Sara Warneke (2 June 1957 – 27 September 2011), better known by her pen name Sara Douglass, was an Australian

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...

writer who lived in

Hobart Hobart ( ; Nuennonne/Palawa kani: ''nipaluna'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Home to almost half of all Tasmanians, it is the least-populated Australian state capital city, and second-small ...

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

. She was a recipient of the Aurealis Award for best fantasy novel.

Biography

A great-granddaughter of psychic

Robert James Lees Robert James Lees (12 August 1849 – 11 January 1931) was a British spiritualist, medium, preacher, writer and healer of the late Victorian era and early twentieth century known today for claims that he knew the identity of Jack the Ripper, ...

, Douglass was born in

Penola, South Australia Penola is a town in the Australian state of South Australia located about southeast of the state capital of Adelaide in the wine growing area known as the Coonawarra. At the , town of Penola had a population of 1,312. It is known as the cent ...

. She attended Annesley College, in

Wayville Wayville is an inner-southern suburb of Adelaide in the City of Unley. It is most notable for hosting of the Royal Adelaide Show at the Adelaide Showgrounds. The suburb is bordered to the north by Adelaide's South Parklands, to the west by Ade ...

, a suburb of

Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...

. She studied for her BA while working as a registered nurse, and later completed her PhD in early modern English History. She became a lecturer in medieval history at

La Trobe University La Trobe University is a public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its main campus is located in the suburb of Bundoora. The university was established in 1964, becoming the third university in the state of Victoria an ...

Bendigo Bendigo ( ) is a city in Victoria, Australia, located in the Bendigo Valley near the geographical centre of the state and approximately north-west of Melbourne, the state capital. As of 2019, Bendigo had an urban population of 100,991, makin ...

. While there she completed her first novel, ''BattleAxe'', which launched her as a popular fantasy author in Australia, and later as an international success. Until the mid-2000s, Douglass hosted a

bulletin board A bulletin board (pinboard, pin board, noticeboard, or notice board in British English) is a surface intended for the posting of public messages, for example, to advertise items wanted or for sale, announce events, or provide information. B ...

on her

website A website (also written as a web site) is a collection of web pages and related content that is identified by a common domain name and published on at least one web server. Examples of notable websites are Google Search, Google, Facebook, Amaz ...

, with the aim of encouraging

creative thinking Creativity is a phenomenon whereby something new and valuable is formed. The created item may be intangible (such as an idea, a scientific theory, a musical composition, or a joke) or a physical object (such as an invention, a printed Literature ...

and

constructive criticism Criticism is the construction of a judgement about the negative qualities of someone or something. Criticism can range from impromptu comments to a written detailed response. , ''"the act of giving your opinion or judgment about the good or bad q ...

of others' work. She maintained an online blog about the restoration project of her house and garden entitled Notes from Nonsuch in Tasmania. In 2008, Douglass was diagnosed with

ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer is a cancerous tumor of an ovary. It may originate from the ovary itself or more commonly from communicating nearby structures such as fallopian tubes or the inner lining of the abdomen. The ovary is made up of three different c ...

. She underwent treatment, but in late 2010 the cancer returned. She died on 27 September 2011, aged 54.

Works

Fantasy fiction

Douglass mainly focused her efforts on fantasy writings. Her first trilogy, ''

The Axis Trilogy ''Wayfarer Redemption'' is the name of two trilogies that were released as a single six-book series in the U.S. by fantasy author Sara Douglass Sara Warneke (2 June 1957 – 27 September 2011), better known by her pen name Sara Douglas ...

'', is set in the fantasy world of Tencendor. Of ''The Axis Trilogy'', '' Enchanter'' and ''

StarMan ''StarMan'' is a 1996 fantasy novel by Australian writer Sara Douglass. It follows the second book in the series, '' Enchanter'', with Axis marching north with his army to confront a formidable enemy. Background ''StarMan'' was first published ...

'' won the 1996 Aurealis Fantasy division award and ''

Battleaxe A battle axe (also battle-axe, battle ax, or battle-ax) is an axe specifically designed for combat. Battle axes were specialized versions of utility axes. Many were suitable for use in one hand, while others were larger and were deployed two-ha ...

'' was nominated for the 1995 award. Douglass's second series, ''

The Wayfarer Redemption Sara Warneke (2 June 1957 – 27 September 2011), better known by her pen name Sara Douglass, was an Australian fantasy writer who lived in Hobart, Tasmania. She was a recipient of the Aurealis Award for best fantasy novel. Biography A ...

