Jack Vance Quote

The dead man's companions at the counter started to their feet, but halted as Voynod with great aplomb turned to face them. Take care, you dunghill cocks! Notice the fate of your fellow! He died by the power of my magic blade, which is of inexorable metal and cuts rock and steel like butter. Behold! And Voynod struck out at a pillar. The blade, striking an iron bracket, broke into a dozen pieces. Voynod stood non-plussed, but the bravo's companions surged forward.What then of your magic blade? Our blades are ordinary steel but bite deep! And in a moment Voynod was cut to bits. The bravos now turned upon Cugel. What of you? Do you wish to share the fate of your comrade?By no means! stated Cugel. This man was but my servant, carrying my pouch. I am a magician; observe this tube! I will project blue concentrate at the first man to threaten me! The bravos shrugged and turned away. Cugel secured Voynod's pouch, then gestured to the landlord. Be so good as to remove these corpses; then bring a further mug of spiced wine.

Jack Vance

The dead man's companions at the counter started to their feet, but halted as Voynod with great aplomb turned to face them. Take care, you dunghill cocks! Notice the fate of your fellow! He died by the power of my magic blade, which is of inexorable metal and cuts rock and steel like butter. Behold! And Voynod struck out at a pillar. The blade, striking an iron bracket, broke into a dozen pieces. Voynod stood non-plussed, but the bravo's companions surged forward.What then of your magic blade? Our blades are ordinary steel but bite deep! And in a moment Voynod was cut to bits. The bravos now turned upon Cugel. What of you? Do you wish to share the fate of your comrade?By no means! stated Cugel. This man was but my servant, carrying my pouch. I am a magician; observe this tube! I will project blue concentrate at the first man to threaten me! The bravos shrugged and turned away. Cugel secured Voynod's pouch, then gestured to the landlord. Be so good as to remove these corpses; then bring a further mug of spiced wine.

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About Jack Vance

John Holbrook Vance (August 28, 1916 – May 26, 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, including Ellery Queen.
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.
His first publications were stories in science fiction magazines. As he became well known, he published novellas and novels, many of which were translated into French, Dutch, Spanish, Russian, Italian and German. An Integral Edition of all Vance's works was published in 44 volumes and in 2010 a six-volume The Complete Jack Vance was released. A 2009 profile in The New York Times Magazine described Vance as "one of American literature's most distinctive and undervalued voices". He died at his home in Oakland, California on May 26, 2013, aged 96.