- Gaean Reach
The Gaean Reach is an informal grouping of a number of
science fiction books by authorJack Vance .It is pertinent to note that Vance himself has never categorized his books in this manner.
The Gaean Reach is a period set in an indeterminate time in the future and spans several centuries, if not millennia. Actual dates are given in the early books of the
Demon Princes series, but not in the others. The human collective nation in the Demon Princes is the "Oikumene", which may be well seen as a precursor or variant to the Gaean Reach. The three Alastor books make mention of the Reach, as does the Cadwal Chronicles sequence, which in turn contains multiple Demon Princes references, thus indirectly linking them in as well. Singleton works are included, such as "Emphyrio " and possibly "The Gray Prince ".Vance's most recent books--"
Night Lamp ", "Ports of Call " and the recently released "Lurulu "--are Gaean Reach.Essentially mankind has colonised many worlds with freely flowing trade and travel between most. Some of these worlds are advanced and cosmopolitan, such as Alphanor, others, like Thamber, are the home of shipwrecked and forgotten people, who have reverted to
feudalism .Some, like Wyst, of "" are undeniably strange in their culture and methods.
The "
Planet of Adventure " series has a superficial resemblance to the Gaean Reach, but is not considered as such. The same goes for other singleton works like "Slaves of the Klau ", "Showboat World ", "Space Opera", etc.
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