'', two stand alone novels and her most recent series, ''Darkglass Mountain'' also focus on the fantasy world used in ''The Axis Trilogy''. ''The Wayfarer Redemption'' also did well in the Aurealis Fantasy division with all three novels reaching the finals for their published years. In addition to the fantasy novels set in the world of Tencendor and Escator, Douglass wrote two unrelated historical fantasy series, ''

The Crucible ''The Crucible'' is a 1953 play by American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692–93. Miller wrote the play as a ...

'' trilogy and ''

The Troy Game ''The Troy Game'' is a quartet by Australian author Sara Douglass consisting of four books: ''Hades' Daughter'', ''God's Concubine'', ''Darkwitch Rising'' and ''Druid's Sword''. It centres on a group of characters who are reincarnated at the en ...

''. Some of these novels also reached the Aurealis Fantasy division finals with ''

The Nameless Day ''The Crucible'' is a series of three historical fantasy novels written by Australian author Sara Douglass. The series is set around the adventures of English friar and nobleman Thomas Neville – who finds himself caught up between the eternal s ...

'' and ''

The Crippled Angel ''The Crucible'' is a series of three historical fantasy novels written by Australian author Sara Douglass. The series is set around the adventures of English friar and nobleman Thomas Neville – who finds himself caught up between the eternal s ...

'' from ''

'' finishing as finalists and ''

The Wounded Hawk ''The Crucible'' is a series of three historical fantasy novels written by Australian author Sara Douglass. The series is set around the adventures of English friar and nobleman Thomas Neville – who finds himself caught up between the eternal ...

'' winning the award in 2001. ''

Hades' Daughter ''Hades' Daughter'' is a fantasy novel by Australian writer by Sara Douglass, the first book in the Troy Game series. It is inspired, with some differences, to the legend of Theseus. Plot summary ''Hade's Daughter '' opens at the Troy Game ...

'' and '' Darkwitch Rising'' from ''

'' also were finalists in the Fantasy division.

Other works

Douglass also wrote a non-fiction book, '' The Betrayal of Arthur'', and several short stories.

Bibliography

Note: In the US, and most European countries, ''The Axis Trilogy'' and ''The Wayfarer Redemption'' have been combined into one six-book series, ''Wayfarer Redemption''.

''The Axis Trilogy''

*''

'' (1995) *'' Enchanter'' (1996) *''

'' (1996)

''The Wayfarer Redemption''

*'' Sinner'' (1997) *''

Pilgrim A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) who is on Pilgrimage, a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journey (often on foot) to some place of special significance to the a ...

'' (1998) *'' Crusader'' (1999)

''The Crucible''

* ''

'' (2000) * ''

'' (2001) * ''

'' (2002)

''The Troy Game''

* ''

'' (2002) * ''Gods' Concubine'' (2004) * '' Darkwitch Rising'' (2005) * '' Druid's Sword'' (2006)

''Darkglass Mountain''

*'' The Serpent Bride'' (2007) *''The Twisted Citadel'' (2008) *''The Infinity Gate'' (2010) Prequels to 'Darkglass Mountain' trilogy * ''Beyond the Hanging Wall'' (1996) - set just prior to the events in the trilogy. * '' Threshold'' (1997) - set approximately 2,000 years before the events in the trilogy. Note: The ''Darkglass Mountain'' series, is a sequel to the ''Axis Trilogy'' and the ''Wayfarer Redemption''.

Other

* ''The Devil's Diadem'' (2011) * '' The Hall of Lost Footsteps'' (a collection of stories,

Ticonderoga Publications Ticonderoga Publications is an Australian independent publishing house founded by Russell B. Farr in 1996 and now run by Farr and Liz Grzyb. The publisher specializes in collections of science fiction short stories. History and current Tico ...

, due 2011)

Short stories

* "Of Fingers and Foreskins" (1996) in ''

Eidolon In ancient Greek literature, an eidolon (; grc, εἴδωλον 'image, idol, double, apparition, phantom, ghost'; plural: eidola or eidolons) is a spirit-image of a living or dead person; a shade or phantom look-alike of the human form. Liter ...

'' #21 and The Best of Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy 1996 (ed.

