| In the previous three novels in Jack Vance's science fiction series, castaway Adam Reith has had dealings with three of the four sentient alien species that inhabit the planet Tschai in his attempts to return to Earth. In The Pnume, he faces the fourth.
Reith is building a starship with the forced cooperation of his prisoner, the treacherous Aila Woudiver. Somehow, however, Woudiver has him kidnapped and sold to the Pnume, the secretive native race of Tschai. Though he manages to free himself before the Pnume take delivery (for their Museum of Foreverness), Reith finds himself trapped in the worldwide Pnume underground complex. He manages to steal a copy of the Master Charts, which show every tunnel, chamber, exit, etc. He kidnaps a Pnumekin (human slave of the Pnume) woman named Zap 210 to interpret the charts for him. They embark on a long, dangerous journey to an exit back to the surface. On their trek back to the spaceship, they become lovers. When Zap 210 is captured by the Pnume, Reith secures her release and freedom for all the Pnumekin in exchange for his assurance that the Master Charts will not be given to their enemies. Then he and his companions set out for Earth. | ||
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Plot & Themes FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes Explore: Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Descript. of chases or violence - 50 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 10 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20 % Main Character Identity: - Male Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Setting A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - unfriendly aliens Planet outside solar system? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed Sex in book? Yes What kind of sex: - vague references only - descript of kissing How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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