Vance's superb space opera series (the subject of an October 15, 1995, Kirkus editorial), presenting the related yet independent novels The Star King, The Killing Machine, and The Palace of Love. These are rare, rattling adventures, with fearsome villains, damsels in distress, and swashbuckling avengers, but there are more subtle delights to be found, too: One can linger with Smade of Smade's Tavern, meet Navarth the mad poet, or ponder the ``Scroll from the Ninth Dimension.'' A writer of many remarkable qualities, here Vance displays his considerable ability to render imaginary worlds so compellingly that, by comparison, reality itself seems wan and insubstantial. Sublime examples of the master storyteller's art.