{{Short description|American journalist and writer (1957–2026)}} {{Infobox person | name = Jean Rabe | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1957|6|19}}<ref name="MMH">{{cite web|url = https://www.morganmemorialhome.com/obituaries/Jean-E-Rabe?obId=47051980| website = Morgan Memorial Home| title = Jean Rabe Obituary}}</ref> | birth_place = Ottawa, Illinois, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2026|1|19|1957|6|19}} | death_place = Urbana, Illinois, U.S.<ref name="MMH"/> | education = Northern Illinois University (BS) | occupation = Writer, Editor | spouse = Bruce Rabe<ref name="wizardsbio"/> | parents = | children = }}
'''Jean Rabe''' (19 June 1957 – 19 January 2026)<ref>{{cite web|url = https://dragonlancenexus.com/jean-rabe-passes-away/|last = Whiteman|first=Trampas| website=The Dragonlance Nexus| title = Jean Rabe passes away| date = 19 January 2026| accessdate=19 January 2026}}</ref> was an American journalist, editor, gamer and writer of fantasy and mystery. After a career as a newspaper reporter, she was employed by TSR, Inc. for several years as head of the Role Playing Game Association and editor of the ''Polyhedron'' magazine. Rabe began a career as a novelist for TSR and Wizards of the Coast, and over the last 30 years has produced over three dozen books and scores of short stories, at first in the genres of game-related fantasy and science fiction and later as an author of mystery novels.
Rabe wrote game accessories and novels for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy worlds of ''Greyhawk'', ''Forgotten Realms'' and ''Dragonlance'', and contributed to West End Games' ''Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game'' and FASA's ''BattleTech'' product lines. She served the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America as business manager and editor of the association's ''SFWA Bulletin'' until 2013.
Rabe became known for collaborations with Andre Norton and a series of short story anthologies frequently co-edited with Martin H. Greenberg. Rabe admitted she had ghost written a few works, and had co-written fiction and non-fiction works with such diverse writers as Gene DeWeese, Stephen D. Sullivan, Don Bingle, and F. Lee Bailey. She wrote her first "Piper Blackwell mystery" novel in 2018 and published five books in the series.
==Early life== Jean Rabe was born in Ottawa, Illinois, and learned to play games at an early age—checkers, chess, and euchre by the age of 7, and board wargames in high school.<ref name=rabe>{{cite web | url =https://booksthething.com/2016/11/01/guest-post-from-author-jean-rabe/ | title =Going Around the Board | last =Rabe | first =Jean| date =2016-11-01 | website =The Book's the Thing | access-date =2021-12-17}}</ref> In 1974 she enrolled in journalism at Northern Illinois University. In her junior year, while attending the inaugural Windycon games convention, she was introduced to the fantasy role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons'', which had just been published by TSR earlier that year.<ref name="rabe" /> She subsequently took up the game as a hobby and social activity. She graduated from Northern Illinois with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism.<ref>{{cite web | url =https://www.librarything.com/profile/JeanRabe | title =Member: Jean Rabe | website =Library Thing | access-date =2022-01-18 | quote = I attended Northern Illinois University, where I gained a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism, with an emphasis on geography and geology. }}</ref>
==Career==
=== Journalism === After graduating from university, Rabe worked as a newspaper reporter and bureau chief for the ''Quincy Herald-Whig'' in Quincy, Illinois. Rabe joined the ''Evansville Courier & Press'' in Evansville, Indiana in late 1983, covering critical news subjects like labor relations,<ref name="08241985Rabe1">{{cite news |last1=Rabe |first1=Jean |title=Job action, Trade unions support PCB plant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106738429/job-action-trade-unions-support-pcb-pla/ |access-date=1 August 2022 |work=Evansville Press |date=24 August 1985 |pages=1}}</ref><ref name="05311986Rabe2">{{cite news |last1=Rabe |first1=Jean |title=Local phone workers are ready for strike |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106737688/local-phone-workers-are-ready-for-strike/ |access-date=1 August 2022 |work=Evansville Press |date=31 May 1986 |pages=2}}</ref> prison conditions,<ref name="05101986RabeBlum1">{{cite news |last1=Rabe |first1=Jean |last2=Blum |first2=Peter |title=Accused guard killer promised mother he'd behave |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106737468/accused-guard-killer-promised-mother-he/ |access-date=1 August 2022 |work=Evansville Press |date=10 May 1986 |pages=1}}</ref> and groundwater contamination,<ref name="11191985Rabe24">{{cite news |last1=Rabe |first1=Jean |title=Chemist says TF-1 is as bad as PCBs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106737298/chemist-says-tf-1-is-as-bad-as-pcbs/ |access-date=1 August 2022 |work=Evansville Press |date=19 November 1985 |pages=24}}</ref><ref name="03281986Rabe17">{{cite news |last1=Rabe |first1=Jean |title=PCB plant manager: Fears will disappear |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106738000/pcb-plant-manager-fears-will-disappear/ |access-date=1 August 2022 |work=Evansville Press |date=28 March 1986 |pages=17}}</ref><ref name="08301986RabeBlum8">{{cite news |last1=Rabe |first1=Jean |last2=Blum |first2=Peter |title=Area groups won't give up the fight against PCB plant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106738260/area-groups-wont-give-up-the-fight-agai/ |access-date=1 August 2022 |work=Evansville Press |date=30 August 1986 |pages=8}}</ref> but frequently writing stories which highlighted her love of animals.