Jack L. Chalker

Jack L. Chalker (1944-2005) was an American science fiction author born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He began writing for amateur science-fiction publications as a teenager, founding the fanzine Mirage in 1960 and later the specialty press Mirage Press.

He worked as a Baltimore City Schools history teacher for over a decade before retiring in 1978 to write full-time following the success of Midnight at the Well of Souls (1977). He is best known for the Well World series and the Four Lords of the Diamond series; his novels frequently explore themes of physical transformation and alien societies.

Over his career he received the Skylark Award, the Hamilton-Brackett Memorial Award and the Daedalus Award.