Strange People, Queer Notions

“Strange People, Queer Notions” pretty much encapsulates Vance's writing, but this is one of his mysteries, not SFF. It's unusual for Vance in that it's told in the first person, and of course it doesn't have some of his more outre elements. It does, however, have a Vance standard in a clever, resourceful protagonist who is, through no fault of his own, accused of ill deeds. It's an appealing mystery with a large, but interesting cast in a Ten Little Niggers/Ten Little Indians/[b:And Then There Were None|16299|And Then There Were None|Agatha Christie|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1316131101s/16299.jpg|3038872] setting.

One of the unfortunate things about Vance, whose writing I otherwise love, is that while writing about weird, quirky people who should mostly be let alone, he's not actually very tolerant. Much like Agatha Christie's story is weakened by its original, dated title, Ten Little Niggers, Vance's story is weakened by attitudes whose time (so to speak) has passed. There's a good deal of negativity about homosexuality, but while much of the language is offensive, there are also characters who show a much more tolerant and even welcoming attitude.

The ending of the book, however, is harder to take. With some misgivings, I was enjoying the story. The nature of the ending was clear from a fair ways off. The description that's used, however, I found hard to take. It's a shame, because the story is otherwise interesting, well written, and a welcome look at another side of Vance. As is, I can't recommend it to other than true Vance afficionados.

CVIE vol III