<ref name="01271987Rabe3">{{cite news |last1=Rabe |first1=Jean |title=Bill outlaws death chamber for animals |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106738618/bill-outlaws-death-chamber-for-animals/ |access-date=1 August 2022 |work=Evansville Press |date=27 January 1987 |pages=3}}</ref><ref name="06181986Rabe9">{{cite news |last1=Rabe |first1=Jean |title=Dog breeder wants to relocate to outside of Posey County |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106737828/dog-breeder-wants-to-relocate-to-outside/ |access-date=1 August 2022 |work=Evansville Press |date=18 June 1986 |pages=9}}</ref><ref name="11151985Rabe9">{{cite news |last1=Rabe |first1=Jean |title=Fowl Call, Hobbyist's feathers ruffled |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106737126/fowl-call-hobbyists-feathers-ruffled/ |access-date=1 August 2022 |work=Evansville Press |date=15 November 1985 |pages=9}}</ref><ref name="10181983Rabe9">{{cite news |last1=Rabe |first1=Jean |title=Business is in full plume |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106738916/business-is-in-full-plume/ |access-date=1 August 2022 |work=Evansville Press |date=18 October 1983 |pages=9}}</ref> Before Christmas 1985, reporter Rabe was dispatched to Fort Campbell, Kentucky to cover President Reagan's visit consoling family members after a tragic crash at Gander, Newfoundland took the lives of 256 servicemen and crew.<ref name="12131985Takeoff1">{{cite news |title=Ill-fated takeoff kills 250 troops |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106735401/ill-fated-takeoff-kills-250-troops/ |access-date=1 August 2022 |work=Evansville Courier and Press |date=13 December 1985 |pages=1}}</ref><ref name="12141985Reagans1">{{cite news |title=Reagans coming to Fort Campbell |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106735555/reagans-coming-to-fort-campbell/ |access-date=1 August 2022 |work=Evansville Courier and Press |date=14 December 1985 |pages=1}}</ref><ref name="12171985Hulin1">{{cite news |last1=Hulin |first1=David |title=President shares grief of a nation with victims' kin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106736057/president-shares-grief-of-a-nation-with/ |access-date=1 August 2022 |work=Evansville Courier and Press |date=17 December 1985 |pages=1}}</ref> Although others got the front page bylines, the ''Courier & Press'' credited Rabe with essential journalism which significantly affected the coverage.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rabe |first1=Jean |title=Fort Campbell secretary handles painful work |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106736521/fort-campbell-secretary-handles-painful/ |access-date=1 August 2022 |work=Evansville Press |date=14 December 1985 |pages=5}}</ref><ref name="12221985Letter12">{{cite news |title=A letter to our readers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106734112/a-letter-to-our-readers/ |access-date=1 August 2022 |work=Evansville Courier and Press |date=22 December 1985 |pages=12}}</ref><ref name="01241986Award5">{{cite news |title=Press reporter receives award for news writing |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106736808/press-reporter-receives-award-for-news-w/ |access-date=1 August 2022 |work=Evansville Press |date=24 January 1986 |pages=17}}</ref> Rabe later worked as a stringer for the ''Rockford Register Star''.<ref name="wizardsbio"/>
=== Gamer === TSR hired Rabe in 1987 to coordinate the RPGA Network.<ref name="10101987Knipe1">{{cite news |last1=Knipe |first1=Sandra |title=Science fiction convention blasts off Friday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106739537/science-fiction-convention-blasts-off-fr/ |access-date=1 August 2022 |work=Evansville Press |date=10 October 1987 |pages=1}}</ref><ref name="10171987Armstrong9">{{cite news |last1=Armstrong |first1=Dan |title=Far Out, Science fiction fans in reality are stars of local convention |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106739260/far-out-science-fiction-fans-in-reality/ |access-date=1 August 2022 |work=Evansville Press |date=17 October 1987 |pages=9}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sfbookcase.com/author.asp?author=Jean+Rabe|title=Author Profile: Jean Rabe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317021249/http://sfbookcase.com/author.asp?author=Jean+Rabe|archive-date=March 17, 2012}} retrieved Jan 11, 2011</ref> She also used her writing skills to create magazine articles and novels. In addition, Rabe wrote and edited ''Dungeons & Dragons'' and ''Gamma World'' adventure modules.
