Writer Kage Baker, best known for her Company novels, has passed away. She was 57.
Baker had a long writing career and won the Sturgeon Award. In addition, she was nominated for both the Hugo and Nebula awards.
Baker also wrote science-fiction and fantasy, notably Mythopoeic finalist “The Anvil of the World” (2003) and World Fantasy Award-nominated sequel “The House of the Stag” (2008). In 1999, she was a finalist for the Campbell Award for Best New Writer. She also published around 70 stories, including Hugo finalist “Son Observe the Time” (1999) and World fantasy finalist “Caverns of Mystery” (2008).
Baker was born June 10, 1952 in Hollywood CA, and spent most of her life there and in Pismo Beach. From the 1970s onward, she was an actor, artist, and director with As You Like It Productions (formerly the Living History Center, which started the first Renaissance Faire). She taught Elizabethan English to stage actors for 20 years and supplemented her income writing ad copy, but from the late ’90s onward devoted most of her time to writing fiction. In 2009, she was diagnosed with uterine cancer, and underwent extensive treatment. However, the cancer metastasized to her brain. By mid-January 2010 doctors ceased treatment, and she died peacefully in the company of her family.
Summer Brooks has a tribute to Kage Baker on our sister site, DragonPage.
Kage Baker’s Company novels were epic. I really enjoyed her writing style, and she actually had come up with an original and unique plot. My sympathies to the family.
Ms. Baker’s writing gave me many hours of enjoyment. I shall miss her creations that gave much enjoyment to myself and many other readers. My condolences to her family and friends.