Roger Zelazny

Creator of the Amber Series

Biography written by Becca L., Fantasy Editor

Biography

Roger Zelazny was born in Cleveland, OH on May 13, 1937. He received his M.A. in Elizabethan and Jacobean Drama from Columbia University in 1962, the same year his first story was published. He became a full-time writer in 1969. Previous to that, he focused on short stories and novellas.

He joined the Ohio National Guard in 1960, and spent the next three years serving his Guard obligation.

He married Sharon Steberl in 1964, the same year his father passed away. They were divorced in 1966; he married his second wife, Judith Alene Callahan the same year. They had three children, Devin, born in 1971, Jonathan, born in 1976 and Shannon, born in 1979.

His novel, This Immortal won the 1966 Hugo for Best Novel. Also in 1966, his story The Dream Master won a Nebula for Best Novella, and another story, The Doors of his Face, the Lamps of his Mouth also won a Nebula for Best Novellette. These early stories are considered among his best works, and already show signs of his fascination with magic, myths and dreams.

In 1970, he began writing what would be one of his most popular series, the Amber series. This series has been adopted into a comic book series, and used as the basis of a computer game.

Roger passed away on June 14, 1995 at the age of 56. His ashes were scattered in the mountains outside Santa Fe, where he and his family moved in 1975.

Bibliography

Amber

Berserker (with Poul Anderson, Edward Bryant, Stephen Donaldson, Larry Niven, Fred Saberhagen, Connie Willis)

Millenial Contest (with Robert Sheckley)

Other

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