Rabe became the editor of a BattleTech magazine, ''MechForce Quarterly'', in 1995.<ref name="wizardsbio">{{cite web|url=http://ww2.wizards.com/Books/Wizards/Bios/default.aspx?doc=JeanRabe|title=Jean Rabe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224011354/http://ww2.wizards.com/Books/Wizards/Bios/default.aspx?doc=JeanRabe|archive-date=February 24, 2009}}</ref> For Dragonlance, TSR had Rabe write the next major event for Krynn after ''Dragons of Summer Flame'', which came to be the ''Dragons of a New Age'' trilogy, beginning with ''The Dawning of a New Age'' (1996).<ref name="designers">{{Cite book|author=Shannon Appelcline|title=Designers & Dragons|publisher=Mongoose Publishing|year=2011| isbn= 978-1-907702-58-7|page=283}}</ref>
When Wizards of the Coast purchased TSR, they published the rest of Rabe's ''Dragons of a New Age'' trilogy before bringing back Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman as the main authors of Dragonlance.<ref name="designers"/> Her ''Dragons of a New Age'' trilogy consisted of ''Dawning of a New Age'', ''Day of the Tempest'', and ''Eve of the Maelstrom''.<ref name="wizardsbio"/> Her other Dragonlance work includes ''Maquesta Kar-Thon'', co-authored with Tina Daniell, and ''The Silver Star''. Her other work for TSR includes ''Red Magic'', ''Secret of the Djinn'', and ''Night of the Tiger''.<ref name="wizardsbio"/> Rabe also created content for Imperium Games.<ref name="designers90s">{{Cite book|author=Shannon Appelcline|title=Designers & Dragons: The '90s|publisher=Evil Hat Productions|year=2014| isbn=978-1-61317-084-7}}</ref>{{rp|263}} Rabe worked with Janet Pack on ''The Forces of Dagnarus'' for the ''Sovereign Stone'' role-playing game.<ref name="wizardsbio"/>
She also wrote more than four dozen short stories, including stories set in the ''Dragonlance'', ''Forgotten Realms'', and ''Star Wars'' settings. Three of her ''Star Wars'' short stories—"The Breath of Gelgelar", "Day of the Sepulchral Night", and "The Farrimmer Cafe"—have been published in the ''Star Wars Adventure Journals''.<ref name="wizardsbio"/><ref>{{cite book|title=Gamer Fantastic|date=2009|publisher=Daw Books|location=New York|page=236|isbn=9781101082164|editor1-first=Martin H.|editor1-last=Greenberg|editor2-first=Kerrie|editor2-last=Hughes|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mUAXVUaZW84C&pg=PT236|access-date=August 4, 2014}}</ref> She wrote science fiction stories for Martin H. Greenberg's office in Green Bay, Wisconsin,<ref name="wizardsbio"/> and coedited a number of all-original anthologies with Greenberg for DAW Books.
