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Jack Laurence Chalker

Picture taken in 1997.
Born December 17, 1944(1944-12-17)
Baltimore, Maryland
Died February 11, 2005 (aged 60)
Baltimore, Maryland
Education Towson University
Johns Hopkins University
Occupation Science Fiction Author
Spouse Eva C. Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 660 BC - Traditional founding date of Japan by Emperor Jimmu. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Towson University, often referred to as TU or simply Towson for short is an American Public university located in Towson in Whitley
Children David W. Chalker, Steven L. Chalker

Jack Laurence Chalker (December 17, 1944 – February 11, 2005) was an American science fiction author. Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 660 BC - Traditional founding date of Japan by Emperor Jimmu. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Note that this Partial list contains some authors whose works of fantastic fiction would today be called science fiction even if they predate or did not work in that genre Chalker was also a Baltimore City Schools history teacher in Maryland for a time. The Baltimore City Public School System ( BCPSS) is one of the most historic public School districts in the United States. He also was a member of the Washington Science Fiction Association and was involved in the founding of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society. The Washington Science Fiction Association (WSFA is the oldest Science fiction club in the Washington D The Baltimore Science Fiction Society is a literary society focusing on Science fiction, Fantasy and related genera

Contents

Career and family life

He was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. Some of his books said that he was born in Norfolk, Virginia although he later claimed that was a mistake; he attended high school at the Baltimore City College. Norfolk is an Independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state The Baltimore City College ( BCC) also referred to as The Castle on the Hill, historically The College, and most commonly City, is a public He earned a BA degree in English from Towson University, where he was a theater critic on the school newspaper The Towerlight and earned a graduate degree in history, which he followed with a MLA from Johns Hopkins University. Towson University, often referred to as TU or simply Towson for short is an American Public university located in Towson in The Towerlight is the award-winning twice-weekly independent student newspaper at Towson University. History is the study of the past particularly the written record Those who study history as a Profession are called Historians Etymology The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MA ALM MLA or MALS is a graduate degree that aims to provide both depth and breadth of study in the Liberal arts. He intended to become a lawyer, but financial problems led to him teaching instead; he taught history and geography in Baltimore public schools from 1966 to 1978. He was also a lecturer at the Smithsonian Institution, the National Institutes of Health, and numerous colleges and universities, mostly on science fiction and technology. The Smithsonian Institution (smɪθsoʊnɪən is an educational and research institute and associated Museum complex administered and funded by the Government of "NIH" redirects here For other meanings of NIH see NIH (disambiguation.

He joined the Washington Science Fiction Association in 1958, and in 1963 Chalker and two friends founded the Baltimore Science Fiction Society. The Washington Science Fiction Association (WSFA is the oldest Science fiction club in the Washington D The Baltimore Science Fiction Society is a literary society focusing on Science fiction, Fantasy and related genera He attended every World Science Fiction Convention, bar one, from 1965 until 2004. He published an amateur SF journal, Mirage, from 1960 to 1971, producing ten issues another journal, Interjection, ran 1968-1987 in association with the Fantasy Amateur Press Association. The Fantasy Amateur Press Association ("FAP-uh" was founded in 1937 by the Science fiction fan, author and editor Donald Wollheim and John Michel Also, He founded a publishing house, Mirage Press, Ltd. , for releasing nonfiction and bibliographic works on science fiction and fantasy.

Chalker married Eva C. Whitley[1] in 1978; they had two sons, David W. Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Chalker[2] (born December 19, 1981) and Steven L. Events 324 - Licinius abdicates his position as Roman Emperor. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Chalker[3] (born September 4, 1991). Events 476 - Romulus Augustus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar.

His stated hobbies included esoteric audio, travel, and working on science-fiction convention committees. He also had a great interest in ferryboats, indeed his marriage was performed on a ferryboat in midriver. See also Merchant ship A ferry is a form of transport usually a Boat or Ship, used to carry (or ferry) passengers and

Jack Chalker auctioneering when he was younger.
Jack Chalker auctioneering when he was younger.

Chalker and science fiction

The writers he liked to read included Eric Frank Russell, James White, some Philip José Farmer, the early work of Raymond F. Jones and Robert A. Heinlein, Jack Vance, and others too numerous to mention. Eric Frank Russell ( January 6, 1905 - February 28, 1978) was a British Author best known James White ( April 7, 1928 - August 23, 1999) was a prolific Northern Irish author of Science fiction Novellas short Philip José Farmer (born January 26 1918) is an American Author, principally known for his Science fiction and fantasy Raymond Fisher Jones ( November 15, 1915, Salt Lake City, Utah - January 24, 1994, Sandy, Utah was an American Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7 1907 – May 8 1988 was an American Novelist and Science fiction Writer. John Holbrook Vance (born August 28, 1916 in San Francisco, From January 1965 to November 2004, he missed only one World Science Fiction Convention.

