Pure escapism this week – Jack Vance’s Rhialto the Marvelous (Kindle only, I am afraid). Rhialto contains three extended short stories, in each case describing the adventures of Rhialto and a small group of other wizards of the 21st aeon. Rhialto is the conceited, narcissistic and amoral anti-hero of these indescribably delightful tales in which a dozen or so powerful, selfish and conceited sorcerors battle strange foes and – chiefly – try to outwit each other in matters of society and petty politics. These are joyful, cruel and wholly original confections. Enjoy!
My NEW book The Next Fifty Things That Made the Modern Economy is out in the UK in May and available to pre-order; please consider doing so online or at your local bookshop – pre-orders help other people find the book and are a huge help.