Mike Resnick
Mike Resnick was a prominent American science fiction writer born on March 5, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois. He began his writing career early, selling his first article in 1957 and his first novel by 1962. Resnick gained significant recognition in the science fiction community with his 1986 novel, "Santiago: A Myth of the Far Future," which marked a shift in his focus toward short stories. Over the years, he produced an extensive body of work, including more than two hundred novels and three hundred short stories, with notable series such as "Kirinyaga," which earned him multiple awards.
Throughout his career, Resnick was also an active editor and contributed to various science fiction publications. He received five Hugo Awards and one Nebula Award, along with numerous nominations, solidifying his status as a distinguished figure in the genre. In addition to his literary pursuits, he and his wife raised award-winning rough collies and operated a luxury boarding and grooming facility. Resnick passed away on January 9, 2020, after a long battle with lymphoma, leaving behind a rich legacy in science fiction literature.
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Mike Resnick
- Born: March 5, 1942
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
- Died: January 9, 2020
- Place of death: Cincinnati, Ohio
Biography
Michael Diamond Resnick was born on March 5, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois. He attended the University of Chicago from 1959 to 1961, where he was a member of the fencing team. While he was there, he met and married his wife, Carol. They had a daughter, Laura, who was born in 1962 and is now also an award-winning writer.
Resnick sold his first article in 1957, his first short story in 1959, and his first novel in 1962. Between 1964 and 1976, Resnick wrote and sold more than two hundred novels, three hundred short stories, and two thousand articles, most under pseudonyms and in adult genres. In addition to his writing, Resnick and his wife raised and bred award-winning rough collies from 1968 to 1981 and owned a luxury boarding and grooming facility from 1976 to 1993.
Resnick got back into writing in 1981 with the science-fiction novel The Soul Eater. It was not until his breakout novel, Santiago: A Myth of the Far Future, was published in 1986 that Resnick began to receive recognition in the science-fiction community. It was also at that time that he shifted his focus to short stories, and he has since written more than 140, including the acclaimed Kirinyaga series, which has received sixty-four awards and nominations. In 1988, the prolific author added editor to his resume and began work on the first of more than forty anthologies. Resnick was active in the community of science-fiction fans and contributed nonfiction columns to Speculations and the Science Fiction Writers of America Bulletin. He also sold a four-part series called Forgotten Treasures to The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Later in life, he edited Galaxy's Edge, a science-fiction magazine.
According to Locus magazine, Resnick was number four on the list of all-time award winners for science-fiction writers. He received five Hugo Awards: 1989 Best Short Story for “Kirinyaga,” 1991 Best Novelette for “The Manamouki,” 1995 Best Novella for The Seven Views of Olduvai Gorge, 1998 Best Short Story for “The 43 Antarean Dynasties,” and 2005 Best Short Story for “Travels with My Cats.” In all, Resnick also received a total of twenty-seven Hugo nominations. In addition, Resnick received one Nebula award, the 1994 Best Novella Award for Seven Views of Olduvai Gorge, and a total of eleven Nebula nominations. Resnick died on January 9, 2020, after a long battle with lymphoma.
Bibliography
"In Memoriam: Mike Resnick." Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, 9 Jan. 2020, www.sfwa.org/2020/01/09/in-memoriam-mike-resnick/. Accessed 2 Dec. 2020.
"Mike Resnick (1942–2020)." Locus, 9 Jan. 2020, locusmag.com/2020/01/mike-resnick-1942-2020/. Accessed 2 Dec. 2020.
Resnick, Mike. Interview. Manik Creations, 17 Aug. 2016, manikcreations.com/featured/interview-with-mike-resnick/. Accessed 2 Dec. 2020.