Tue 31 Mar 2009
In case you missed it, there’s been a good deal of discussion in the comments following Mike Nevins’ most recent column about the possibility that Jack Vance wrote all, most or some of Ellery Queen’s Face to Face (NAL, 1967).
Mike Doran asked the question, but the possibility was first raised by George Kelley on his blog, which I recommend to you for all sorts of good reasons, including not only sound and solid discussion of books and music of all kinds, but for an abundance of cover art as well.
My own opinion regarding Face to Face, though, after reading all of the arguments, pro and con? George presents a good but non-conclusive case, but the door’s hardly closed on the matter. The possibility’s still there.
April 1st, 2009 at 3:58 am
I’m really not saying here against or for, but Vance also has a pseudonymous crime novel called TAKE MY FACE. So, it’s two novels with that word!
July 6th, 2015 at 2:02 am
It is hard to see but there were a few references to things in the prose that come from other stories. The Roman Theater appears and was in the first adventure. The judge also has the name of the fictional writer who wrote the early introductions. Of course if Vance had read those early books he could have put in those references.