The Blue World

The Blue World

Infobox Book |
name = The Blue World
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = cover illustration from paperback edition
author = Jack Vance
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series =
genre = Science fiction novel
publisher = Ballantine
release_date = 1966
media_type = Print (paperback)
pages = 190 pp
isbn = NA
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"The Blue World" is a science fiction adventure novel written by Jack Vance. The novel is based on Vance’s earlier novella "The Kragen", which appeared in the July 1964 edition of Fantastic Stories of Imagination. [ [http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?8157] Internet Speculative Fiction Database]

Plot Summary

Sklar Hast, the protagonist, had achieved a measure of success and prosperity by passing his examination to be a “Hoodwink”, or semaphore tower operator – a prestigious position on the Blue World, a planet with no land at all. During the space of twelve generations, the descendents of a crashed prison ship have created a civilization on the water-covered planet through reliance on a huge sea plant for all of their needs. However, they are always at the mercy of the kragen, giant, squid-like predators which roam the ocean. The colonists can communicate with the biggest of these, King Kragen, and must appease him with sacrifices organized by an entrenched quasi-religious priesthood built up over generations.

However, when Sklar questions the need to continue to worship these predators, King Kragen appears, wrecks his home and kills his mentor. Rather than regard this as divine punishment, Sklar suspects that the conservative priesthood has enough control over King Kragen to kill those who oppose their views, and to thus uphold their privileged status.

Can he convince his fellow citizens that they must kill King Kragen in order to be free? If so, how can they do it in a world without any solid objects to make weapons?

Literary Significance

The Blue World was nominated for the Nebula Award, science-fiction’s post prestigious literary award in 1966. It was also a preliminary nominee for the Prometheus Award for “Best Classic Libertarian SF Novel” in 1988, 1994, 1995 and 1996. [ [http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?8157] Internet Speculative Fiction Database]

References

*cite book | last=Underwood | first=Tim | coauthors =Chuck Miller | title=Jack Vance | location=New York | publisher=Taplinger Publishing Company | pages=228 | date=1980 | isbn=0-8008-4295-2

External links

* [http://www.jackvance.com/ Jack Vance home page and archive]
*

Notes


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