Don Sakers

Don Sakers (June 16, 1958 – May 17, 2021)[1][2] was an American science fiction writer and fan who lived in Maryland, and wrote several novels and edited a short story collection. In 2009 he succeeded Thomas Easton as book reviewer for Analog Science Fiction and Fact magazine. Sakers is probably best known in the science fiction community as a frequent guest speaker at science fiction conventions.

"Sakers" redirects here. For the Korean basketball team, see Changwon LG Sakers. For other uses, see Saker (disambiguation).
Don Sakers
headshot of Don Sakers a white man with a full beard and glasses, looking off to the left
Born(1958-06-16)June 16, 1958
Yokosuka, Japan
DiedMay 17, 2021(2021-05-17) (aged 62)
Maryland, United States
OccupationWriter
Notable workDance for the Ivory Madonna

When asked about the reaction to the diversity elements in his SF, Sakers said:

By and large, it seems to me that most SF fans are fairly comfortable with diversity. Part of this, I feel, comes from the common experience of being thought "weird" by the general populace.... Another reason that fans seem comfortable with diversity stems from the nature of Science Fiction itself. SF is often concerned with "the other" -- the alien being, the time traveler, the citizen of a totally different society. After you've wrapped your mind around the concept of falling in love with a silicon-based insectoid creature whose society is based on ritual cannibalism, a friendly chat with the black lesbian sitting next to you is easy to handle.

— Don Sakers[3]

Writing career and SF fandom

Sakers was the author of SF novels Dance for the Ivory Madonna (2002) and companion titles The Leaves of October (1988), A Voice in Every Wind (2003), Weaving the Web of Days (2004), and A Rose From Old Terra (2007); and dark fantasy novel Curse of the Zwilling (2003).[4] He was also author of the short story "The Cold Solution" (Analog, 1991) and other short fiction. Sakers was editor of Carmen Miranda's Ghost Is Haunting Space Station Three (1990), an anthology of stories based on Leslie Fish's song of the same name; the SF Book of Days (2004);[5] and the Gaylaxicon 2006 Sampler.[6] Sakers was also the author of two gay young adult novels: Act Well Your Part (1986) and Lucky in Love (1988). Melissa Scott called him "a left wing Heinlein."[7]

A member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, he wrote numerous obituaries for their web site, including that of Lisa A. Barnett.[8]

Dance for the Ivory Madonna

According to a Publishers Weekly review, Dance for the Ivory Madonna is about when;

it's 2042, and the U.S. has split into three nations; special interest groups have their own House in Congress; artificial intelligence has kicked humans out of cyberspace; and the African continent, a hotbed of technological advancement, is united under a contract government called Umoja. Making his way through this brave new world is a young African-American operative of a secret organization whose task is to avenge his father's murder and save humankind.

— Publishers Weekly review[9]

Sakers described the book as being about "a lot of things: friendship, toleration, a celebration of the creative spirit, a paean to unconventionality. It's about what's wrong with today's world, what's right with today's world, and what hope there is for the future. It's about how our technology affects us, and about the decisions we can make regarding those effects."[10]

Dance for the Ivory Madonna was a Spectrum Award finalist.[10]

Science fiction conventions

Sakers was guest of honor at the 1995 Gaylaxicon,[11][12] and was a frequent guest speaker at other Gaylaxicons,[13] Albacon, Arisia, and Boskone.[14]

Personal life

Sakers was born in Yokosuka, Japan, but grew up in the United States.[15] He was openly gay[16] and had diabetes and autism.[17] He shared a home in Anne Arundel County, Maryland with his spouse, costumer Thomas Atkinson.[18] Their house, known as Meerkat Meade,[19] was featured in Weird Maryland.[20][21] His self-described "day job" was with the Anne Arundel County public library, where he worked for 42 years.[22][23] Sakers was an active blogger.[24]

Sakers died of a heart attack on May 17, 2021, aged 62.[15]

Bibliography

Novels
Scattered Worlds Mosaic
  1. Dance for the Ivory Madonna.
  2. Weaving the Web of Days.
  3. The Eighth Succession.
  4. Children of the Eighth Day.
  5. All Roads Lead to Terra (e-book).
  6. A Voice in Every Wind.[lower-alpha 1]
  7. A Rose From Old Terra.
  8. The Leaves of October (started as a short story in August 1983's Analog, and was expanded as a novel in 1988)

Short fiction
Collections
Stories[lower-alpha 3]
Title Year First published Reprinted/collected Notes
Double exposure 2015 Sakers, Don (May 2015). "Double exposure". Probability Zero. Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 135 (5): 80–81.
The Geas Ingenerate 2012 Sakers, Don (2012). "The Geas Ingenerate". In Hammond, Elektra (ed.). Galactic creatures. Dark Quest Books.

