Fred Saberhagen
Encyclopedia
Fred Thomas Saberhagen (May 18, 1930–June 29, 2007) was an American science fiction
and fantasy author most famous for his Berserker
series of science fiction short stories
and S.F. novel
s.
Saberhagen also wrote a series of vampire
novels in which the vampires (including the famous Dracula
) are the protagonists, and a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular Empire of the East and continuing through a long series of Swords and Lost Swords novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
.
while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an electronics technician
for the Motorola Corporation from 1958 to 1962, when he was around 30 years old.
It was while he was working for Motorola that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. His first sale was to Galaxy Magazine, which published his short story "Volume PAA-PYX" in 1961. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, The Golden People.
From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Encyclopedia Britannica, writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico
.
He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter. On June 29, 2007, Saberhagen died of prostate cancer
in Albuquerque.
's Dracula
told from Dracula
's point of view. (Saberhagen depicts Dracula as the historical figure Vlad Ţepeş
, who as woiwode of Wallachia
was known as Drakulya, who in Saberhagen's stories became a vampire by simply refusing to die, "by a transcendent act of will" as the character describes it in the book.) As the continuation of the series makes obvious, in this version, Dracula survives the best efforts of Harker, Van Helsing and company, who are portrayed largely as bungling fools, Van Helsing in particular as a fraud and heretic, and Dracula while alive as a violent and mean-tempered but nonetheless Orthodox Christian who fought the encroach of the Ottoman Turkish Empire
into Europe. ("There is not an ounce of soil here which has not been enriched by the blood of patriots.") In later novels, Dracula interacts with other literary characters including Sherlock Holmes
and Merlin
. This series was often listed in Ace promotional materials as "The New Dracula". His success with this series was such that he was hired to write the novelization of the movie, Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Volumes 1-3 were also published in a heavily-revised omnibus form as Empire of the East in 1979, 1990, and 2005.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and fantasy author most famous for his Berserker
Berserker (Saberhagen)
The Berserker series is a series of space opera science fiction short stories and novels by Fred Saberhagen, in which robotic self-replicating machines intend to destroy all life. These Berserkers, named after the human berserker warriors of Norse legend, are doomsday weapons left over from an...
series of science fiction short stories
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
and S.F. novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s.
Saberhagen also wrote a series of vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
novels in which the vampires (including the famous Dracula
Dracula
Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor...
) are the protagonists, and a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular Empire of the East and continuing through a long series of Swords and Lost Swords novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
.
Biography
Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served as an enlisted man in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an electronics technician
Electronics Technician
Electronics Technician is a common enlisted occupation in many Militaries. Common duties for ETs include repair, calibration, and basic maintenance of most electronic equipment.-US Navy:...
for the Motorola Corporation from 1958 to 1962, when he was around 30 years old.
It was while he was working for Motorola that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. His first sale was to Galaxy Magazine, which published his short story "Volume PAA-PYX" in 1961. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, The Golden People.
From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Encyclopedia Britannica, writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
.
He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter. On June 29, 2007, Saberhagen died of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
in Albuquerque.
Dracula sequence
Saberhagen's Dracula novels are based on the premise that vampires are morally equal to normal humans: they have the power to do good or evil, it is their choice. The first in the series, The Dracula Tape, is the story of Bram StokerBram Stoker
Abraham "Bram" Stoker was an Irish novelist and short story writer, best known today for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula...
's Dracula
Dracula
Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor...
told from Dracula
Count Dracula
Count Dracula is a fictional character, the titular antagonist of Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula and archetypal vampire. Some aspects of his character have been inspired by the 15th century Romanian general and Wallachian Prince Vlad III the Impaler...
's point of view. (Saberhagen depicts Dracula as the historical figure Vlad Ţepeş
Vlad III the Impaler
Vlad III, Prince of Wallachia , also known by his patronymic Dracula , and posthumously dubbed Vlad the Impaler , was a three-time Voivode of Wallachia, ruling mainly from 1456 to 1462, the period of the incipient Ottoman conquest of the Balkans...
