[Abin Sur]

Heinlein is the best of that grouping, early/mid Heinlein is really hard to beat. Then Clarke. Asimov would be a ways behind those two for me, but he’s definately a master. Jack Vance is at the top of my list. Anderson, Sturgeon and DeCamp are up there too, but I won’t say they are better than Heinlein.

I've read too many sf & fantasy novels to count, but somehow I've never gotten around to Jack Vance. Which novel would you recommend for a first reading of him?

[kaylar]

OK, you didn't ask me, but here's my answer any way:

I like his Lyonnesse trilogy and his Dying Earth series. I recommend both.

[Ransomed]

He won the Hugo for “the Dragon Masters”, but my favourites are probably “the Demon Princes” series, “Planet of Adventure” series and his most famous work, “the Dying Earth”series.

Here’s a general write-up:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/magazine/19Vance-t.html

He’s in his mid 90’s, and has been blind for a while now. The cat can write like no one else though. I have finally pretty much read the whole catalogue. Abe books is awesome for getting cheap used books.

I can’t recommend Vance enough, never read a dog from him, and I’ve pretty much read them all.

Freegards