Jonathan Strahan Jonathan Strahan (born 1964, Belfast, Northern Ireland) is an editor and publisher of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. His family moved to Perth, Western Australia in 1968, and he graduated from the University of Western Australia with a ...

and Jeremy Byrne) * "The Evil Within" (1998) in ''

Dreaming Down-Under ''Dreaming Down-Under'' is a 1998 speculative fiction anthology edited by Jack Dann and Janeen Webb. Background ''Dreaming Down-Under'' was first published in Australia in November 1998 by Voyager Books in trade paperback format. In 1999 and ...

'' (ed.

Janeen Webb Janeen Webb (''née'' Pemberton) is an Australian writer, critic and editor, working mainly in the field of science fiction and fantasy. Biography The daughter of a Second World War Australian Army commando and salesman, Webb was brought up in ...

and

Jack Dann Jack Dann (born February 15, 1945) is an American writer best known for his science fiction, an editor and a writing teacher, who has lived in Australia since 1994. He has published over seventy books, in the majority of cases as editor or co-edit ...

) and ''

The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror ''Year's Best Fantasy and Horror'' was a reprint anthology published annually by St. Martin's Press from 1987 to 2008. In addition to the short stories, supplemented by a list of honorable mentions, each edition included a number of retrospective e ...

'' (ed.

Ellen Datlow Ellen Datlow (born December 31, 1949) is an American science fiction, fantasy, and horror editor and anthologist. She is a winner of the World Fantasy Award and the Bram Stoker Award (Horror Writers Association). Career Datlow began her career ...

and

Terri Windling Terri Windling (born December 3, 1958 in Fort Dix, New Jersey) is an American editor, artist, essayist, and the author of books for both children and adults. She has won nine World Fantasy Awards, the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, and the Bram Stoke ...

) * "The Field of Thorns" (2000) in ''

Australian Women's Weekly ''The Australian Women's Weekly'', sometimes known as simply ''The Weekly'', is an Australian monthly women's magazine published by Mercury Capital in Sydney. For many years it was the number one magazine in Australia before being outsold by th ...

'' * "St Uncumber" (2001) in ''Australian Women's Weekly'' * "The Mistress of Marwood Hagg" (2003) in ''Gathering the Bones'' (ed.

Dennis Etchison Dennis William Etchison (March 30, 1943 – May 29, 2019) was an American writer and editor of fantasy and horror fiction.

Ramsey Campbell Ramsey Campbell (born 4 January 1946) is an English horror fiction writer, editor and critic who has been writing for well over fifty years. He is the author of over 30 novels and hundreds of short stories, many of them winners of literary awa ...

& Jack Dann) * "This Way to the Exit" (2008) in ''Dreaming Again'' (ed. Jack Dann)

Non-fiction

* ''Images of the Educational Traveller in Early Modern England'' (E. J. Brill, 1995) * ''The Betrayal of Arthur'' (1998)

Awards and nominations

Aurealis Awards The Aurealis Award for Excellence in Speculative Fiction is an annual literary award for Australian science fiction, fantasy and horror fiction. Only Australians are eligible for the award. History The Aurealis Award was established in 1995 b ...

Fantasy division *Finalist: ''Battleaxe'' (1995) *Won: ''Enchanter'' and ''Starman'' (1996) tie with

's ''

The Memory Cathedral ''The Memory Cathedral: A Secret History of Leonardo da Vinci'' is a 1995 historical fantasy fiction novel by Jack Dann. It follows Leonardo da Vinci constructing his flying machine and then travelling to the East. Background It was first publish ...

'' *Finalist: ''Sinner'' (1997) *Finalist: ''Pilgrim'' (1998) *Finalist: ''Crusader'' (1999) *Finalist: ''The Nameless Day'' (2000) *Won: ''The Wounded Hawk'' (2001) *Finalist: ''The Crippled Angel'' (2002) *Finalist: ''Hades' Daughter'' (2002) *Finalist: ''Darkwitch Rising'' (2005)

Australian Shadows Award

*Finalist: "This Way to the Exit" (''Dreaming Again'', ed. Jack Dann, HarperVoyager 2008)

References

External links

*
Sara's home at Nonsuch

a
SFFWorld.com
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Douglass, Sara 1957 births 2011 deaths Australian fantasy writers Australian people of English descent People from Penola, South Australia Australian women novelists Deaths from ovarian cancer Deaths from cancer in Tasmania 20th-century Australian novelists Women science fiction and fantasy writers 20th-century Australian women writers Pseudonymous women writers 20th-century pseudonymous writers