It is the magic; spells and systems, which make Vance new. The questing junior magician with limited spells - but powerful spells (suck as the expansible egg in

It is the magic; spells and systems, which make Vance new. The questing junior magician with limited spells - but powerful spells (suck as the expansible egg in which he sleeps) - finds a powerful older vat-wizard who is growing creatures in tubs, and the junior falls for one of the creations. The other major magic system of Vance is that of the elementals or demons (Sandestines and Daihaks) - taken from mythologies. Couldn't be more different than "The Time Machine". Vance is amazing, read him if you at all like the magic of D&D.