Book review: Jack Vance's Lurulu (published 2004)

I can sum this book up in a phrase: Some space merchants go on an extended pub-crawl across the Galaxy.

His 'writing' is simply to imagine every possible thing that could occur in a pub, over 230 pages of deep-space pub visiting.

One pub has a pretty serving maid, another has dancing, prancing inn-dwellers, there are strange cocktails to be found, decrepit rooms, arguments over the bill, etc.

The ending, however, is shocking and very good.

Let's not forget the Mouse-Riders, where the 2 boss-women tell Moncrief they want their money, again and again, yet Moncrief says at one point "I wasn't aware I owed you any money".

If you read Ports of Call, read this. If you haven't, read Ports of Call then this, and be aware of that shock ending.