Jack L. Chalker was a prolific American science fiction author, best known for his imaginative and transformative storytelling. Born in 1944 in Baltimore, Maryland, he began his career as a history teacher before turning to full-time writing in 1978. He was also a passionate fan and active member of the sci-fi community, co-founding the Baltimore Science Fiction Society and publishing the fanzine Mirage.
Chalker’s most famous work is the Well World series, starting with Midnight at the Well of Souls (1977), which explores a planet divided into thousands of hexes, each home to a different alien species. His stories often feature themes of identity, transformation, and morality, with characters undergoing dramatic physical and existential changes.
He wrote numerous other series, including The Four Lords of the Diamond, Soul Rider, and The Wonderland Gambit, and was known for blending science fiction with philosophical and metaphysical questions. Over his career, he received several awards, including the Skylark and Phoenix Awards.
Chalker passed away in 2005, but his legacy lives on through his richly imaginative worlds and thought-provoking narratives.