I've finished: The Dying Earth by Jack Vance
I know this is a classic that had an influence on SFF. When I started reading I was also not aware how early in SFF history it was written.
But I cannot get over how one dimensional the characters are, or the dialogue. There is hardly any dialogue, the characters mostly make declarations rather than talk like human beings. (and don't get me going about the misogyny)
It was amazing to see the idea for The City & the City by China Miéville in a story published in 1950, but apart from some neat ideas, the level of writing is just so bad.
Mercifully it's a rather short novel, and I was able to push to the end, where the best of the 6 novelettes that make up this book awaits.
https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/98f64183-4954-47a5-89de-f27d99429319
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