Review columns
Date Review article Work(s) reviewed
2013 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 133 (1&2): 180–183. January–February 2013. Archived from the original on 2016-11-06.
  • Johnson, Les & Jack McDevitt, eds. (2012). Going interstellar. Riverdale, NY: Baen.
  • Reynolds, Alastair (2012). Blue remembered Earth. New York: Ace.
  • Resnick, Mike (2012). Win some, lose some : the Hugo award winning (and nominated) short science fiction and fantasy of Mike Resnick. Deerfield, Illinois: ISFiC Press.
  • Foster, Alan Dean (2012). The sum of her parts. New York: Del Rey. ISBN 978-0345512024.
  • Wysocki Jr., Edward M. The great Heinlein mystery. CreateSpace.
2013 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 133 (6): 105–108. June 2013. Archived from the original on 2015-03-21. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
  • Howard, Chris (2012). Rootless. Scholastic.
  • Lord, Karen. The best of all possible worlds. Del Rey.
  • Sawyer, Robert J. Red Planet blues. Viking.
  • Bova, Ben (31 December 2013). Farside. Tor. ISBN 978-0765363596.
  • Ackley-McPhail, Danielle. A legacy of stars. DTF Publications.
2013 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 133 (9): 104–107. September 2013. Archived from the original on 2016-05-09. Retrieved 2016-09-09.
  • Hough, Jason M. The Darwin Elevator. Del Rey.
  • Sargent, Pamela. Dream of Venus and other science fiction stories. Wildside. Bound tête-bêche with Dann, Jack & George Zebrowski. Decimated : ten science fiction stories. Wildside.
  • Proskauer, Steve. Gaia's web. Gaia Press.
  • Silverberg, Robert & Damien Broderick. Beyond the doors of death. Arc Manor.
2013 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 133 (10): 105–108. October 2013. Archived from the original on 2015-06-24. Retrieved 2015-06-24.
  • Asaro, Catherine (2013). Nebula Awards showcase 2013. Pyr. ISBN 978-1616147839.
  • Willis, Connie. The best of Connie Willis : award-winning stories. Del Rey.
  • Mooney, J. E.; Fawcett, Bill (eds.). Shadows of the New Sun. Tor.
  • Rusch, Kristine Kathryn. Snipers. WMG Publishing.
  • Modesitt Jr., L. E. The one-eyed man. Tor.
2013 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 133 (11): 104–107. November 2013.
  • Weber, David. House of steel : the Honorverse companion. With BuNine. Baen.
  • Weber, David; et al. (26 August 2014). Beginnings. Baen. ISBN 978-1476736594.
  • Gannon, Charles E. Fire with fire. Baen.
  • Novik, Naomi. Blood of tyrants. Del Rey.
  • Hoyt, Sarah A. A few good men. Baen.
  • Niven, Larry. Man-Kzin wars XIII. Baen.
  • Van Vogt, A. E. Transgalactic. Baen.
  • Byrne, S. J. Prometheus II. Armchair Fiction.
2013 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 133 (12): 105–108. December 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-12-13.
  • Dial, Judith K.; Thomas Easton (eds.). Impossible futures. Pink Narcissus Press.
  • Lee, Sharon & Steve Miller. A Liaden universe constellation : volume 1. Baen.
  • Correia, Larry. Monster Hunter Legion. Baen. ISBN 1416537961.
  • Heinlein, Robert A. The star beast. Baen.
  • Dozois, Gardner (ed.). The year's best science fiction : thirtieth annual collection. St. Martin’s Griffin.
  • Benford, James; Gregory Benford (eds.). Starship century. Microwave Sciences.
  • Morgan, George D. Rocket girl. Prometheus Books. ISBN 1616147393.
  • Newitz, Annalee. Scatter, adapt, and remember : how humans will survive a mass extinction. Doubleday.
2014 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 134 (1–2): 180–183. January–February 2014.
  • Bova, Ben (3 December 2013). Mars, Inc. : the Billionaire's Club. Baen. ISBN 978-1451639346.
  • Moriarty, Chris. Ghost spin. [Catherine Li; 3]. Del Rey.
  • Flynn, Michael. On the razor's edge. Tor.
  • Gunn, James (2013). Transcendental. Tor. ISBN 9780765335012.
  • Sellers, Michael D. John Carter and the gods of Hollywood. Universal Media.
2014 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 134 (4): 104–107. April 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-05-07.
  • Martin, George R. R. & Gardner Dozois (eds.). Old Mars. Bantam.
  • Resnick, Mike & Robert T. Garcia (eds.). Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Baen.
  • McPhail, Mike (ed.). Dogs of war. DTF Publications.
  • Rusch, Kristine Kathryn. Skirmishes. WMG Publishing.
  • Hough, Jason M. The plague forge. Del Rey.
2014 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 134 (5): 104–107. May 2014.
  • Schmidt, Bryan Thomas (ed.). Raygun chronicles : space opera for a new age. Every Day.
  • Schmidt, Bryan Thomas (ed.). Beyond the sun. Fairwood.
  • Weber, David & Jane Lindskold. Treecat wars. Baen.
  • Genta, Giancarlo. The hunter. Springer.
  • Kanas, Nick. The new Martians. Springer.