, who as woiwode of Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
was known as Drakulya, who in Saberhagen's stories became a vampire by simply refusing to die, "by a transcendent act of will" as the character describes it in the book.) As the continuation of the series makes obvious, in this version, Dracula survives the best efforts of Harker, Van Helsing and company, who are portrayed largely as bungling fools, Van Helsing in particular as a fraud and heretic, and Dracula while alive as a violent and mean-tempered but nonetheless Orthodox Christian who fought the encroach of the Ottoman Turkish Empire
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
into Europe. ("There is not an ounce of soil here which has not been enriched by the blood of patriots.") In later novels, Dracula interacts with other literary characters including Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
and Merlin
Merlin
Merlin is a legendary figure best known as the wizard featured in the Arthurian legend. The standard depiction of the character first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, written c. 1136, and is based on an amalgamation of previous historical and legendary figures...
. This series was often listed in Ace promotional materials as "The New Dracula". His success with this series was such that he was hired to write the novelization of the movie, Bram Stoker's Dracula.
- The Dracula Tape (1975)
- The Holmes-Dracula File (1978) (allegedly not Saberhagen's choice of title, as it gives away what was intended to be a surprise plot point)
- An Old Friend of the Family (1979)
- Thorn (1980)
- Dominion (1982)
- "From the Tree of Time" (1982) (short story)
- A Matter of Taste (1990)
- A Question of Time (1992)
- Seance for a Vampire (1994)
- A Sharpness on the Neck (1996)
- Vlad Tapes (2000) (omnibus of An Old Friend of the Family and Thorn)
- "Box Number Fifty" (2001) (short story)
- A Coldness in the Blood (2002)
Empire of the East series
Main Article: Empire of the East seriesEmpire of the East series
The Empire of the East series is composed of four science fiction/fantasy novels by Fred Saberhagen.-Premise:Some time in the future, a nuclear holocaust is averted by a computer named ARDNEH , which initiates what is intended to be a temporary modification to the laws of physics to make...
- The Broken Lands (1968)
- The Black Mountains (1971)
- Changeling Earth (1973) also as Ardneh's World
- Ardneh's Sword (May 2006)
Volumes 1-3 were also published in a heavily-revised omnibus form as Empire of the East in 1979, 1990, and 2005.
Books of Swords
- The First Book of Swords (1983)
- The Second Book of Swords (1983)
- The Third Book of Swords (1984)
Books of Lost Swords
- Woundhealer's Story (1986)
- Sightblinder's Story (1987)
- Stonecutter's Story (1988)
- Farslayer's Story (1989)
- Coinspinner's Story (1989)
- Mindsword's Story (1990)
- Wayfinder's Story (1992)
- Shieldbreaker's Story (1994) (actually subtitled The Last Book of Swords)
Short story anthologies
- An Armory of Swords (1995) (original anthology edited by Saberhagen)
- Blind Man's Blade by Fred Saberhagen
- Woundhealer by Walter Jon Williams
- Fealty by Gene Bostwick
- Dragon Debt by Robert E. Vardeman
- The Sword of Aren-Nath by Thomas Saberhagen
- Glad Yule by Pati Nagle
- Luck of the Draw by Michael A. Stackpole
- Stealth and the Lady by Sage Walker
Berserker series
The Berserker stories tell about an ongoing war between humanity and the Berserkers. Saberhagen's Berserkers are self-replicating war machines programmed with one main objective: Destroy all life. After destroying both their creators and the opposing side in a long-ago galactic war, the self-replicating Berserkers have continued to wipe out all forms of life that they encounter in the Milky Way, which leads to the cooperation and coordination of most of the sentient races in major attempts to defeat them. Humankind, although relatively new to the galactic scene, is a major player because of its aggressive nature. The series spans a large range of both time and space, and so has less plot continuity than Saberhagen's other series.- Berserker (1967) (short fiction collection)
- Brother Assassin (1969) a.k.a. Brother Berserker;( available online) as a Baen Free Sample from the Berserker Man omnibus
- Berserker's Planet (magazine serialization 1974; 1975)
- Berserker Man (1979)
- The Ultimate Enemy (1979) (short fiction collection) a.k.a. Berserkers: The Ultimate Enemy
- The Berserker Wars (1981) (short fiction collection; only 2 original/uncollected stories); (available online) as a Baen Free Sample from Berserker Death omnibus
- Berserker Base (1985) Anthology with several guest authors, Saberhagen wrote the overarching story in segments between the others.
