Don Sakers
Encyclopedia
Don Sakers is a science fiction
writer and fan
living in Maryland
, who has written 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 convention
s. Openly gay
, he shares a home with his spouse, Thomas Atkinson, Meerkat Meade, which was featured in Weird Maryland. His self-described "day job" is with the Anne Arundel County
public library
.
When asked about the reaction to the diversity elements in his SF, Sakers said:
, 1991) and other short fiction. Sakers was editor of Carmen Miranda's Ghost Is Haunting Space Station Three (1990), the SF Book of Days (2004), and the Gaylaxicon 2006 Sampler.
The author says it is really about:
Dance for the Ivory Madonna was a Spectrum Award
finalist, and received many Hugo award
nominations.
, and is a frequent guest speaker at other Gaylaxicons, Albacon
, Arisia
, and Boskone
.
Melissa Scott called him "a left wing Heinlein
."
A member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
, he has written numerous obituaries for their web site, including that of Lisa A. Barnett
. Sakers is an active blogger.
.
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...
writer and fan
Science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
living in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, who has written several novels and edited a short story collection. In 2009 he succeeded Thomas Easton
Thomas Easton
Thomas A. Easton is a professor at Thomas College of Maine and a well-known science fiction critic. He wrote the book review column in SF magazine Analog Science Fiction and Fact from 1979 - 2009....
as book reviewer for Analog Science Fiction and Fact
Analog Science Fiction and Fact
Analog Science Fiction and Fact is an American science fiction magazine. As of 2011, it is the longest running continuously published magazine of that genre...
magazine. Sakers is probably best known in the science fiction
Science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
community as a frequent guest speaker at science fiction convention
Science fiction convention
Science fiction conventions are gatherings of fans of various forms of speculative fiction including science fiction and fantasy. Historically, science fiction conventions had focused primarily on literature, but the purview of many extends to such other avenues of expression as movies and...
s. Openly gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, he shares a home with his spouse, Thomas Atkinson, Meerkat Meade, which was featured in Weird Maryland. His self-described "day job" is with the Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Anne Arundel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is named for Anne Arundell , a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England and the wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Its county seat is Annapolis, which is also the capital of the state...
public library
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
.
When asked about the reaction to the diversity elements in his SF, Sakers said:
Written works and editing
Sakers is the author of sf novels Dance for the Ivory Madonna (2002) and companion titles Weaving the Web of Days (2004), A Voice in Every Wind (2003), A Rose From Old Terra (2007) and The Leaves of October (1988); and dark fantasy novel Curse of the Zwilling (2003), He is also author of the short story "The Cold Solution" (AnalogAnalog Science Fiction and Fact
Analog Science Fiction and Fact is an American science fiction magazine. As of 2011, it is the longest running continuously published magazine of that genre...
, 1991) and other short fiction. Sakers was editor of Carmen Miranda's Ghost Is Haunting Space Station Three (1990), the SF Book of Days (2004), and the Gaylaxicon 2006 Sampler.
Gay Young Adult Novels
Sakers is also the author of two gay young adult novels: Act Well Your Part (1986) and Lucky in Love (1988).Dance for the Ivory Madonna
Dance for the Ivory Madonna is formally about whenThe author says it is really about:
Dance for the Ivory Madonna was a Spectrum Award
Gaylactic Spectrum Awards
The Gaylactic Spectrum Awards are given to works of science fiction, fantasy and horror that explore LGBT topics in a positive way. Established in 1998, the awards were initially presented by the Gaylactic Network, with awards first awarded in 1999. In 2002 the awards were given their own...
finalist, and received many Hugo award
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
nominations.
Scattered worlds
Sakers has written five books in what he calls the "Scattered Worlds Universe":- Dance for the Ivory Madonna,
- Weaving the Web of Days,
- A Voice in Every Wind, consisting of two short stories,
- A Rose From Old Terra, and
- The Leaves of October, which started as a short story in August 1983's AnalogAnalog Science Fiction and FactAnalog Science Fiction and Fact is an American science fiction magazine. As of 2011, it is the longest running continuously published magazine of that genre...
, and was expanded as a novel in 1988.
Science fiction conventions
Sakers was guest of honor at the 1995 GaylaxiconGaylaxicon
Gaylaxicon is an annual science fiction, fantasy and horror convention that focuses on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender topics. It takes place in various locations in the United States and occasionally Canada, often on the east coast....
, and is a frequent guest speaker at other Gaylaxicons, Albacon
Albacon
Albacon is the Albany science fiction convention, held each autumn in the Albany, New York area, also called the Capital District.Albacon is the largest "Con" in upstate New York. It is hosted by LASTSFA, or Latham-Albany-Schenectady-Troy Science Fiction Association, a local science fiction fandom...
, Arisia
Arisia
Arisia is a Boston-area science fiction convention, named for a planet in the Lensman novels by E. E. "Doc" Smith. The name was chosen as an homage to an older Boston-area con, Boskone, which took the typical ending for a convention—con—and then altered the spelling to match the name of an...
, and Boskone
Boskone
This article is about the fictional organization in E.E. Smith's Lensman series. For the yearly BOSKONE science fiction convention, see Boskone ....
.
Melissa Scott called him "a left wing Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
."
A member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, or SFWA is a nonprofit association of professional science fiction and fantasy writers. It was founded in 1965 by Damon Knight under the name Science Fiction Writers of America, Inc. and it retains the acronym SFWA after a very brief use of the SFFWA...
, he has written numerous obituaries for their web site, including that of Lisa A. Barnett
Lisa A. Barnett
Lisa A. Barnett was an American Lambda Literary Award winning science fiction writer.Born and raised in Dorchester, Massachusetts, she attended the Girls' Latin School. After graduating from the University of Massachusetts Boston with a bachelor's degree in English, Ms...
. Sakers is an active blogger.
Personal life
Sakers is married to costumer Thomas Atkinson. He lives in Anne Arundel County, MarylandAnne Arundel County, Maryland
Anne Arundel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is named for Anne Arundell , a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England and the wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Its county seat is Annapolis, which is also the capital of the state...
.