  • Schulze-Makuch, Dirk. Alien encounter. Springer.
  • Webster, Bud. Past masters and other bookish natterings. Merry Blacksmith.
2014 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 134 (6): 105–108. June 2014.
  • Leckie, Ann. Ancillary justice. Orbit. ISBN 031624662X.
  • Andreatis, Andrea (ed.). The other half of the sky. Candlemark & Gleam.
  • Koyangi, Jacqueline. Ascension : a Tangled Axon novel. Masque.
  • Barrat, James. Our final invention : artificial intelligence and the end of the human era. Thomas Dunne.
2014 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 134 (9): 104–107. September 2014.
  • Friedman, C. S. Dreamwalker. DAW. ISBN 0756409640.
  • Bradley, Marion Zimmer & Deborah J. Ross. The children of kings. DAW.
  • Hogarth, M. C. A. Earthrise. CreateSpace.
  • McCoy, Elizabeth. Queen of Roses. Amazon.
  • Slater, Robert L. All is silence. Rocket Tears.
  • Adler, Charles L. Wizards, aliens, and starships : physics and math in fantasy and science fiction. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.
2014 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 134 (10): 104–107. October 2014.
  • Cherryh, C. J. Peacemaker. DAW.
  • Bova, Ben (15 April 2014). Transhuman. Tor. ISBN 978-0765332936.
  • Rusch, Kristine Kathryn. The enemy within. WMG Publishing.
  • Mambert, Rose. Narcissus is dreaming. Pink Narcissus Press.
  • Aiken, Brad. Small doses of the future : a collection of medical science fiction stories. Springer.
  • Norton, Andre. Children of the gates. Baen.
2014 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 134 (11): 105–108. November 2014.
  • Shea, Michael (2013). Assault on Sunrise. Tor. ISBN 9780765324368.
  • Weber, David & Timothy Zahn. A call to duty. Baen.
  • Asher, Neal. Jupiter War. Night Shade.
  • Buettner, Robert. Balance point. Baen.
  • Almasi, G. T. Hammer of angels. Del Rey.
  • Correia, Larry. Monster Hunter nemesis. Baen.
  • Williams, David J. & Mark S. Williams. Transformers : Retribution. Del Rey.
2014 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 134 (12): 104–107. December 2014.
2015 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 135 (1&2): 180–183. January–February 2015.
  • Egan, Greg. The arrows of time. Night Shade.
  • Reichart, Mickey Zucker. I, robot : to obey. Roc.
  • Rajaniemi, Hannu (2014). The causal angel. Tor. ISBN 9780765329516.
  • Gould, Steven (2014). Exo. Tor. ISBN 9780765336545.
  • King, T. Jackson. The memory singer. Fantastic Books.
2015 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 135 (3): 105–108. March 2015.
  • Emerson, Jim (ed.). Futures past : 1926 : the birth of modern science fiction. sfhistory.net.
  • Harrison, Harry. Harry Harrison, Harry Harrison!. Tor Books.
  • Andre-Driussi, Michael. Handbook of Vance space. Sirius.
  • Lagasse, Paul & Gary Lester. Channel 37 : Season One!. Greyrock.
  • Niven, Larry; Brad R. Torgersen & Matthew J. Harrington. Red tide. Phoenix Pick.
  • Finn, Ed & Kathryn Cramer (eds.). Hieroglyph : stories & visions for a better future. William Morrow.
2015 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 135 (4): 104–107. April 2015.
  • Haley, Guy. Sci-Fi Chronicles. Firefly.
  • Sterling, Bruce, ed. (2014). Twelve Tomorrows: MIT Technology Review 2014. MIT Press.
  • Zahn, Timothy (2014). Soulminder. Open Road.
  • Varley, John (2014). Dark Lightning. Ace.
  • Pratchett, Terry (2014). A Slip of the Keyboard: Collected Nonfiction. Doubleday.
  • Seedhouse, Erik. Beyond Human: Engineering Our Future Evolution. Springer.
2015 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 135 (5): 104–107. May 2015.
2015 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 135 (6): 105–108. June 2015.
2015 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 135 (7&8): 185–188. July–August 2015.
  • Greenwood, Ed (2015). The Iron Assassin. New York: Tor.
  • Eich, Raymund. A Bodyguard of Lies. CV-2.
  • Tucker, Alan. Going Solo. MAD Design.
  • Asaro, Catherine (2014). Undercity. New York: Baen.
  • Steele, Allen. Tales of Time and Space. Fantastic Books.
2015 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 135 (9): 105–108. September 2015.
  • Gilman, Carolyn Ives (2015). Dark orbit. New York: Tor.
  • Swanwick, Michael (2015). Chasing the Phoenix. New York: Tor.
  • Purdom, Tom (2015). Romance on four worlds : a Casanova quartet. Brooklyn, N.Y.: Fantastic Books.
  • Sparhawk, Bud (2015). Distant seas. Brooklyn, N.Y.: Fantastic Books.
  • Smale, Alan. Clash of eagles. Del Rey.
2015 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 135 (10): 105–108. October 2015.
2015 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 135 (11): 105–108. November 2015.
2016 "The Reference Library". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 136 (3): 104–107. March 2016.

