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 …

Maske: Thaery is a 1976 science fiction novel by Jack Vance set in his Gaean Reach milieu.