I never liked mandatory readings while attending High School and College, but, after I received a very good grade on a test in High School, I was privileged to get a prize. I was given directions to go to the display cabinet to view all of the prizes. I forgot some of the items I saw there, but I remembered several books on display. After a quick check at the book covers and reading some pages, for some reason, I stopped at this one particular book. But I asked myself, "why did I want to choose a book since I do not like to read". I have always been fascinated by the imaginary world of the dungeons and dragons along with all of the magic that went along with those types of stories. This book was about a magician, and since it was not mandatory to read it, I told myself "I should read this". The result - I liked it.

This is the book cover I own with the french resume written on the back of the book:

En ce vingt et unième éon, la Terre s'étiole et le Soleil pâlit chaque jour... Dans la verte vallée de l'Almery, cependant, il fait encore bon vivre et des magiciens y ont établi leur commun domaine. Alliés et rivaux à la fois, il y a là Rhialto le Merveilleux, Vermoulian, l'Arpenteur de Rêves, Tchamast l'ascète farouche, bien d'autres... Et soudain c'est l'alerte : dans les eaux, Rhialto a surpris le reflet d'un corps féminin, d'autant plus troublant qu'aucune femme ne se dressait sur la rive. Est-ce Llorio, la dangereuse sorcière qui jadis menaçait les magiciens dans leur identité, leur virilité même? Ils croyaient l'avoir vaincue... Tandis qu'ils hésitent et se querellent, Rhialto fait front de toute sa ruse, de tout son courage!

To the left and to the right are covers from english versions Jack Vance, who's real name is John Holbrook Vance, was born in San Francisco the August 28th of 1916. You can visit the Jack Vance dedicated website!