Un Monde d'Azur

My father, who occasionally makes appearances on this blog, is a devoted reader of Jack Vance -- a prolific, stupendously talented, yet little known, science-fiction writer. He has acted on this passion in a variety of ways over the years, including volunteering (and working countless nights) as a senior editor for the Vance Integral Edition, a project whose mission was to reedit Vance's entire work, in its complete and correct version.

Recently, he was asked to translate one of Vance's novels, originally titled The Blue World, into French. What greater honor than to be asked to rewrite your favorite author's words with your own?

And the book just came out! It is called Un Monde d'Azur, it is available at a bookstore near you (well, if you're in France, that is) and of course it's fabulous and you should buy a copy.

I myself purchased a couple so he could sign them for me and Maxence: I picked one up, leafed quickly through to the page where it says Roman traduit de l'américain par Patrick Dusoulier, and felt my heart burst with pride. I looked around for someone to share this with, I wanted to go and tell the salesguy ("C'est mon papa!") but -- ahem -- I refrained and simply walked on a cloud to the register.

(And for those of you who are looking for a connection with this blog's main topic, you will be pleased to know that there actually is one, since the story involves a deep sea monster with a rather large appetite. So there.)

Félicitations Papa!