Chalker's awards included the Daedalus Award (1983), The Gold Medal of the West Coast Review of Books (1984), Skylark Award (1985), Hamilton-Brackett Memorial Award (1979), as well as others of varying prestige. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) He was a nominee for the John W. Campbell Award twice and for the Hugo Award twice. This page describes the award for best science fiction novel for other awards see Campbell Award (disambiguation The Hugo Awards are given every year for the best Science fiction or Fantasy works and achievements of the previous year He was posthumously awarded the Phoenix Award by the Southern Fandom Confederation on April 9, 2005. The Phoenix Award is given annually by DeepSouthCon, a bidded convention held in different states of the former Confederacy. The Southern Fandom Confederation is an association of Science fiction fans who reside in or whom have other associations with the southern United States. In 1967 Chalker founded the Baltimore Science Fiction Society and he was a 3-term treasurer of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. The Baltimore Science Fiction Society is a literary society focusing on Science fiction, Fantasy and related genera Science Fiction Writers of America, or SFWA (ˈsɪfwə or /ˈsɛfwə/ was founded in 1965 by Damon Knight. Chalker was also the co-author (with Mark Owings) of The Science Fantasy Publishers (third edition in 1991, updated annually), published by Mirage Press, Ltd,[4], a bibliographic guide to genre small press publishers which was a Hugo Award nominee in 1992. Jack Laurence Chalker ( December 17, 1944 – February 11, 2005) was an American Science fiction author. The Maryland young writers contest sponsored by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society was renamed "'The Jack L. Chalker Young Writers Contest" effective April 8, 2006.

He is perhaps best known for his Well World series of novels, but he also wrote many other novels (most, but not all, part of series), and at least nine short stories. The Well World is a Fictional planet in Jack L Chalker 's "Well of Souls" and "Watchers at the Well" series of novels The Well of Souls Many of his works involve some physical transformation of the main characters. Shapeshifting is a common theme in Mythology and Folklore, as well as in Science fiction and Fantasy. For instance, in the Well World novels, immigrants to the Well World are transformed from their original form to become a member of one of the thousands of sentient species that inhabit that artificial planet. Another example would be that the Wonderland Gambit series resembles traditional Buddhist jataka-type reincarnation stories set in an SF environment. The Jātaka Tales ( Sanskrit जातक and Pali, Malay: jetaka Lao: satok refer to a voluminous body of Folklore -like literature Steven Chalker announced that Wonderland Gambit might be made into a movie, but supposedly its close resemblance to The Matrix resulted in the project being shelved. The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction - martial arts - Action film written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski and [3] At the time of his death, Chalker left behind one unfinished novel, Chameleon, and was planning to write Ripsaw following Chameleon.

Jack at a Bookstore in October 1998, chatting with a couple of people before his session began.
Jack at a Bookstore in October 1998, chatting with a couple of people before his session began.

Illness and death

On September 18, 2003, during Hurricane Isabel, Chalker passed out and was rushed to the hospital with a diagnosis of a heart attack. Events 96 - Nerva is proclaimed Roman Emperor after Domitian is assassinated Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Hurricane Isabel was the costliest and deadliest hurricane in the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. He was later released, but was severely weakened. On December 6, 2004, he was again rushed to hospital with breathing problems and disorientation, and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and a collapsed lung. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Heart failure is a Cardiac condition that occurs when a problem with the structure or function of the Heart impairs its ability to supply Chalker was hospitalized in critical condition, then upgraded to stable on December 9, though he didn't regain consciousness until December 15. Events 536 - Byzantine General Belisarius enters Rome while the Ostrogothic garrison peacefully leaves the city Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of After several more weeks in deteriorating condition and in a persistent vegetative state, with several transfers to different hospitals, he died on February 11, 2005 of kidney failure and sepsis in Bon Secours of Baltimore, Maryland. Events 660 BC - Traditional founding date of Japan by Emperor Jimmu. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Renal failure or kidney Sepsis is a serious medical condition characterized by a whole-body inflammatory state (called a Systemic inflammatory response syndrome or SIRS caused

Some of his remains are interred in the family plot at Loudon Park Cemetery, with the remainder distributed afterwards off a ferry near Hong Kong, a final ride on White's Ferry on Father's Day 2007, and on H. P. Lovecraft's grave (on December 17, 2005). The 420 acre (13 km² Loudon Park Cemetery was incorporated in 1853 on the site of "Loudon" the estate of James Carey, a Baltimore merchant city councilman Howard Phillips Lovecraft ( August 20, 1890 – March 15, 1937) was an American author of horror, fantasy Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Bibliography

The Saga of the Well World series

The Watchers at the Well series

The Four Lords of the Diamond series

The Dancing Gods series

The Soul Rider series

The Rings of the Master series

The G. Lilith A Snake in the Grass is the first book in the Four Lords of the Diamond series by author Jack L Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Cerberus A Wolf in the Fold is the second book in the Four Lords of the Diamond series by author Jack L Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Charon A Dragon at the Gate is the third book in the Four Lords of the Diamond series by author Jack L Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) O. D. Inc series

The Changewinds series

The Quintara Marathon series

The Wonderland Gambit series

The Three Kings series

Stand-alone novels

Collection and anthology

Besides the short stories included in Dance Band on the Titanic, Chalker wrote at least one other short story:

Omnibus collections of novels

References

  1. ^ Would you Eva?. Retrieved on 2004-06-03. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman Emperor, entering
  2. ^ Dave: The Game. Retrieved on 2006-03-05. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a
  3. ^ a b Meteorologist Life. Retrieved on 2006-03-05. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a
  4. ^ The Mirage Press Ltd. (2004). Retrieved on 2006-03-05. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a

External links

Persondata
NAME Chalker, Jack L.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Chalker, Jack
SHORT DESCRIPTION American science-fiction author
DATE OF BIRTH December 17, 1944(1944-12-17)
PLACE OF BIRTH Baltimore, Maryland
DATE OF DEATH February 11, 2005
PLACE OF DEATH Baltimore, Maryland
Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 660 BC - Traditional founding date of Japan by Emperor Jimmu. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
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