The Appendix N Podcast - Episode 44 - Mazirian the Magician by Jack Vance

The Appendix N Podcast - Episode 44 - Mazirian the Magician by Jack Vance

 

How many spells can you prepare in one day? Discover the reason spell-casters in Dungeons & Dragons work differently from spell-casters in any other fantasy fiction. What’s more, get lost in the cold, enchanting beauty of Earth’s last days in the Tales of the Dying Earth.

 

www.nobleknight.com

 

John Holbrook “Jack” Vance

born August 28, 1916 in San Francisco

died May 26, 2013

 

Vance spent childhoon in San Francisco and then Oakley, CA

attended the University of California, Berkeley

weak eyesight prevented him from entering military service, but in 1943 he became a merchant marine

 

wrote the stories that would become The Dying Earth during WWII, published in 1950, Hillman Periodicals

 

Jack Vance didn’t become established as a writer until the 1970’s

won a ton of awards, including a Hugo

he also wrote mysteries and even wrote three books under the name Ellery Queen

 

Vance most often cited Jeffery Farnol as one of his influences

also P. G. Wodehouse, L. Frank Baum, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert W. Chambers and Jules Verne

George R. R. Martin edited a tribute Songs of the Dying Earth in 2009

Neil Gaiman was a fan

 

“The Dying Earth”

first collection of short stories that would become The Dying Earth series

Jack Vance himself preferred the title “Mazirian the Magician” for this first collection

published 1950, Hillman Periodicals

 

Guests:

Peter Foxhoven

website - http://www.cromcountthedead.com

 

Co-hosts:

Jeffrey Wikstrom

website - jeffwik.com

twitter - @jeff_wik

 

Geoffrey Winn

twitter - @geoffreydwinn

 

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