John Holbrook “Jack” Vance (1916–2013) was an American mystery, fantasy, and science fiction writer. Though most of his work has been published under the name Jack Vance, he also wrote several mystery novels under pen names.
Jack Vance made his debut in print with “The World-Thinker”, a 16-page story published by Sam Merwin in Thrilling Wonder Stories, Summer 1945. His lifetime output totals more than 60 books—perhaps almost 90. His work has been published in three categories: science fiction, fantasy and mystery. Among Vance’s earliest published work was a set of fantasy stories written while he served in the merchant marine during the war. They appeared in 1950, several years after Vance had started publishing science fiction in the pulp magazines, under the title The Dying Earth.
When asked about literary influences, Vance most often cited Jeffery Farnol, a writer of adventure books, whose style of “high” language he mentions (the Farnol title Guyfford of Weare being a typical instance); P. G. Wodehouse, an influence apparent in Vance’s taste for overbearing aunts; and L. Frank Baum, whose fantasy elements were directly borrowed by Vance. In the introduction to Dowling and Strahan’s The Jack Vance Treasury, Vance mentions that his childhood reading including Edgar Rice Burroughs, Jules Verne, Robert W. Chambers, science fiction published by Edward Stratemeyer, the magazines Weird Tales and Amazing Stories, and Lord Dunsany.
Jack Vance won the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 1984, and he was a Guest of Honor at the 1992 World Science Fiction Convention in Orlando, Florida. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America made him its 15th Grand Master in 1997, and the Science Fiction Hall of Fame inducted him in 2001, its sixth class of two deceased and two living writers.
His most notable awards included 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!; the Nebula Award in 1966, also for The Last Castle; the Jupiter Award in 1975 and the World Fantasy Award in 1990 for Lyonesse: Madouc. and the Edgar Award in 1961 for the best first mystery novel for The Man in the Cage.
Vance died on the morning of May 26, 2013 at the age of 96 in his home in the Oakland Hills. Tributes to Vance were given by various authors, including George R. R. Martin, Michael Moorcock, Neil Gaiman, and Elizabeth Bear. Steven Gould, president of the Science Fiction Writers of America, described Vance as “one of the greatest science fiction and fantasy writers of the 20th century”. A memorial site set up by his family to post tributes received hundreds of messages in the days following his death.
Jack Vance – First Edition Identification Guide
Note: This list only includes works published prior to 1977.
| Year | Title | Publisher | First edition/Printing Identification Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | THE A NOME | [New York}:A Dell Book, [1973] | Wrappers. First printing-March 1973 on © page. Dell 0441 (95¢). Jack Vance, pseudonym. |
| 1974 | THE ASUTRA | [New York]: A Dell Book, [1974] | Wrappers. First printing-May 1974 on © page. Dell 3157 (95¢). Jack Vance, pseudonym. |
| 1973 | BAD RONALD | New York: Ballantine Books, [1973] | Wrappers. First Printing: September, 1973 on © page. Ballantine Books 23477-4-125 ($1.25). |
| 1976 | THE BEST OF JACK VANCE | New York: Published by Pocket Books, [1976] | Wrappers. May, 1976 on © page. Pocket Books Sci-Fi 80510 ($1.95). Jack Vance, pseudonym. |
| 1957 | BIG PLANET | New York: Avalon Books, [1957] | No statement of printing on © page. Jack Vance, pseudonym. |
| 1966 | THE BLUE WORLD | New York: Ballantine Books, [1966] | Wrappers. First edition: May, 1966 on © page. A Ballantine Science Fiction Original U2169 (50¢). Jack Vance, pseudonym. |
| 1966 | THE BRAINS OF EARTH | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1966] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double M-141 (45¢). Jack Vance, pseudonym. Bound with THE MANY WORLDS OF MAGNUS RIDOLPH by Vance. ALSO: London: Dennis Dobson, [1975], Boards. First published in Great Britain in 1975 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1973 | THE BRAVE FREE MEN | [New York]: A Dell Book, [1973] | Wrappers. First printing-August 1973 on © page. Dell 1708 (95¢). Jack Vance, pseudonym. |
| 1968 | CITY OF THE CHASCH | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1968] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. An Ace Book G-688 (50¢). Jack Vance, pseudonym. ALSO: London: Dennis Dobson, [1975]. Boards. First published in Great Britain in 1975 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1969 | THE DEADLY ISLES | Indianapolis and New York: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, [1969] | First printing 1969 on © page. |
