I went searching for some of the roots of Dungeons and Dragons and did not come away disappointed. It's not just the system of magic you find in Vance's Dying Earth books, but the weird locales and odd creatures. The book reads very much like early modules.

This was my fifth Vance book in a row. While I respect his imagination and ability to paint a picture I did realize his characters are are pretty flat. They are immature, selfish, and psychopathic across the board. Most of them are fairly childish in their thoughts and actions. I wouldn't go so far as to say that this is a problem, but it definitely becomes apparent when you're on a steady diet of Vance.

I really like that the book(s) take place on an Earth so far in the future that the sun is about to 'go out'. There's something evocative about the implied history of the planet and the cultures and people that are there at the end. It's difficult to describe why, but it definitely fires up your imagination.