Today, April 14, is Jack McDevitt’s birthday.  He’s 85 today.  I normally reserve these birthday posts for writers, artists, and editors who are no longer with us.  But I make the occasional exception. Mr. McDevitt is one of those.  He’s among the few authors I always buy in hardcover from trade publishers.

I’ve had t he privilege of meeting him at least three different times, although not recently. He is a consummate gentleman. Jack is open, friendly, and easy to talk to.

He writes science fiction in what would probably be considered the classic vein. There’s a reason he’s a multiple award winner.  If you haven’t read him, I suggest you do yourself a favor and do so.  Start with A Talent for War (the Alex Benedict series), or The Engines of God (the Academy/ Priscilla “Hutch” Hutchison series), or some of the short stories, the most recent collection being A Voice in the Night.

Happy birthday, Jack!