=== Writer === Rabe also wrote articles for ''On The Lake'', a local magazine for tourists.<ref name="wizardsbio" /> In 2005, Rabe served as a juror for the Andre Norton Award for young adult fiction, which was established that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfwa.org/archive/news/nortonaward.htm |title=SFWA: New Andre Norton Award|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605180345/http://www.sfwa.org/archive/news/nortonaward.htm |archive-date=2011-06-05 |access-date=December 29, 2010}}</ref>
Rabe was the business manager and later the editor of the bimonthly ''SFWA Bulletin'', published by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.<ref>[http://www.sfwa.org/bulletin/contact.htm#editorial SFWA Bulletin Editorial Staff] retrieved Dec 29, 2010</ref> In June 2013, Rabe resigned the post in the course of a controversy about alleged sexism in ''SFWA Bulletin'' articles written by, among others, Mike Resnick and Barry N. Malzberg.<ref>{{cite news|author-link=Charlie Anders|last=Anders|first=Charlie Jane|title=The editor of SFWA's bulletin resigns over sexist articles|url=http://io9.com/the-editor-of-sfwas-bulletin-resigns-over-sexist-artic-511752239|access-date=7 June 2013|newspaper=io9|date=6 June 2013|archive-date=20 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720210832/http://io9.com/the-editor-of-sfwas-bulletin-resigns-over-sexist-artic-511752239|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Awards== ''Dragonlance: Death March'' was nominated for the 2009 Special Gaming Scribe Award—awarded by the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers—for "Best Original gaming-related tie-in novel of 2009".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://iamtw.blogspot.com/2009/03/scribe-award-nominees-announced.html|title=Scribe Award Nominees Announced|date=March 26, 2009|accessdate=December 29, 2010}}</ref>
In 2020 the IAMTW elected her Grandmaster.<ref name=S20>{{cite web|url=https://locusmag.com/2020/07/2020-scribe-award-winners|title=2020 Scribe Awards Winners|publisher=Locus Online|access-date=August 6, 2025}}</ref>
== Bibliography ==
=== ''Dungeons & Dragons'' modules === *{{cite book| last1 =Rabe| first1 =Jean| author-link =Jean Rabe| last2 =Williams| first2 = Skip| author-link2 = Skip Williams| title = Child's Play | publisher =TSR, inc.| year =1989| location =World of Greyhawk| series = WG10| id =9265| isbn = 0-88038-756-4| page =32}} *{{cite book| last1 = Rabe| first1 = Jean| author-link = Jean Rabe| last2 = Rabe | first2 = Bruce| title = Terrible Trouble at Tragidore| publisher =TSR, inc.| year =1989| location =Generic Setting. Included with the 2nd edition Dungeon Master's Screen.}} *{{cite book| last = Rabe| first = Jean| author-link = Jean Rabe| title = Vale of the Mage| publisher =TSR, inc.| year =1989| location =World of Greyhawk| series = WG12| id =9270XXXX1401| isbn = 0-88038-816-1| page =64}} *{{cite book| last = Rabe| first = Jean| author-link = Jean Rabe| title = Swamplight| publisher =TSR, inc.| year =1993| series = GA2| id =9424XXX1501| isbn = 1-56076-588-7| page =32}}
===''Dragonlance'' series=== *1993 ''Krynnspace'', a crossover setting for ''Dragonlance'' and ''Spelljammer'' *1995 ''Maquesta Kar-Thon'', with Tina Daniell *1996 ''The Dawning of a New Age'', Dragons of a New Age series *1997 ''Day of the Tempest'', Dragons of a New Age series *1998 ''Eve of the Maelstrom'', Dragons of a New Age series *1999 ''The Silver Stair'', Bridges of Time series *2000 ''Downfall'', the Dhamon Saga *2001 ''Betrayal'', the Dhamon Saga *2002 ''Redemption'', the Dhamon Saga *2004 ''The Lake of Death'', Age of Mortals series *2007 ''The Rebellion'', The Stonetellers series *2008 ''Death March'', The Stonetellers series *2009 ''Goblin Nation'', The Stonetellers series
