Interesting interview, thanks for linking to it. For two guys in their 90s, i find it amazing how well they speak and can remember things. Was surprised though to hear Vance emphatically state he didn’t have any respect at all for Frank Herbert, since i had read they were good friends.
Vance was great buddies with Poul Anderson and Herbert, but everything I have heard him say about Herbert was always in terms of a tongue in cheek amusing scoundrel kinda thing.
Vance might be the only sci-fi author of any note that stopped reading his peer’ work, at least according to him. He has stated he had never read Dune, despite living with the Herberts in Mexico when Herbert had the kernels of the book. Robert Siverburg was buddies with Vance for decades but has stated Vance had never read any of Silverburg’s work. Looking at how unique Vance’s work is, I find it plausible.
Freegards