Author Fred (Thomas) Saberhagen died of cancer on 29 June 2007; he was 77 years old. He was the author of more than 65 books. His first published story was “Volume Paa-Pyx,” which appeared in Galaxy in February 1961, and his first published novel was 1964’s The Golden People. He may be best known for his Berserker series, in which automated fortresses follow their prime directive: to eliminate all life. They are the remnants of a war fought between unknown interstellar empires, and the series details the struggles between humans coming into the galaxies and the berserkers, the “battle between life and non-life.”
Saberhagen’s series include:
the Swords series: 1st Book of Swords (1984), 2nd Book of Swords (1985), 3rd Book of Swords (1985), the eight Books of Lost Swords [Woundhealer’s Story (1988), Sightblinder’s Story (1988), Stonecutter’s Story (1988), Farslayer’s Story (1989), Coinspinner’s Story (1989), Mindsword’s Story (1990), Wayfinder’s Story (1992), and Shieldbreaker’s Story (1993)], and Ardneh’s Swords (2006).
the Berserker series, which includes novels: Berserker (1967), Berserker Blue Death (1985), Berserker Throne (1986), Berserker Base (1987), Berserker Planet (1991), Berserker Man (1992), Berserker Kill (1993), Berserker Fury (1997), Shiva in Steel (1998), Berserker Prime (2003), Berserker Star (2003), and Rogue Berserker (2004). And the Berserker collections: Berserker Wars (1981), Berserker Attack (1987), Ultimate Enemy (1987), Berserker Lies (1991), and Brother Assassin (1993).
the Dracula series: Old Friend of the Family (1987), Holmes-Dracula File (1989), Dominion (1990), Matter of Taste (1990), Thorn (1990), Dracula Tape (1992), Question of Time (1992), Seance for a Vampire (1994), A Sharpness on the Neck (1996), and A Coldness in the Blood (2002), as well as his adaptation of the feature film Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992).
the Book of the Gods series: The Face of Apollo (1998), Ariadne’s Web (2000), The Arms of Hercules (2000), God of the Golden Fleece (2001), Gods of Fire and Thunder (2002)
His stand-alone novels include: Water of Thought (1981), Century of Progress (1983), Love Conquers All (1985), Broken Lands (1987), Mask of the Sun (1987), Octagon (1987), Pyramids (1987), Veils of Azlaroc (1987), After the Fact (1988), Black Mountains (1988), Specimens (1990), Frankenstein Papers (1994), Merlin’s Bones (1995), and Dancing Bears (1996).
Before his writing career, Saberhagen served in the US Air Force, worked as an electronics technician, and wrote and edited articles on science and technology for the Encyclopedia Britannica.
A memorial will be announced for later in the year. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any of the following: Doctors without Borders, Catholic Relief, SFWA Emergency Medical Fund, or John 23rd Catholic Church in Albuquerque. Saberhagen is survived by his wife, Joan Spicci.
Saberhagen’s official web site, www.berserker.com, has more information about him.