===Novels connected to other fantasy role-playing settings === *1991 ''Red Magic'', a ''Forgotten Realms: The Harpers'' series *1994 ''Secret of the Djinn'', ''Endless Quest'' series *1995 ''Night of the Tiger'', ''Endless Quest'' series *1996 ''Sands of Deception'', ''Endless Quest'' series *2004 ''The Finest Creation'', Finest Trilogy *2005 ''The Finest Choice'', Finest Trilogy *2006 ''The Finest Challenge'', Finest Trilogy *2006 ''Aftershock'', a ''Shadowrun'' novel with John Helfers *2006 ''Return to Quag Keep'', with Andre Norton *2006 ''A Taste of Magic'', with Andre Norton *2007 ''Fenzig's Fortune'' *2008 ''Dragon Mage'', with Andre Norton *2018 ''The Bone Shroud'' *2018 ''Shadows Down Under'', a ''Shadowrun'' novel *2024 ''The Love-Haight Case Files'', with Donald J. Bingle
===Piper Blackwell Mysteries series=== *2018 ''The Dead of Winter: A Piper Blackwell Mystery'' *2018 ''The Dead of Night: A Piper Blackwell Mystery'' *2019 ''The Dead of Summer: A Piper Blackwell Mystery'' *2020 ''The Dead of Jerusalem Ridge: A Piper Blackwell Mystery'' *2022 ''The Dead of Autumn: A Piper Blackwell Mystery'' *2023 ''The Dead of Sled Run: A Piper Blackwell Mystery''
===Anthologies edited by Rabe=== * ''Historical Hauntings'', with Martin H. Greenberg (DAW, 2001; {{ISBN|0-88677-992-8}}) * ''Sol's Children'', with Martin H. Greenberg (DAW, 2002) * ''Renaissance Faire'', with Andre Norton (DAW, 2005) * ''Furry Fantastic'', with Brian M Thomsen (DAW, 2006; {{ISBN|0-7564-0381-2}}) * ''Time Twisters'', with Martin H Greenberg (DAW, 2007; {{ISBN|0-7564-0405-3}}) * ''Pandora's Closet'', with Martin H Greenberg (DAW, 2007; {{ISBN|0-7564-0437-1}}) * ''Terribly Twisted Tales'', with Martin H. Greenberg (DAW, May 2009; {{ISBN|0-7564-0554-8}}) * ''Spells of the City'', with Martin H. Greenberg (DAW, 2009; {{ISBN|0-7564-0567-X}}) * ''Timeshares'', with Martin H Greenberg (DAW, 2010; {{ISBN|0-7564-0615-3}}) * ''Stalking the Wild Hare: Stories from the Gen Con Writer's Symposium'', with John Helfers, Chris Pierson, and Marc Tassin (Walkabout Publishing, May 2010; {{ISBN|978-0-9821-7990-1}}) * ''Steampunk'd'', with Martin H. Greenberg (DAW, 2010; {{ISBN|978-0-7564-0643-1}}) * ''Boondocks Fantasy'' with Martin H. Greenberg (DAW, 2011; {{ISBN|0-7564-0653-6}})) * Blue Kingdoms ** ''Blue Kingdoms: Shades & Specters'', with Stephen D. Sullivan (Walkabout Publishing, 2008; {{ISBN|0-9802086-5-3}}) ** ''Blue Kingdoms: Buxom Buccaneers'', with Stephen D. Sullivan (Walkabout Publishing, 2008; {{ISBN|0-9802086-5-3}}) ** ''Blue Kingdoms: Mages and Magic'', with Stephen D. Sullivan (CreateSpace, 2010; {{ISBN|1-4564-8395-1}}) * ''A Hero by Any Other Name'' (Silence in the Library, 2013; {{ISBN|098967682X}})
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{cite web|url=http://www.sff.net/people/jeanr/index.html |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930152200/http://www.sff.net/people/jeanr/index.html |url-status=live |title=Rabe's website}} *{{cite web|url=http://pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=1338 |title=Rabe's roleplaying game credits|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215015149/http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=1338 |archive-date=December 15, 2008}} *{{ISFDB name|id=Jean_Rabe|name=Jean Rabe}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rabe, Jean}} Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers Category:20th-century American novelists Category:20th-century American women novelists Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers Category:21st-century American novelists Category:21st-century American women novelists Category:American electronic literature writers Category:American fantasy writers Category:American magazine editors Category:American science fiction editors Category:American women magazine editors Category:American women non-fiction writers Category:American women science fiction and fantasy writers Category:2026 deaths Category:Dungeons & Dragons game designers Category:Novelists from Illinois Category:People from Quincy, Illinois Category:Role-playing game writers Category:Year of birth missing (living people)