The Dying Earth is a collection of science fantasy/fantasy short fiction by American writer Jack Vance, published by Hillman in 1950. Vance returned to the setting in 1965 and thereafter, making it the first book in the Dying Earth series. It was retitled Mazirian the Magician in the Vance Integral Edition (2005), according to Jack Vance's expressed preference. The Internet Speculative Fiction Database calls it a "slightly connected series of stories" but it was ranked number 16 of 33 "All Time Best Fantasy Novels" by Locus in 1987, based on a poll of subscribers. Similarly, it was one of five finalists for the Best Novel "Retro Hugo" in 2001 when the World Science Fiction Society provided 50th anniversary recognition for a publication year without Hugo Awards.

Contents

Setting

During a far future time, the Sun nears the end its life. The sky ranges from pink to deep blue, lit by a dim red Sun, and strange plants and animals exist. Much of the book is set within the forested country of Ascolais and in the ruined cities covering the landscape. The setting is marked by the presence of ancient ruins and other fragments of decayed civilizations. The human population is shrinking. Most live in structures built long ago, in varying degrees of ruin, squalor, or luxury. Many also make use of magic (or in some cases, technology) which was created long ago but which they no longer understand. Characters often make carefree, nihilistic references to the fact that their planet does not have much longer to live. (It is not specified how much longer the planet has left.) Many of the important people in Ascolais are magicians. They use magic by memorizing lengthy formulas for spells and activating them by speaking the proper commands. Once cast, the spell formula is forgotten, requiring the wizard to reread and re-memorize them. Because even talented magicians can only memorize and must "load" a handful of spells, they also have to rely on relics and their other talents for protection. There are only one hundred spells which are still known to mankind, of thousands which were discovered over the course of history. Pandelume implies that "magic" has a scientific origin; many spells were invented through the use of mathematics. Regardless of this, it appears that purely supernatural powers exist as well.

Characters

Title characters

Other characters

Places

Creatures of the Dying Earth

Influence on Dungeons and Dragons

The Dying Earth was featured in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master’s Guide under Appendix N: Literature as one of the works that were read during the development of the game system. The designer, Gary Gygax, also credited the novel with being the inspiration for the magic system, which he called "Vancian".