Fred Saberhagen

Fred Saberhagen was a prominent American author, renowned for his works in the science fiction and fantasy genres. He is best known for his Berserker series, which revolves around a group of robots programmed to destroy all life. Saberhagen's writing career took off in 1961 when he sold his first short story, "Volume PAA PYX," to Galaxy Magazine. His first full-length novel, "The Golden People," was published in 1964.

Before becoming a novelist, Saberhagen served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and worked as a technician for Motorola. These experiences provided him with a rich background that he later incorporated into his stories. After his military service, Saberhagen began writing fiction seriously while working for Motorola. His first Berserker short story, "Fortress Ship," was published in 1963.

In addition to the Berserker series, Saberhagen is known for his Dracula series, which offers a unique take on the vampire mythos. The series, which began in 1975, features vampires that can make their own decisions, unlike traditional portrayals of the creatures. Saberhagen's Dracula series comprises ten books, with the final one published in 2002.

Another notable series by Saberhagen is the Ardneh sequence, which includes the Book of Swords, Book of Lost Swords, and Empire of East series. The series features Ardneh, an intelligent supercomputer that was once a nuclear response system that brought about physical changes on the planet. Saberhagen's writing career also included a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels, beginning with his popular Empire of the East series.

Saberhagen was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in the area. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. After his military service, Saberhagen worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the Encyclopædia Britannica and wrote its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. Saberhagen moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1975, where he lived with his wife, Joan Spicci, and their three children. Saberhagen passed away in Albuquerque in 2007 due to cancer.