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Jack Vance
Vance, John Holbrook     (USA, 1916-2013 )
(Pseudonyms: Alan Wade; Peter Held; Ellery Queen; John Van See)
Awards:
One of the most prolific careers in Science-Fiction/Fantasy history began when John Holbrook Jack Vance was born in San Francisco on August 28, 1916. He has over 60 books to his name, including the famed Tschai and Dying Earth series . He began writing during his service in the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II and has continued through many genres and characters, while still retaining the creativity and imagination that makes him one of the best. Despite his genius, he remains largely unheralded in the U.S. Most of his books are out of print and some only remain in Dutch and French translations. The reasons for this are two. Firstly, his work does not strictly or properly classify as science-fiction, insofar as science-fiction enthusiasts are concerned. The humanity of his stories permeates deeper and more thoroughly than any fantastical element. His work simply transcends genre in its craft and execution. The second reason is his unique lack of pretentiousness. He writes neither for critical acclaim nor for the attention of the mainstream. His loyalties lie solely with his readers and their satisfaction. (His lack of self-promotion shows most evidently when one looks for biographical information.) This turn of affairs in unfortunate, for how do we come to the point when an author of such merit can be largely disregarded for his refusal to conform to an already over-milked genre? It is not often that a man of such genius also has such virtue and modesty, truly a great man of our time, though he might not say so.