Emphyrio
A young man overturns the foundations of his world.
Emphyrio is a science fiction adventure novel by American author Jack Vance. It follows a young man who upends the entire structure of his society.
Ghyl Tarvoke grows up on the planet Halma with his father, Amiante. Their world is ruled by two hundred lords, whose ancestors arrived 1,500 years earlier and rebuilt a war-ravaged planet. In exchange, they were granted a one percent tax. Later, all mass manufacturing was banned, and the people became artisans, selling their handmade goods exclusively to a single company owned by the lords. Amiante is a master woodcarver, and his son learns the trade.
When Ghyl is eight, he attends a puppet show featuring the traditional legend of Emphyrio, a heroic figure. The show’s owner points out a young girl in the audience, telling Ghyl she is a lord’s daughter. Later, Ghyl and a friend sneak aboard a space yacht out of curiosity and are caught by the same girl, who has them beaten and thrown out.
As Ghyl grows older, he notices his father’s discontent with their society’s restrictions. Twice, Amiante is caught illegally copying ancient documents. The second time, he is taken away for four days. After his release, his personality is drastically altered, and he soon dies.
Years later, Ghyl attends a ball and meets the girl again, now an attractive young woman. He learns her name is Shanne, and they become lovers that night. She tells him she is leaving soon to travel to the stars.
An ambitious and unscrupulous acquaintance named Nion convinces Ghyl and three others to hijack a space yacht and hold the passengers for ransom. The plan works only because Ghyl knows the departure date and the ship—the same one he sneaked onto years before—that Shanne is leaving on. No ransom is paid. When Ghyl wants to release the captives, Nion and Ghyl’s childhood friend Floriel violently oppose him, leading to several deaths. They reach a tense compromise: Ghyl is left on a planet with the lords, while Nion and Floriel take the ship.
Ghyl guides the lords to civilization, but their odd behavior puzzles him. Two are killed by local creatures when they ignore his warnings. After reaching a town, he slips away before they can have him arrested. By chance, he spots one of his father’s works in a shop. He learns it is a reproduction; the original is in a museum.
- Author
- Jack Vance
- Nationality
- American
- Field
- Science fiction
- Genre
- Adventure novel
- Protagonist
- Ghyl Tarvoke
- Setting
- Planet Halma
Lore & Background
Ghyl Tarvoke grows up on the planet Halma with his father Amiante. Their people are ruled by two hundred lords whose forefathers arrived 1500 years earlier and rebuilt a world devastated by many wars. In return, they were granted a 1% tax. Later, all mass manufacturing was outlawed and the people became artisans, selling their handmade work to a single company controlled by the lords. Amiante is a master woodcarver, and his son follows in his trade. When he is eight, Ghyl attends a puppet show; part of the entertainment is the traditional drama of Emphyrio, a legendary hero. The proprietor points out a young girl in the audience and informs the boy that she is the daughter of a lord. Some time later, he and a friend sneak aboard a space yacht out of curiosity and are caught by the same girl. She has them beaten and thrown out. As time passes, Ghyl comes to realize that his father is dissatisfied with the constraints of their society. Twice, Amiante is caught by the authorities illegally duplicating ancient documents; the second time, he is taken away for four days. His personality is greatly changed, and soon after his release, he dies.
Reader's Guide
Emphyrio is considered one of Jack Vance's better novels and a good introduction to his work. It displays hallmarks of his mature style: elegant writing, vivid depiction of local colour, and unusual social systems. The novel lacks the humour often present in Vance, making it one of his more melancholy books. Joanna Russ found it 'a fine book,' praising Vance's perfectly controlled tone and comparing it to a Brechtian Verfremdungseffekt. The story explores themes of oppression, rebellion, and hidden history, as Ghyl Tarvoke uncovers the true relationship between the lords and the alien Damarans, ultimately using that knowledge to force the lords to leave Halma. The novel's legacy lies in its intricate world-building and its critique of exploitative social structures.
Did You Know?
- The novel's title refers to a legendary hero whose traditional drama is performed as part of a puppet show.
- Ghyl Tarvoke's father Amiante is a master woodcarver who is caught twice illegally duplicating ancient documents.
- Ghyl learns the true history of Halma by visiting the Historical Institute on Earth.
- The alien Damarans were forced to abandon Halma by spacefaring invaders and later struck back with bred warriors.
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