Jack L. Chalker
Jack L. Chalker was an American science fiction author and notable figure in the literary community, born on December 17, 1944, in Baltimore, Maryland. He cultivated his passion for science fiction from a young age, producing a fan-zine called *Mirage* and later earning a bachelor’s degree from Towson State College and graduate degrees from Johns Hopkins University. Chalker's diverse career included roles as a typesetter, sound engineer, editor, and publisher, founding The Mirage Press, Ltd., which specialized in science fiction scholarship.
His writing career, which began in nonfiction, transitioned to fiction with works like *A Jungle of Stars* in 1976, and he is particularly known for his series such as the *Well of Souls* and *Four Lords of the Diamond*. Over his career, he received several awards recognizing his contributions to the genre, including the Dedalus Award and the Skylark Award. Chalker was also active in the science fiction community, founding the Baltimore Science Fiction Society and serving as treasurer for the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. He passed away on February 11, 2005, leaving behind a rich legacy as a writer and educator.
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Jack L. Chalker
Fiction Writer
- Born: December 17, 1944
- Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland
- Died: February 11, 2005
Biography
Jack L. Chalker (Jack Lawrence Chalker) was born Dec. 17, 1944, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was an active science fiction fan in his youth, and produced a fan-zine titled Mirage. He attended Baltimore public schools, earned a bachelor of science degree from Towson State College (now Towson University) and graduate degrees from Johns Hopkins University in history and English.
He taught both high school and college and lectured on science fiction and technology at the Smithsonian Institution, the National Institutes of Health, and at various colleges and universities. He also worked as a typesetter, sound engineer for outdoor rock concerts, audio and computer reviewer, editor, book packager, Air Force National Guard information director, book dealer, and publisher (he founded The Mirage Press, Ltd., which specialized in science fiction scholarship).
He served in the Air Commando Special Forces during the Vietnam War but was stationed in this country (except for a visit to Vietnam lasting about four hours). He began his career as a full-time writer in 1978. He and his wife, Eva C. Whitley, were married in 1978 and had two sons.
Chalker’s writing career began with nonfiction, with his publication of The New H. P. Lovecraft Bibliography (1962, revised 1974), In Memoriam: Clark Ashton Smith (1963), and other works on earlier authors, sometimes in collaboration with Mark Ownings.
He first turned to fiction with the publication of A Jungle of Stars (1976), a space opera involving aliens once viewed as gods. Dancers in the Dark (1978) is a multi-layered novel set on a colony world. The story raises questions of power and mortality among other themes reflected in much of the rest of Chalker’s work.
Chalker has also written some series in both the science fiction and fantasy fields (some of which have been described as science-fantasy). Starting with Midnight at the Well of Souls (1977), the Well of Souls series extended through 2000 with six sequels. Chalker’s other series include: Four books in The Four Lords of the Diamond series, 1981 to 1983; five in the Soul Rider series, 1984 to 1986; five in the Dancing Gods series, 1984 to 1995; four in the Rings of the Master series, 1986 to 1988; three in the G.O.D. Inc. series, 1987 to 1988; three Changewinds novels, 1987 to 1988; three Quintara Marathon novels, 1989 to 1991; three Watchers at the Well novels, 1993 to 1994; three Wonderland Gambit novels, 1995 to 1997; and three Three Kings novels, 2000 to 2003. He wrote about a dozen non- series novels in the fields, from A Jungle of Stars (1976) through The Moreau Factor (2000).
His works won the Dedalus Award (1983), Gold Medal of the West Coast Review of Books (1984), Skylark Award (1985), Hamilton- Brackett Memorial Award (1979), and the Phoenix Award by the Southern Fandom Confederation (2005). In 1967, he founded the Baltimore Science Fiction Society and served as treasurer for three terms for the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. He died on February 11, 2005, of kidney failure.