Earth is a decadent world older than memory, the bloated red sun soon to wink out forever. Thief, vagabond, liar and cheat, hapless Cugel the Clever goes too far when he seeks to rob Iucounu, the Laughing Magician. Transported across the sea to a faraway land, Cugel must return with a pair of lenses that show visions of paradise. With curses and schemes, Cugel makes the long journey back to the wizard's manse, determined to wreak revenge. No one ever outdid Jack Vance in the creation of rogues and ramblers. Cugel the Clever, originally published as Eyes of the Overworld, is the Grandmaster at the top of his form. - Matt Hughes

Cugel the Clever is Volume 27 of the Spatterlight Press Signature Series.Released in the centenary of the author's birth, this handsome new collectionis based upon the prestigious Vance Integral Edition. Select volumes enjoyup-to-date maps, and many are graced with freshly-written forewords contributedby a distinguished group of authors. Each book bears a facsimile of theauthor's signature and a previously-unpublished photograph, chosen from family archives for the period the book was written. These uniquefeatures will be appreciated by all, from seasoned Vance collector to new reader sampling the spectrum of this author's influential work forthe first time. - John Vance II