Author Christopher Stasheff Succumbs To Parkinson’s Disease

Christopher Stasheff, 1944 – 2018 {image via his website}

SCIFI.radio regrets to announce that fantasy and science fiction author Christopher Stasheff died June 10, 2018 of Parkinson’s disease.  He was 74.

His son, Edward Stasheff, posted on Facebook Sunday evening:

“Christopher Stasheff died at 6:45 PM on June 10th, 2018, surrounded by his wife and two of his children. The other two were able to phone in and say goodbye before he passed. Thank you all for your heartfelt goodbyes.”

Dr. Stasheff was born in Mt. Vernon, NY, on January 15, 1944.  He grew up in Ann Arbor, MI.  After earning a Ph. D. in Theater from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, he taught Communication at Montclair State College in New Jersey. He later taught Radio and Television at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico.  Upon retirement from teaching, he re-settled in Champaign, IL, where he devoted himself to writing.  He spent his final days in hospice, and died June 10, 2018.  He is survived by his wife Mary, their four children Edward, Eleanore, Genevieve, and Isobel, and four grandchildren.

Christopher Stasheff co-created and co-edited the two books of The Crafters series with Bill Fawcett.

The Warlock in Spite of Himself was Christopher Stasheff’s first novel.

Christopher Stasheff was a prolific author, with 45 novels to his credit, as well as 29 short stories.  He edited seven anthologies.  His first novel, The Warlock in Spite of Himself, was published in 1969.  It was the first of thirteen books in the Warlock of Gramayre series, which combined science fiction and fantasy as deftly as they combined action and humor.

Stasheff wrote the Wizard in Rhyme series (eight books), the Starship Troupers trilogy, the Rogue Wizard series (ten books), the Wizard’s Heirs quartet, and the St. Vidicon trilogy.  He collaborated with L. Sprague de Camp on the Harold Shea books, with Bill Fawcett on the Crafters books, and with Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Gordon R. Dickson, and David Drake on the Harriers series.  He also wrote standalone books, short stories, novellas, and essays, and was a frequent guest at Chambanacon and other conventions.

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Susan Macdonald

Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress #30”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions,  Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.