Vance, Jack
1916--
American writer
Studied mining engineering, physics, and journalism at the University of California

Recommended Reading: The Dying Earth (1950)

van Vogt, A.E.
1912-1999
Canadian

Recommended Readings:

• Slan (1940), told from the point of view of the Superman
• "The Weapon Shops of Isher" (1941)
• The World of Null-A (1945), the first novel for the science fiction magazines to be published later in hardcover (by Simon and Shuster in 1948)

Varley, John
1947--
American writer

Recommended Reading:

• The Ophiuchi Hotline (1977)
• "The Persistence of Vision" (1978)
• "Press " (1984)

Verne, Jules
1828-1905

Frenchman influenced by Edgar Allen Poe.

First author to succeed commercially at writing science fiction.

Recommended Readings:

• Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864)
• Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870)

Vinge, Joan
1948--
American writer
Has a degree in anthropology from San Diego State University
Was married to Vernor Vinge 1972-79

Recommended Reading: The Snow Queen (1988),a Hugo winner

Vinge, Vernor
1948--
American writer
professor of mathematics
Was married to Joan Vinge 1972-79

Recommended Readings:

• A Fire Upon the Deep (1992), Hugo winner
• A Deepness in the Sky (1999), Hugo winner

Vonnegut, Kurt, Jr.
1922-2007
American writer

Though Vonnegut insisted that his novels be marketed as mainstream literature, his early works are indisputably science fiction.

Recommended Readings:

• Player Piano (1952)
• Sirens of Titan (1959)
• Cat's Cradle (1963)
• Slaughterhouse-Five (1969)