Jack Vance

Earth is a decadent world older than memory, the bloated red sun soon to wink out forever. Through ruined cities, fantastical palaces, and shadow-haunted forests, dueling wizards, a heartless highwayman, a pair of lovers doomed to be a demon's playthings, a brave swordsman sent on a hopeless quest, and a beautiful …

Night Lamp is a science fiction adventure novel by Jack Vance. It follows an orphan named Jaro Fath on his quest to learn where he came from.