Kevin's Watch

Steve just used the term "late and lamented" when referring to Fred. I hadn't heard anything about it, but I looked it up - Fred passed at the end of June 2007:

www.sfwa.org/news/2007/fsaberhagen.htm

I got hooked on his books the same time I started reading Donaldson. They were great! And I met him the first time I went to World Fantasy ('96), and he was there just about every year after. I remember the one reading he did - he wasn't done with the chapter when his time was up, so he pulled half a dozen of us into an empty room across the hall to finish up. He was such a great guy! Fantasy just won't be the same without him.

God's speed, Fred!

Damm. I've met him twice, truly a classy gentleman.

Sorry to hear it. Still enjoy his books. Still in search of the rest of the Swords books. (Got the 1st 3 Lost Swords, that's all. So far.)

--A

Too bad. The Swords books were great. Never got around to the Berserker series, though.

If I remember correctly, the first 6 just got better and better (maybe first 5). Then it kind of plateaued for a while. Then he finally finished the entire work in a satisfactory manner, finally revealing this Emperor character, and connecting it up conclusively with his previous work, Empire of the East trilogy (another very good series, btw).

Syl wrote:Too bad. The Swords books were great. Never got around to the Berserker series, though.

You can download Berserker Throne for free. I'm reading it slowly on the side. It's pretty cool.

The guy who started the Berserkers Universe died?

I"m pretty sure I read one of the Swords books way back when, but I don't remember ever going back for more. When I was a young girl I lived out in the country, and the closest bookstore that sold used books was 45 miles away, and when I went I bought all that I could afford. The selection was hit-and-miss, though. I'm sure I've got all sorts of loose ends in my reading list if I stopped long enough to think about it.

And just talking about the Book Nook makes me remember the smell of the books, and makes me want to go visit it. Too bad it's 2 hours away from where I live now. . .

Wyldewode wrote:And just talking about the Book Nook makes me remember the smell of the books, and makes me want to go visit it. Too bad it's 2 hours away from where I live now. . .

Reminds me of the days when I had to drive 25 miles to the nearest mall for books.

at Bubonicon '03.

Damelon wrote:

Wyldewode wrote:And just talking about the Book Nook makes me remember the smell of the books, and makes me want to go visit it. Too bad it's 2 hours away from where I live now. . .

Reminds me of the days when I had to drive 25 miles to the nearest mall for books.

I think that is why I have such special and fond memories of that store. . . driving there was always a special event, and it was one of the first things I got to do on my own (my brother is 21 months older than me, and until he went to college we shared a car).

A true loss! Berserker Man may or may not be his best but it is certainly my personal favorite. And the Berserker short stories were great, too. RIP.

I very much enjoyed Empire of the East when I read it yeeeaaars ago.