History Creator / FredSaberhagen

* AIIsACrapshoot: Used in the stand-alone ''Octagon'' as well as the ''Berserker'' tales.

* OurVampiresAreDifferent
* PerspectiveFlip: ''The Frankenstein Papers''.

* RecursiveAdaptation: His novelization of the film ''Film/BramStokersDracula''.

* PublicDomainCharacter: Very many in the vampire series, including the obvious ({{Dracula}}), and the not-so-obvious (Franchise/SherlockHolmes). In fact his Dracula and Holmes series crossed over, twice, with alternating narrators in the respective styles.

Fred Saberhagen (1930-2007) was an American SF writer. His works include the science fiction ''Literature/{{Berserker}}'' series, in which the galaxy is threatened by near-unstoppable self-replicating war machines; the fantasy ''Ardneh'' series (including the Empire of the East trilogy and the ''[[Literature/BookOfSwords Books of Swords]])''; and a series of vampire novels beginning with ''Literature/TheDraculaTape'', in which the world's most infamous vampire sets the record straight about the events of ''Literature/{{Dracula}}''.

* AIIsACrapshoot: Used in the stand-along ''Octagon'' as well as the Berserker tales.

* Literature/{{Berserker}}
* Literature/BookOfSwords

* MythologyGag: In ''Octagon'', a stand-alone novel about a play-by-post strategy game, the company that runs the game is called [[Literature/{{Berserkers}} Berserkers Incorporated]].

* GroundhogDayLoop: ''After the Fact'' has the main character taught to use his ''natural talent'' for this in a plan to secretly rescue UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln from his assassination. It comes in handy that, any time things go wrong, he can reset to a few minutes back and try again. The scene where he accidentally prevents the killing altogether becomes a CMOA for the president, who with a moment's warning singlehandedly clobbers John Wilkes Booth. Unfortunately, that has to be reset, too, since the idea is to rescue Lincoln while still having him ''appear'' to be assassinated.

* FightDracula: Franchise/SherlockHolmes takes on Dracula in ''The Holmes-Dracula File''.

Fred Saberhagen (1930-2007) was an American SF writer. His works include the science fiction ''Literature/{{Berserker}}'' series, in which the galaxy is threatened by near-unstoppable self-replicating war machines; the fantasy ''Ardneh'' series (including the Empire of the East trilogy and the ''{{Books of Swords}})''; and a series of vampire novels beginning with ''Literature/TheDraculaTape'', in which the world's most infamous vampire sets the record straight about the events of ''{{Dracula}}''.

Fred Saberhagen (1930-2007) was an American SF writer. His works include the science fiction Literature/{{Berserker}} series, in which the galaxy is threatened by near-unstoppable self-replicating war machines; the fantasy Ardneh series (including the Empire of the East trilogy and the {{Books of Swords}}); and a series of vampire novels beginning with ''Literature/TheDraculaTape'', in which the world's most infamous vampire sets the record straight about the events of ''{{Dracula}}''.

* PublicDomainCharacter: Very many in the vampire series, including the obvious ({{Dracula}}), and the not-so-obvious (SherlockHolmes). In fact his Dracula and Holmes series crossed over, twice, with alternating narrators in the respective styles.

* RodentsOfUnusualSize: ''The Holmes-Dracula File'' features the famous rodent NoodleIncident of the SherlockHolmes series, the Giant Rat of Sumatra.

* {{Novelization}}: FrancisFordCoppola's ''Film/BramStokersDracula'', by Fred Saberhagen.

* HeelFaceTurn: In ''Empire of the East'', Lord Chup served the [[TheEmpire evil Empire of the title]] faithfully ... ''until'' one of its warlords demanded: "You must be for once not brave, but cowardly.... It will be difficult only once. You must learn to cause pain, for the sake of nothing but causing pain. Only thus will you be bound to us entirely." [[spoiler:Then he killed off a major demon, turning the tide of a critical battle.]]
* MagicVersusScience: In ''Empire of the East'', most high technology ceased functioning because the very laws of physics had been changed [[spoiler:by a [[DeusEstMachina powerful supercomputer]] in order to prevent a nuclear war from destroying humanity]], which in turn made magic possible, and indeed prevalent. [[spoiler:By the end of the trilogy, some balance had been restored, and magic and technology could more easily function side-by-side.]]
* NoManOfWomanBorn: In ''Empire of the East'', one character threatens to slay another "not by day or night, neither with the staff nor with the bow, neither with the palm of the hand nor with the fist, neither with the wet nor with the dry." This is said to be a repeat of an old prophecy in which the god Indra slew the demon Namuci "in the morning twilight, by sprinkling over him the foam of the sea." The repeat comes true when its target is [[spoiler:asphyxiated by the foam of a fire extinguisher at sunset]].

* RagnarokProofing: In ''Empire of the East'', set thousands of years AfterTheEnd, the heroes search for a magic metal elephant to help them in the war. The elephant turns out to be a mostly operational nuclear-powered battle tank from before the nuclear holocaust. The armament is dead and the chemical-protective gear crumbles when touched, but the controls still light up, the engine roars, and none of the drive mechanism is broken. This is rare enough on a tank that hasn't been maintained since last ''week''.

* SealedEvilInACan: In ''Empire of the East'', the Demon-Prince Orcus, who founded the titular Empire, was imprisoned under the earth by his own lieutenants, John Ominor and Wood, in a coup. Eventually, Wood convinces Ominor that they should release Orcus, believing that only Orcus has the power to match Ardneh, and believing that they can keep Orcus controlled.
* ThanatosGambit: Ardneh's plan in ''Empire of the East''.
* VirginPower: In the setting of ''Empire of the East'', some wizards, both male and female, lose some or all of their power if they lose their virginity. Many do not, and, indeed, some are quite promiscuous with no ill effects, but there is no explanation of why some do and some don't.

* {{Books of Swords}}

* PublicDomainCharacter: Very many in the vampire series, including the obvious ({{Dracula}}), and the not-so-obvious (SherlockHolmes).