| 1969 | THE DIRDIR | New York: An Ace Book, [1969] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Book 66901 (60¢). Jack Vance, pseudonym. ALSO: London: Dennis Dobson, [1975]. Boards. First published in Great Britain in 1975 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1963 | THE DRAGON MASTERS | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1963] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double F-I85 (40¢). Jack Vance. pseudonym. Bound with THE FIVE GOLD BANDS by Vance. ALSO: London: Dennis Dobson, [1965]. Boards. First published in Great Britain 1965 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1950 | THE DYING EARTH | New York: Hillman Periodicals, Inc., [1950] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. HP No. 41 (25¢). Jack Vance, pseudonym. ALSO: San Francisco, California/Columbia, Pennsylvania: Underwood-Miller, 1976. Three issues, no priority:
|
| 1969 | EIGHT FANT ASMS AND MAGICS | [New York]: The Macmillan Company, [1969] | First printing so stated on © page. Jack Vance, pseudonym. |
| 1969 | EMPHYRIO | Garden City: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1969 | First edition so stated on © page. Jack Vance, pseudonym. |
| 1966 | THE EYES OF THE OVER WORLD | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1966] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Book M-I49 (45¢). Jack Vance, pseudonym. Boston: Gregg Press, 1977. First Printing, June 1977 on © page. First hardcover edition. Note: Not issued in dust jacket. |
| 1962 | THE FIVE GOLD BANDS | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1962] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double F-185 (40¢). Jack Vance, pseudonym. Bound with THE DRAGON MASTERS by Vance. Longer version issued earlier as THE SPACE PIRATE. |
| 1964 | THE FOUR JOHNS | New York: Published by Pocket Books, Inc., [1964] | Wrappers. 1st printing ... March, 1964 on © page. Pocket Books Edition 6229 (35¢). Ellery Queen, pseudonym. Notes: (1) A reprint identical in all particulars save for change of stock number to 4706 and price increase to 45¢ has been observed. (2) Edited and rewritten by the publisher. Issued later in Great Britain as FOUR MEN CALLED JOHN. |
| 1976 | FOUR MEN CALLED JOHN | London: Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1976 | Boards. No statement of printing on © page. Ellery Queen, pseudonym. Issued earlier in the U.S. as THE FOUR JOHNS. |
| 1966 | THE FOX VALLEY MURDERS | Indianapolis New York Kansas City: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc., [1966] | First printing, 1966 on © page. |
| 1964 | FUTURE TENSE | New York: Ballantine Books, [1964] | Wrappers. First printing: June 1964 on © page. A Ballantine Science Fiction Original U2214 (50¢). Jack Vance, pseudonym. |
| 1974 | THE GRAY PRINCE | Indianapolis /New York: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc., [1974] | Boards. First printing so stated on © page. Jack Vance, pseudonym. |
| 1964 | THE HOUSES OF ISZM | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1964] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double F-265 (40¢). Jack Vance, pseudonym. Bound with SON OF THE TREE by Vance. |
| 1957 | ISLE OF PERIL | New York: Mystery House, [1957] | No statement of printing on © page. Alan Wade, pseudonym. |
| 1964 | THE KILLING MACHINE | [New York]; Published by Berkley Publishing Corporation, [1964] | Wrappers. November, 1964 on © page. Berkley Medallion Fl 003 (50¢). Jack Vance. pseudonym. ALSO: London: Dennis Dobson. [1967], Boards. First published in Great Britain 1967 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1955 | THE LANGUAGES OF PAO | New York: Avalon Books. [1955] | No statement of printing on © page. Jack Vance, pseudonym. |
| 1967 | THE LAST CASTLE | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1967] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double H-21 (60¢). Jack Vance, pseudonym. Bound with WORLD OF THE SLEEPER by Tony Wayman. |
| 1966 | THE MADMAN THEORY | New York: Published by Pocket Books. [1966] | Wrappers. 1st printing ...August, 1966 on © page. Pocket Books 50496 (50¢). Ellery Queen, pseudonym. Note: Edited and rewritten by the publisher. |
| 1960 | THE MAN IN THE CAGE | New York; Random House, [1960] | Boards. First printing so stated on © page. |
| 1966 | THE MANY WORLDS OF MAGNUS RIDOLPH | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1966] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double M-141 (45¢). Jack Vance, pseudonym. Bound with THE BRAINS OF EARTH by Vance. ALSO: London: Dennis Dobson, [1977). Boards. First published in Great Britain in 1977 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1975 | MARUNE: AL ASTOR 933 | New York: Ballantine Books, [1975] | Wrappers. First Printing: September, 1975 on © page. Ballantine Books SF 24518 ($1.50). Jack Vance, pseudonym. |
