Summary
Review
My Compact Vance Integral Edition purports to have all Vances work, and it does have a number of difficult to find titles, as well as some that I simply hadn’t come across before. Son of the Tree is one of the latter, and I looked forward to reading it. It wasn’t a disappointment, though it’s also not among Vance’s best.
This is relatively early Vance, before he had perfected his signature style. Still, the story has some of his usual touches.
This is a fairly straightforward adventure story. It’s interesting, but without the weird depths of Vance’s later work. Much of what happens is too simplistic or convenient to carry much impact, and the ending is far too pat. Nonetheless, it’s an enjoyable story and a pleasant read.
For those looking to while away some time with classic SF adventure, this is worth checking out. If you’re looking for the more classic Vance, save this book for another time.
