''The Anome'' (alternative title: ''The Faceless Man'') is a

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

novel A novel is an extended work of narrative fiction usually written in prose and published as a book. The word derives from the for 'new', 'news', or 'short story (of something new)', itself from the , a singular noun use of the neuter plural of ...

by American writer

Jack Vance John Holbrook Vance (August 28, 1916 – May 26, 2013) was an American mystery, fantasy, and science fiction writer. He also wrote several mystery novels under pen names, including Ellery Queen. Vance won the World Fantasy Award for Life Ach ...

, first published in 1973 (

copyright A copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the exclusive legal right to copy, distribute, adapt, display, and perform a creative work, usually for a limited time. The creative work may be in a literary, artistic, ...

1971); it is the first book in the Durdane series of novels.

Plot summary

''The Anome'' follows a young boy as he comes of age in the land of Shant, a fragmented society composed of diverse and often eccentric

canton Canton may refer to: Administrative divisions * Canton (administrative division), territorial/administrative division in some countries * Township (Canada), known as ''canton'' in Canadian French Arts and entertainment * Canton (band), an It ...

ssome ruled by

cult Cults are social groups which have unusual, and often extreme, religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals. Extreme devotion to a particular person, object, or goal is another characteristic often ascribed to cults. The term ...

s. Every adult in Shant is required to wear an

explosive An explosive (or explosive material) is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure. An ex ...

collar or

torc A torc, also spelled torq or torque, is a large rigid or stiff neck ring in metal, made either as a single piece or from strands twisted together. The great majority are open at the front, although some have hook and ring closures and a few hav ...

, which can be remotely detonated, causing instant death by decapitation. These torcs are controlled by a mysterious and

anonymous Anonymous may refer to: * Anonymity, the state of an individual's identity, or personally identifiable information, being publicly unknown ** Anonymous work, a work of art or literature that has an unnamed or unknown creator or author * Anonym ...

ruler known only as the Anome. Although the Anome has absolute power over life and death, actual enforcement is largely delegated to local canton leaders, who decide who should be executed for breaking their laws. The Anome is able to govern with only a few aides, called 'Benevolences', none of whom know the ruler's true identity.

References

External links

Cover art at the author's official website
1971 American novels 1971 science fiction novels Novels by Jack Vance Novels set on fictional planets Dell Publishing books {{1970s-sf-novel-stub

Plot summary

See also

References

External links