| 1976 | MASKE: THAERY | New York: Published by Berkley Publishing Corporation, [1976] | No statement of printing on © page. Jack Vance, pseudonym. |
| 1965 | MONSTERS IN ORBIT | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1965] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double M-125 (45¢). Jack Vance, pseudonym. Bound with THE WORLD BETWEEN by Vance. ALSO: London: Dennis Dobson, [1977]. Boards. First published in Great Britain in 1977 ... on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1976 | THE MOON MOTH AND OTHER STORIES | London: Dennis Dobson, [1976] | Boards. First published in Great Britain in 1975 on © page. Jack Vance, pseudonym. Issued earlier in the U.S. as THE WORLD BETWEEN. Note: Whitaker's Cumulative Book List records month of publication as February 1976. |
| 1967 | THE PALACE OF LOVE | [New York]: Published by Berkley Publishing Corporation, [1967] | Wrappers. October, 1967 on © page. Berkley X1454 (60 |
| 1967 | THE PLEASANT GROVE MURDERS | Indianapolis * Kansas City * New York: The Bobbs- Merrill Company, Inc., [1967] | First printing so stated on © page. |
| 1970 | THE PNUME | New York: An Ace Book, [1970] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Book 66902 Jack Vance, pseudonym. ALSO: London: Dennis Dobson, [1975]. Boards. First published in Great Britain in 1975 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1965 | A ROOM TO DIE IN | New York: Published by Pocket Books, Inc., [1965] | Wrappers. 1st printing ...July, 1965 on © page. Pocket Books 35067 (35¢). Ellery Queen, pseudonym. Notes: (1) A reprint identical in all particulars save for change of stock number to 50492 and price increase to 50¢ has been observed. (2) Edited and rewritten by the publisher. |
| 1969 | SERVANTS OF THE WANKH | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1969] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Book 66900 (504)-Jack Vance, pseudonym. ALSO: London: Dennis Dobson, [1975], Boards. First published in Great Britain in 1975 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1975 | SHOWBOAT WORLD | New York: Pyramid, [1975] | Wrappers. March 1975 on © page. Pyramid V3698 ($1.25). Jack Vance, pseudonym. |
| 1958 | SLAVES OF THE KLAU | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1958] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double Novel Books D-295 (35¢). Jack Vance, pseudonym. Bound with BIG PLANET by Vance. |
| 1964 | SON OF THE TREE | New York: Ace B ooks, Inc., [1964] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double F-265 (40¢). Jack Vance, pseudonym. Bound with THE HOUSES OF ISZM by Vance. |
| 1965 | SPACE OPERA | New York: Pyramid Books, [1965] | Wrappers. First printing, February 1965 on © page. Pyramid Books R-l 140 (504)-Jack Vance, pseudonym. |
| 1953 | THE SPACE PIRATE | [New York]: A Toby Press Book, [1953] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Jack Vance, pseudonym. Shorter version issued later as THE FIVE GOLD BANDS. |
| 1964 | THE STAR KING | [New York]: Published by Berkley Publishing Corporation, [1964] | Wrappers. April, 1964 on © page. Berkley Medallion F905 (504)-Jack Vance, pseudonym. ALSO: London: Dennis Dobson, [1966]. Boards. First published in Great Britain 1966 on © page. First hardcover edition. |
| 1957 | TAKE MY FACE | New York: Mystery House, [1957] | No statement of printing on © page. Peter Held, pseudonym. |
| 1956 | TO LIVE FOREVER | New York: Ballantine Books, [1956] | Two issues, no priority:
|
| 1973 | TRULLION: ALASTOR 2262 | New York: Ballantine Books, [1973] | Wrappers. First Printing: June, 1973 on © page. Ballantine Books 03308-6-125 ($1.25). Jack Vance, pseudonym. |
| 1953 | VANDALS OF THE VOID | Philadelphia * Toronto: The John C. Winston Company, [1953] | Two bindings, priority not established:
|
| 1965 | THE WORLD BETWEEN ANDOTHER STORIES | New York: Ace Books, Inc., [1965] | Wrappers. No statement of printing on © page. Ace Double M-125 (45¢). Jack Vance, pseudonym. Bound with MONSTERS IN ORBIT by Vance. Issued later in Great Britain as THE MOON MOTH AND OTHER STORIES. |
| 1973 | THE WORLDS OF JACK VANCE | New York: Ace Books, [1973] | Wrappers. First Ace Printing: December 1973 on © page. Ace 90955 ($1.25). Jack Vance, pseudonym. All stories reprinted from earlier Vance collections. |
Jack Vance – First Printing Dust Jacket Identification Points
Gallery of First state Dust Jackets of works. Only includes the first appearance in book form. Either the UK or US edition and does not include later printings.
Reference:
- Wikipedia
- L. W. Currey, Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors: A Bibliography of First Printings of Their Fiction and Selected Nonfiction.
