Jack Laurence Chalker
born Baltimore, Maryland: 17 December 1944
died Baltimore, Maryland: 11 February 2005
Jack l. Chalker was an American writer of science fiction (science fantasy/ science and sorcery) and an editor. He was also a history teacher until he retired to write full-time in 1978, a typesetter, and a sound engineer for outdoor rock concerts.
Chalker has also worked on science-fiction convention committees, co-founded the Baltimore SF Society and attended almost every World SF Convention while his health allowed. He published several journals and non-fiction books on SFF (including those on Lovecraft and CAS.)
His first novel was the space opera, A Jungle of Stars (1976).
Chalker is best known for his Well World series of novels, beginning with Midnight at the Well of Souls (1977). Most of his work was in very long series of novels, but he also wrote a few singletons, and a few short stories such as the collection Dance Band on the Titanic (1988).
Chalker's works often involve the far future, some physical transformation of the main characters, or are about freedom from aliens who are ex-Gods or sentient machines.
Chalker is one of the authors whose work has most often appeared in the queries in the SFF Chronicles Book Search forum, an indication that it is remembered with fondness and for both its flair and humour. When asked where his ideas for stories came from, he wrote the “K-Mart Idea Sales.”
A list of his works is to be found here: Summary Bibliography: Jack L. Chalker
Wikipedia page: Jack L. Chalker - Wikipedia
born Baltimore, Maryland: 17 December 1944
died Baltimore, Maryland: 11 February 2005
Jack l. Chalker was an American writer of science fiction (science fantasy/ science and sorcery) and an editor. He was also a history teacher until he retired to write full-time in 1978, a typesetter, and a sound engineer for outdoor rock concerts.
Chalker has also worked on science-fiction convention committees, co-founded the Baltimore SF Society and attended almost every World SF Convention while his health allowed. He published several journals and non-fiction books on SFF (including those on Lovecraft and CAS.)
His first novel was the space opera, A Jungle of Stars (1976).
Chalker is best known for his Well World series of novels, beginning with Midnight at the Well of Souls (1977). Most of his work was in very long series of novels, but he also wrote a few singletons, and a few short stories such as the collection Dance Band on the Titanic (1988).
Chalker's works often involve the far future, some physical transformation of the main characters, or are about freedom from aliens who are ex-Gods or sentient machines.
Chalker is one of the authors whose work has most often appeared in the queries in the SFF Chronicles Book Search forum, an indication that it is remembered with fondness and for both its flair and humour. When asked where his ideas for stories came from, he wrote the “K-Mart Idea Sales.”
A list of his works is to be found here: Summary Bibliography: Jack L. Chalker
Wikipedia page: Jack L. Chalker - Wikipedia
