Traveller Inspirations

What were the original inspirations for Traveller?

Poul Anderson would have been my first mention.  Here's the guy who
came up with the original stories for at least three alien races in
Traveller.  Vargr are cribbed from the Adziriho of _Hunters of the
Sky Cave_.  Virushi are cribbed from the Wodenites of the Van Rijn
Space Traders  (along with the Merchant Princes).  And the Ael Yael
are cribbed from the Yithri.

There are other things (like the Imperium from Flandry stories)
The Long Night... etc.

Dane gave a pretty good list, Niven, Asimov, H. Beam Piper,
I would emphisize Jerry Pournelle more, _West of Honor_, _King
David's Spaceship_.

James White's _Sector General_ stuff also seems to be inspriational to
Trav.  (Excellent stuff!)

Heinlein's _Starship Troopers_.

L.Ron Hubbard's _Ole Doc Methusela_.

Olaf Stapledon's _Sirius_.  (Heavily influence on Vargr phychology)

All of Stanley G. Weinbaum's short stories!  (Trrrweeeeerrrlll!  :-)

Frank Herbert's _Dune_.

While it was not an influence in the CREATION of Trav, I would have
to list Lois McMaster Bujold as a fantastic source of inspiration for
Refs.  I just started reading her stuff (thanks Rob & Colin)  All of
it has been very Travelleresque so far.  Good clean fun!

And I suppose while I'm at it I may as well list some excellent authors
who aren't very Trav, just cause I Like 'em.

Arthur C. Clarke.
James P. Hogan.
Clifford D. Simak.
Tom Clancy (I know, not SF, but great stuff anyway.  And he sure
influenced the 4.5th Frontier War.  :-)
- --
Scott 2G Kellogg
"Kellogg is just plain nuts!"  -- H. Beam Piper