Jack Vance
Jack Vance
John Holbrook "Jack" Vancewas an American mystery, fantasy, and science fiction writer. Though most of his work has been published under the name Jack Vance, he also wrote 9 mystery novels using his full name John Holbrook Vance, three under the pseudonym Ellery Queen, and one each using the pseudonyms Alan Wade, Peter Held, John van See, and Jay Kavanse. Some editions of his published works give his year of birth as 1920...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth28 August 1916
CitySan Francisco, CA
CountryUnited States of America
You used the word "civilization", which means a set of abstractions, symbols, conventions. Experience tends to be vicarious; emotions are predigested and electrical; ideas become more real than things.
I thought that automobiles were going to have mufflers and go fast and airplanes were going to fly fast.
I never worked in an office in my life.
I just wrote what I felt like writing since they seemed to sell.
I got done writing Ports of Call and suddenly realized I have far too much material for the book.
But I've sure worked at jobs where I have been under inspection.
A reader is not supposed to be aware that someone's written the story. He's supposed to be completely immersed, submerged in the environment.
As I mentioned, I was a carpenter for a time.
I suffer from a spiritual malaise which manifests itself in outbursts of vicious rage.
I haven't been to a movie since somebody gave me free tickets to Star Wars, which I went to.
Mischief moves somewhere near and I must blast it with my magic.
Notice this rent in my garment; I am at a loss to explain its presence! I am even more puzzled by the existence of the universe.
What are your fees?" inquired Guyal cautiously. "I respond to three questions," stated the augur. "For twenty terces I phrase the answer in clear and actionable language; for ten I use the language of cant, which occasionally admits of ambiguity; for five, I speak a parable which you must interpret as you will; and for one terce, I babble in an unknown tongue.
Law cannot reach where enforcement will not follow. —Popular aphorism.