Don Sakers, science fiction fan, writer, editor, blogger, and reviewer, passed away of a sudden heart attack. Esther Friesner wrote a better obituary for him than I could: “Don Sakers is gone. May he rest in peace. He was good, merry, kind, and loved.”
Don Sakers was born June 16, 1958, in Yokosuka, Japan. He died May 17, 2021 in Maryland. He was 62.
Sakers was self-identifyingly and openly gay, as well as autistic, and was troubled by diabetes. He was a frequent guest at Gaylaxicon, Arisia, Boskone, Albacon, and as noted above, ChessieCon.
Ernest Lilley: “Listen, I don’t want to offend you, but…are you Gay, Black, and corpulent? Is it none of the my (or the reader’s) business? Do you have to be part of a group to write about it? I’ve gotten a lot of flack for even considering asking, but in DFTIM, the Ivory Madonna herself goes out of her way to say she’s F-A-T, and not offended by it.”
‘For the record, I am Gay, of Caucasian ancestry, and fall into the category of “obese” rather than Ivory-Madonna-range “fat.” I do have good friends who are Black, as well as others who are fat.’ SFRevu Interview
Don Sakers replaced Dr. Tom Easton as the book reviewer for Analog Science Fiction and Fact Magazine. Sakers co-wrote the PsiScouts series with Phil Meade. He wrote a great many essays and reviews, but wrote books himself, the best known of which was Dance for the Ivory Madonna, a Spectrum Award finalist. He edited Carmen Miranda’s Ghost is Haunting Space Station Three, a fun collection of stories based on the popular Leslie Fish song.
As a day job, he worked for 42 years for the Anne Arundel County Public Library.
Gp to your local library and see if they have any of Sakers’ books. “Good, merry, kind, and loved”: Dr. Friesner listed an honorable legacy for Mr. Sakers. May we all aspire to such an epitaph. Condolences to Mr. Atkinson and their kinfolk. Rest in peace, Don Sakers.
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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.
Very nice article about Don Sakers. He will be missed.
One thing, though: Who is the Mr. Hutchinson you send condolences to? Don’s husband is Mr. Thomas Atkinson.
Thank you, Sharon – we’ll make that correction.