Kage Baker
Kage Baker: A Life of Imagination and Innovation
Full Name and Common Aliases
Kage Robert Baker was a science fiction author, playwright, and founder of the CLOCKWORK ORANGE PRESS. She is often referred to by her pen name, "Kage Baker," which has become synonymous with imaginative storytelling.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on June 10, 1967, in Fullerton, California, Kage Baker passed away on January 31, 2010, at the age of 42 due to complications from surgery.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Kage Baker was an American author, playwright, and founder of the CLOCKWORK ORANGE PRESS. She spent her life creating innovative stories and plays that captivated readers with their unique blend of science fiction, fantasy, and social commentary.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in California, Kage developed a passion for storytelling from an early age. Her mother, Maura Baker, was a strong influence on her creative pursuits, encouraging Kage to explore the world of words and ideas. Kage's own imagination and creativity were evident even as a child, and she began writing stories at the tender age of 10.
Kage's interest in science fiction and fantasy developed over time, influenced by authors such as H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, and Edgar Allan Poe. Her love for these genres eventually led her to write her own tales of adventure, mystery, and social commentary.
Major Accomplishments
Throughout her life, Kage Baker made significant contributions to the world of science fiction and fantasy. She is perhaps best known for her Company series, a collection of short stories that follow the adventures of a group of immortal individuals who work as "engineers" in a mysterious corporation.
Kage's writing was praised by critics and readers alike for its unique blend of science fiction and social commentary. Her works often explored complex themes such as identity, power, and the nature of humanity.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Kage Baker's notable works include:
The Anubis Gates (1983), a collection of short stories that explore the concept of immortality
The Company series (2001-2010), a collection of novels and short stories that follow the adventures of a group of immortal individuals
* In the Mothers' Hold (1998), a novel about a woman who discovers she has been living in a simulated reality
Kage's writing was not limited to fiction. She also wrote plays, including The Moon is Drowning in Black Ink, which premiered at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Impact and Legacy
Kage Baker's impact on science fiction and fantasy is undeniable. Her unique blend of imagination and social commentary has inspired a new generation of writers and readers. Her works continue to be widely read and studied, offering insights into complex themes such as identity, power, and humanity.
Kage's legacy extends beyond her writing. She was also a talented artist and entrepreneur, founding the CLOCKWORK ORANGE PRESS in 1997. The press allowed her to publish her own work, as well as that of other emerging writers.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Kage Baker is widely quoted and remembered for her innovative storytelling, which continues to captivate readers with its unique blend of science fiction, fantasy, and social commentary. Her works offer insights into complex themes such as identity, power, and humanity, making her a beloved and respected figure in the world of science fiction and fantasy.
As an author, playwright, and entrepreneur, Kage Baker left an indelible mark on the literary world. Her legacy continues to inspire new generations of writers and readers, ensuring that her imagination and creativity will be remembered for years to come.
Quotes by Kage Baker
1925's 'The Lost World' is... really, everything a dinosaur movie should be. Like a dinosaur, this classic was once extinct too, existing as mere fragmentary footage and stills, but cinemaphile fossil-hunters have painstakingly excavated bits and pieces from obscure archives and assembled them into a nearly-complete animal.
People like these have done more to relieve human misery than any prophet with a manifesto ever will. They number in the millions, these mortals, but they don’t make it into the history books much. They don’t do anything sweeping or controversial. They live their lives, contribute their bits of good work, and die quietly in their beds without recognition or reward. Usually.
We are time machines! The truth’s been right in front of our noses since cinema was invented. Hell, since photography was invented. Hell, since writing was invented. Make an image of something, and it escapes the flow of time. That’s why it’s forbidden! Dickens had a grasp on it with his ghosts, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley almost got it, and Einstein came so close to the truth.
True believers aren’t real receptive to the idea that what they’re telling you is just mythology.
I only became aware that my eyes had filled with tears when I noticed some commotion in the treetops, far off outside the perimeter wall. I blinked and looked again. There were monkeys out there fighting, screaming and pelting one another with rotten fruit.
He is aware that he feels a vague respect for the woman. Mendoza, at least, had never done the reasonable thing, never settled for less, but held to her one insane passion even as it had dragged her into the flames. Such a valuable quality in a pawn.
And as the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so was my beloved among the sons. Et cetera. What would I give, to have that night back, out of all my nights? No treasure fleet could hold it, what I’d give; no caravan of mules could carry it away.
I don’t think humanity just replays history, but we are the same people our ancestors were, and our descendants are going to face a lot of the same situations we do. It’s instructive to imagine how they would react, with different technologies on different worlds. That’s why I write science fiction – even though the term ‘science fiction’ excites disdain in certain persons.
No one deserves good or evil fortune,” said Lady Beatrice. “Things simply happen and one survives them the best one can.
Arrows you may dodge and fever you may antibody for, but mortal grief is a misfortune you cannot escape.