The Languages of Pao (1957)

by Jack Vance

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Members	Reviews	Popularity	Average rating	Mentions
377	6	25,933	(3.54)	9

Add to your library

Add to wishlist

all members

▾Members

Recently added by

randys_bookbuzz, pinax, JimGray, lexxnet1972, Mort1962, Candiss, BMorrisAllen, lottpoet, Waldkauz

numbers

show all

▾Tags

1957 (3) 1958 (2) 20th century (3) Ace (2) American (2) argonauta (2) book (2) conlang (2) DAW (3) ebook (3) fantasy (6) fiction (33) Jack Vance (8) language (5) linguistics (15) mmpb (2) novel (12) paperback (4) pb (3) read (5) science fiction (107) sf (62) sfbooks (2) sff (11) space opera (3) speculative fiction (3) to-read (4) unread (7) Vance (8) wishlist (2)

▾LibraryThing recommendations

The gray prince by Jack Vance (1974)
The Five Gold Bands by Jack Vance (1980)
To Live Forever by Jack Vance (1976)
The Weapon Shops of Isher by A. E. Van Vogt (1969)
Same series: The Weapon Makers (Empire of Isher)
The Sword of Rhiannon by Leigh Brackett (1953)

The book of Ptath by A. E. Van Vogt (1947)
Fury by Henry Kuttner (1954)
The Mixed Men by A. E. Van Vogt (1962)
The Seedling Stars by James Blish (1959)
The Rebel Worlds by Poul Anderson (1969)

see more recommendations for this work

refresh

▾Member recommendations

30
Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany (burschik)
burschik: If you are interested in the linguistics, that is.

▾Will you like it?

▾Member reviews

English (5) Dutch (1) All languages (6)

date ▼ | votes

Showing 5 of 5

Very interesting novel, with the easy majesty of Vance's descriptive writing and a well thought out plot hinging entirely on the form and use of language. Not the normal space fare, compromise features prominently--characters using patience and compromise? How speculative is that!? (

)

thesmellofbooks | Aug 27, 2012 |

http://speculiction.blogspot.com/2011/12/review-of-languages-of-pao-by-jack.html (

)

HanJie | Mar 31, 2012 |

This is classic Jack Vance, which we all love. But the fame attached to this book comes from its unique subject matter. This is perhaps the best SF book ever written concerning linguistics and constructed languages. It is a deep and penetrating study of the intersection of culture, politics, and language at the heart of civilization. A great read. (

)

kurvanas | Apr 2, 2008 |

http://yet.org/2007/04/les_langages_de_pao.html (

)

planetrobbie | Feb 8, 2008 |

Should be required reading for all linguistics and political science majors. (

)

Bestine | Mar 28, 2006 |

date ▼ | votes

Showing 5 of 5

▾Published reviews

no reviews | add a review

▾Other authors

» Add other authors (3 possible)

Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Jack Vance	—	primary author	all editions	confirmed
Kresak, Larry	Cover artist	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Morrow, Gray	Cover artist	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Van Dongen, Henry R.	Cover artist	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

▾Work-to-work relationships

Is contained in

The Languages of Pao and The Dragon Masters by Jack Vance

The Jack Vance Reader by Jack Vance

De drakenruiters - De talen van Pao, Grote Planeet by Jack Vance

view history

▾Common Knowledge

You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.

For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.

Series (with order)

Canonical title

Original title

Alternative titles

Original publication date

1957

People/Characters

Important places

Important events

Related movies

Awards and honors

Bloomsbury's 100 Must-Read Science Fiction Novels

Epigraph

Dedication

First words

Quotations

Last words

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

Publisher series

DAW Book Collectors (389)

▾References

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English

None

▾LibraryThing members' description

Book description

Haiku summary

▾Book descriptions

Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0743487141, Paperback)

The Panarch of Pao is dead and Beran Panasper, his young son and heir, must flee the planet to live and avenge his father's death. It is at the secret fortress on the planet Breakness that Beran discovers the dreaded truth behind the assassination of his father-and much more. The people of Pao are a docile lot, content to live in harmony with the rest of the cosmos, but the scientists at Breakness seek to alter the psychology of the Paonese for their own purpose-and Beran holds the key to their audacious plan. Beran will return to Pao, transforming his home world beyond his teacher's wildest dreams. But though he has been fashioned into a man of Breakness, Beran's heart is of Pao. And he brings to his world the seeds of change that will save Pao...or destroy it.

(retrieved from Amazon Sat, 05 Jan 2013 02:17:15 -0500)

(see all 4 descriptions)

▾Library descriptions

No library descriptions found.