Jack Vance

Also known as John H. Vance, John Holbrook Vance

American mystery and speculative fiction writer (1916–2013)

Person · Open Library

Born: 28 August 1916
Died: 26 May 2013
Works: 369

Top works

Histoires de la Fin des Temps
Tales from Super-Science Fiction
The 13 crimes of science fiction
Herrscher von Lyonesse
Green Pearl Tr

via Open Library + Wikidata

Film & TV

Acting

Known for

Prisoners of Gravity — Self1989
The Criminal Code — Reporter1931

via TMDB

Music · MusicBrainz

Type: Person
Gender: Male
Country: United States
Active from: 1916
Active to: 2013

via MusicBrainz · CC0

Listeners · Last.fm

Listeners: 139
Total plays: 2,942

via Last.fm · Jack Vance

Recent publications · Crossref

5 total works indexed

A simple method for displaying the hydropathic character of a protein
· 1982 · cited 18,568x
Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
· 2020 · cited 15,355x
Accurate structure prediction of biomolecular interactions with AlphaFold 3
· 2024 · cited 13,307x
The diagnosis of dementia due to Alzheimer's disease: Recommendations from the National Institute on Aging‐Alzheimer's Association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease
· 2011 · cited 13,244x
APACHE II
· 1985 · cited 13,171x

via Crossref · CC0

Quotes

“The less a writer discusses his work—and himself—the better. The master chef slaughters no chickens in the dining room; the doctor writes prescriptions in Latin; the magician hides his hinges, mirrors, and trapdoors with the utmost care.”
“Gambling, in the ultimate study, stems from the passive, the submissive, the irresponsible in human nature; the gambler is one of an inferior lickspittle breed who turns himself belly-upward to the capricious deeds of Luck. Examine now the man of strength and action: he is never led by destiny. He drives on a decided course, manipulates the variables, and instead of submitting to the ordained shape of his life, creates a pattern to his own design.”
““Legality is the mathematics of social conduct,” said Magnus Ridolph. “It is equally as cogent as the mathematics of probability.””
“I suppose if you isolate yourself to such an extent, you more or less must expect a series of emergencies.”
“I can now report that the mathematics of the multiple focus are a most improbable thicket, and the useful service I enforced upon what I must call an absurd set of contradictions is one of my secrets. I know that thousands of scientists, at home and abroad, are attempting to duplicate my work; they are welcome to the effort. None will succeed. Why do I speak so positively? That is my other secret.”
“We’ll rack our brains and either solve your problem or come up come up with new and better ones.”

via Wikiquote · CC BY-SA

Key facts

Born: John Holbrook Vance , ( 1916-08-28 ) August 28, 1916, San Francisco , California , U.S.
Died: May 26, 2013 (2013-05-26) (aged 96), Oakland, California , U.S.
Occupation: Writer
Period: 1950–2009 (books)
Genre: Fantasy , science fiction, mystery
Notable works: Dying Earth
Notable awards: Hugo Award , 1963, 1967, 2010 , Nebula Award , 1967 , and career honors

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Official website: www.jackvance.com
Image: Jack Vance Boat Skipper.jpg

Show 7 more facts

Commons category: Jack Vance
date of birth: 1916-08-28
date of death: 2013-05-26
birth name: John Holbrook Vance
nickname: Jack Vance
pseudonym: Alan Wade
name in native language: John Holbrook Vance

Sources (8)

via Wikidata · CC0

~33 min read

Article

Vance's The Languages of Pao was originally published in the December 1957 issue of Satellite Science Fiction, under what is likely the last SF magazine cover by Frank R. Paul

John Holbrook Vance ( August 28, 1916 – May 26, 2013) was an American writer of fantasy, science fiction, and mysteries. He wrote several mystery novels under pen names, including Ellery Queen.