———————

Notes
  1. A collection of two short stories.
  2. Includes some non-fiction pieces.
  3. Short stories unless otherwise noted.

References
  1. "Don's Obituary". Kirkley-Ruddick Funeral Home. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  2. "In Memoriam – Don Sakers". Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  3. SFRevu Interview. Accessed January 23, 2008.
  4. Review of Curse of the Zwilling. Accessed January 23, 2008. Archived May 8, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  5. SF site review of SF Book of Days. Accessed January 23, 2008.
  6. Powell's Books review of Gaylaxicon 2006 Sampler. Accessed January 23, 2008.
  7. SFRevu Interview. www.sfrevu.com. Accessed January 23, 2008.
  8. Sakers, Don (2006-05-04). "Lisa A. Barnett". Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Archived from the original on 2007-08-22. Retrieved 2007-05-16.
  9. Foxacre web site. Accessed January 23, 2008.
  10. "2003 Best Novel Finalists". Spectrums Awards. April 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  11. Gaylaxian Guest of Honor Speech. www.readersadvice.com/ Accessed January 23, 2008.
  12. Gaylaxicon 1995 Badges
  13. Gaylaxicon panel list Archived December 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. gaylaxicon.gaylacticnetwork.org. Accessed January 23, 2008.
  14. Boskone 2007 program Archived October 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Accessed January 23, 2008.
  15. "Don Sakers (1958-2021)". Locus. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  16. SFRevu Interview. Accessed January 23, 2008. "For the record, I am gay, of Caucasian ancestry, and fall into the category of "obese" rather than Ivory-Madonna-range 'fat.' I do have good friends who are black, as well as others who are fat."
  17. Sakers, Don (June 12, 2020). "Newsletter Week of 12 Jun 2020". donsakers.com. Retrieved 2020-07-02. I'm over 60, diabetic, have type A blood, am bald, and have autism.
  18. "Don Sakers".
  19. Meerkat Meade Blog by Don Sakers. Accessed January 23, 2008.
  20. Matt Lake, Mark Moran, and Mark Sceurman, Weird Maryland, p. 137, 138 (2006 Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.), ISBN 978-1-4027-3906-4, found at Weird Maryland at Google Books. Accessed June 23, 2008.
  21. Reader's advice page about The Star Toys Museum. Accessed June 23, 2008.
  22. Don Saker bio at readersadvice.com
  23. "About Don Sakers". donsakers.com. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  24. Profile at Blogger.com. Accessed January 23, 2008.
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