JACK VANCE, IN MEMORIAM: 1916 - 2013

[DainBramaged]

Jack (John Holbrook) Vance passed away Sunday, May 26 at the age of 96. Jack died peacefully in his sleep in his home in Oakland, California.

Jack Vance was an American mystery, fantasy and science fiction author. Vance's oeuvre spans more 50 novels and 100 short stories. Most of his work has been published under the name Jack Vance. He published 11 mysteries as John Holbrook Vance and 3 as Ellery Queen. Other pen names (each used only once) included Alan Wade, Peter Held, John van See, and Jay Kavanse.

Among his awards are: Hugo Awards, in 1963 for The Dragon Masters, in 1967 for The Last Castle, and in 2010 for his memoir This is Me, Jack Vance!; a Nebula Award in 1966, also for The Last Castle; the Jupiter Award in 1975; the World Fantasy Award in 1984 for life achievement and in 1990 for Lyonesse: Madouc; an Edgar (the mystery equivalent of the Nebula) for the best first mystery novel in 1961 for The Man in the Cage; in 1992, he was Guest of Honor at the WorldCon in Orlando, Florida; and in 1997 he was named a SFWA Grand Master. A 2009 profile in the New York Times Magazine described Vance as "one of American literature’s most distinctive and undervalued voices."

Vance's last novel, the autobiography "This is Me, Jack Vance!", was released in the summer of 2009. In this book Vance gives us an intimate and fascinating glimpse into his rich and eventful life. Vance calls it "more of a landscape than a self-portrait -- or at least a ramble across the landscape that has been my life."

Jack Vance spent his 'post-writing' years making jazz music, he even released an entire jazz-album only two months ago, and kept abreast of what went on in the world (science, politics, general news) with a keen and honest interest in a steady stream of visitors and admirers.

Even though Jack will live on through his work, he will be sorely missed. If you'd like to leave your thoughts, then please


http://www.jackvance.com/jackvance_05262013/

[FSogol]

1. One of the true greats in both sci fi and fantasy. RIP, Mr. Vance.

If you haven't read:

• The Dying Earth (collection of linked stories, 1950)
• The Eyes of the Overworld (novel, 1966)
• Cugel's Saga (novel, 1983)
• Rhialto the Marvellous (three linked stories, 1984)

• Lyonesse series: Suldrun's Garden • The Green Pearl • Madouc
• The Cadwal Chronicles: Araminta Station • Ecce & Old Earth • Throy

Then shame on you.

Anyone read his short story, "The Moon Moth?" Probably my favorite by him and contains one of the most alien cultures ever described in science fiction.

[Codeine]

2. Without Mr. Vance's works the world of Dungeons and Dragons would be a very different place. nt

[onehandle]

5. Yep. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. My lord. I read quite a bit of his work

[onehandle]

4. Been a long time since I even thought of his name.

Farewell.

[JCMach1]

6. loved the Lyonesse books...

[hrmjustin]

7. May he rest in peace and may his work live on.

[starroute]

8. One of the last of the SF old-timers

I think that only leaves Fred Pohl of the over-90 contingent. All the other writers that I grew up reading are gone.

[DainBramaged]

15. All of my SF heroes of my youth are gone

Years ago before my Mom died we had a yard sale at her house which included my boxes of SF paperbacks from the 60's.


No one paid any attention to them, neatly laid out spines up, with that faded look paperbacks of that era got. We left them at the door of the town public library that weekend, where I first learned the beauty of books around 1st grade. Hopefully, one kid got enjoyment from my treasures.


All of my heroes are gone.......

[bemildred]

9. So long Jack.

I read many of your books with pleasure.

[SamReynolds]

11. Reading Jack Vance WILL improve your use of the English language.

Just be sure to keep a thesaurus handy when you read him.

[friendly_iconoclast]

12. I still have a copy of the August 1962, issue of Galaxy Magazine, bought nearly 40 years ago...

...when it was just another old pulp magazine that I picked up for 50 cents or so.
You'll note that it not only features "The Dragon Masters", it also has the classic Frederik Pohl story "Three Portraits And A Prayer"



Farewell, Mr. Vance

[First Speaker]

13. I have original copies of all the Demon Princes novels...

...terrific stuff. He was a unique writer, and will be missed. Another piece of America's Pop Culture Golden Age gone... ...

[Canuckistanian]

14. Never knew of his work

But he sounds like he was an interesting person.

A Science fiction writer AND a jazz musician? I'll have to look into his creations.