SF Author / Editor Mike Resnick Succumbs to Cancer

Award-winning science fiction author and editor Mike Resnick succumbed to lymphoma early this morning, his daughter Laura Resnick announced. He was 77.

Michael D.  Resnick was born March 5, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois.  He died this morning, January 9, 2020.  He was nominated for 37 Hugo Awards as a writer and as an editor, and won five of them. He also won the  “Skylark (or “Edward E. Smith Memorial Award for Imaginative Fiction”) for Lifetime Achievement in Science Fiction. 

Resnick has also won several international awards, including Spanish El Melocoton Mecanico Award, the Croatian Futura Award, the French Prix Ozone, the Japanese the Seiun-sho Award, the Chinese Galaxy Award as the Most Popular Foreign Author,  Catalonia’s Ictineus Award, multiple S.F. Chronicle Poll Awards, one Locus Award (from 30 nominations, winning in 1996 with When the Old Gods Die), a Golden Pagoda Award, two American Dog Writers Awards and an Alexander Award.

Resnick was diagnosed with what his daughter described as “a very aggressive form of lymphoma” in November 2019. Last month, his strength began to fade, and a few days ago, his doctors recommended hospice care rather than more aggressive treatment. He died very early this morning.

In addition to editing over forty anthologies, he was executive editor of Jim Baen’s Universe and editor of Galaxy’s Edge.

His daughter, author Laura Resnick announced:

“My dad met my mom nearly 60 years ago and has been devoted to her ever since. She said to me this morning that no one could have had a better husband. My mom will miss him more than anyone, but we know he will be missed by many people.

He will be cremated, as per his wishes, in a private family service. We will plan a memorial/remembrance gathering for him later this year, at a location where we hope many of his friends can be present–maybe a convention.

Meanwhile, his long illness leaves his widow, my mom, with many large medical bills, while grieving his loss, and without him being here to generate any more income. In his memory, if you would like to help her, his medical GoFundMe is still running.”

Mike Resnick is survived by his widow, Carol L. Cain, and their daughter Laura Resnick.

He was active in science fiction fandom, serving as guest of honor or toastmaster at over fifty conventions, including 2012 Worldcon and 2018 MidSouthCon, and a reputation for mentoring younger writers.

Thank you for the adventure, the mystery, the humor, and most of all, the dreams of the future, Mike.

Rest well. You’ve earned it.

-30-

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.