it's hard to describe the plot of this one as it almost doesn't have one. there is a loose connection between events but it's verging on plotless. the..Show More »re are several characters (with some great fun names as in Star Well) and Villiers and Torv are just 2 of the ensemble. things come together at the end and i started thinking about Confederacy of Dunces by Toole and the way several characters story lines mesh at end, and also oddly enough of Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow with some of the odd events and characters that pop up. i would have to say i am enjoying the light style which is still erudite with it's language and references, but to say that the actual plot enthralled me is not really applicable. it's verging also on not even being scifi as much of what happens could occur in any setting. on to Masque World.

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while i like the writing style and enjoyed the tone of the novel, I do think that Star Well is the best of this set and the only one I can really reco..Show More »mmend. there is a point at which there is very little actual scifi going on and it is mainly about the characters etc which is fine, but there is also a bit of the diminishing return aspect too, as the story line gets to be hard to follow because there isn't much that can be pointed to as plot/action etc. like the writer though and so will try Rite of Passage again, liked it very much when I read it long ago. I would listen to SW again some time, but probably wouldn't continue with these 2 sequels. Too bad Panshin didn't publish the 4th in this set, Universal Pantograph, as I would like to see where that went. There is so much i like about this set, but still wish Thurb, and Masque had a little more Star Well action and plot in them.

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