Al Sarrantino Al Sarrantonio Martin H Greenberg

Al Sarrantonio was an American writer, editor, and publisher known for his contributions to horror and science fiction. Born in New York City in 1952, he began his writing career at 16 and later attended the Clarion Science Fiction Writers Workshop. Sarrantonio's career spanned over five decades, during which he authored more than 50 books and 90 short stories, alongside editing numerous anthologies. He worked in publishing before dedicating himself to full-time writing in 1982. His notable works include the "Orangefield Cycle" revolving around Halloween, the "Masters of Mars" science fiction trilogy, and various horror novels such as "Moonbane" and "Skeletons." Sarrantonio also penned Westerns and mysteries. His short fiction appeared in many anthologies, and he received a Bram Stoker Award nomination for "Richard's Head." He passed away in January 2025 at the age of 72. Sarrantonio also served as a book reviewer and critic for several publications.

Born in New York City on May 25, 1952, Al Sarrantonio spent his formative years on Long Island. His heritage included Italian and Scots-Irish roots. His writing journey commenced at the young age of 16 with an appearance in a publication by editor Ray Palmer. He continued to write while pursuing his education, ultimately earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Manhattan College in 1974. That same year, he further honed his craft by attending the Clarion Science Fiction Writers Workshop at Michigan State University, a renowned program for aspiring speculative fiction writers.

Sarrantonio's professional writing career began in earnest after his university studies. He started in the publishing industry in New York in 1976, before shifting to full-time writing in 1982. His early short fiction appeared in prominent magazines like Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine and Heavy Metal. He established a significant presence in the horror genre with widely anthologized stories such as "Pumpkin Head" and "The Man With Legs," many of which were collected in his first short story collection, "Toybox." Sarrantonio demonstrated versatility by writing across multiple genres, including Westerns like "West Texas," mysteries such as "Cold Night," and science fiction, notably the "Masters of Mars" trilogy, which was influenced by Edgar Rice Burroughs. He also developed the "Orangefield Cycle," a series of interconnected works centered on Halloween and set in a fictional New York town.

Beyond his own prolific writing, Al Sarrantonio was also an active editor and publisher. He edited numerous anthologies, contributing to the dissemination of speculative fiction. His editorial projects included "Portents" and co-editing "Stories" with Neil Gaiman. Sarrantonio's work was recognized with a Bram Stoker Award nomination for his short story "Richard's Head." His extensive bibliography includes over 50 books and 90 short stories, showcasing a career dedicated to imaginative storytelling. He also contributed as a book reviewer and columnist for various publications, including Night Cry magazine. Sarrantonio passed away on January 27, 2025, at the age of 72, leaving behind a substantial body of work in horror, science fiction, and related genres.