Robert Sheckley was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in New Jersey.  He went into the U.S. army after high school and served in Korea.  After discharge he attended New York University, graduating with an arts degree.  He began to sell stories to all the science-fiction magazines soon after his graduation, producing several hundred stories over the next several years.
 
His first novel, IMMORTALITY, INC., was produced as the movie FREEJACK.  This book was republished in America by Tor Books, and in England, together with his classic MINDSWAP, by Legend, a division of Random House UK.
 
His best-known books in thescience-fiction field are IMMORTALITY, INC, MINDSWAP, and DIMENSION OF MIRACLES. They have had numerous publishers including Victor Gollancz in England and Dell, Delacorte and Bantam in the United States.  He wrote the story which was the basis for the movie THE TENTH VICTIM.  The novel was published by Ballantine Books.  His short story, THE PRIZE OF PERIL, was the basis for the French movie, LA PRIX DU DANGER.
 
Mr. Sheckley collaborated with Roger Zelazny in a three book fantasy series.  The titles are BRING ME THE HEAD OF PRINCE CHARMING, IF AT FAUST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, and A FARCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.  These books were published by Bantam Spectra.  
 
He has written three novels in a humorous private detective series:  THE DRACONIAN ALTERNATIVE, DRACONIAN NEW YORK, and SOMA BLUES.  
 
Mr. Sheckley has produced about 65 books, including 40 novels and 9 collections of his short stories.

Robert Sheckley passed away on the morning of December 9, 2005 in Vassar Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY.