Jack Vance (1916-2013) published his first story, The World Thinker, in 1945 and has since written over sixty books. Best known as a science fiction and fantasy writer, Vance has won several awards in those genres, including the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement and a number of Hugo Awards. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Ellery Queen, Peter Held, John Holbrook, John van See, and Alan Wade.