- The Berserker Throne (1985); (available online) from the Baen Free Library
- Berserker: Blue Death (1985)
- The Berserker Attack (1987) (short fiction collection; no original/uncollected stories)
- Berserker Lies (1991) (short fiction collection; one original story)
- Berserker Kill (1993)
- Berserker Fury (1997)
- Shiva in Steel (1998)
- Berserkers: The Beginning (1998) (omnibus of 2 previous collections)
- Berserker's Star (2003)
- Berserker Prime (2003)
- Berserker Man: Mega Book (2004) (omnibus of 4 previous books)
- Berserker Death: Mega Book (2005) (omnibus of 3 previous books)
- Rogue Berserker (2005)
Books of the Gods
- The Face of Apollo (1998)
- Ariadne's Web (1999)
- The Arms of Hercules (2000)
- God of the Golden Fleece (2001)
- Gods of Fire and Thunder (2002)
Boris Brazil series
- "Planeteer" (1961)
- The Golden People (1964, heavily revised 1984)
- The Water of Thought (1965, heavily revised 1981)
Pilgrim, the Flying Dutchman of Time series
- Pyramids (1987)
- After the Fact (1988)
- Pilgrim (1997) (omnibus of both novels)
Non-series novels
- The Veils of Azlaroc (1978)
- Love Conquers All (magazine serialization 1974-1975; 1979)
- The Mask of the Sun (1981)
- The Golden People
- Coils (with Roger ZelaznyRoger ZelaznyRoger Joseph Zelazny was an American writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels, best known for his The Chronicles of Amber series...
) (1981) - Specimens (1981)
- Octagon (1981)
- A Century of Progress (1983)
- The Frankenstein Papers (1986)
- The White Bull (1988) front cover incorrectly suggests that this is third Pilgrim novel
- The Black Throne (with Roger ZelaznyRoger ZelaznyRoger Joseph Zelazny was an American writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels, best known for his The Chronicles of Amber series...
) (1990) - Bram Stoker's Dracula (with James V. Hart) (1992) Novelization of the Francis Ford CoppolaFrancis Ford CoppolaFrancis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's most innovative and influential film directors...
film. - Dancing Bears (1995)
- Merlin's BonesMerlin's BonesMerlin's Bones is a 1995 novel by Fred Saberhagen which melds elements of science fiction and Arthurian legend. The story is told in first person by several different characters in parallel storylines, one taking place a few years after the supposed death of King Arthur, the other in the early 21st...
(1995) - The Arrival (Earth Final Conflict) (1999)
Non-series collections
- The Book of Saberhagen (1975)
- Earth Descended (1981)
- Saberhagen: My Best (1987)
Non-series anthologies
- A Spadeful of Spacetime (1981) (reprint anthology)
- Pawn to Infinity (1982) (reprint anthology, with Joan Saberhagen)
- Machines That Kill (1984) (reprint anthology, with Martin H. Greenberg)
External links
- Fantastic Fiction Author Page
- Obituary from the Albuquerque Tribune
- Fred Saberhagen's online fiction at Free Speculative Fiction Online; includes Brother Assassin, The Berserker Wars and The Berserker Throne