On Jun 29, 2006, at 8:58 AM, eshivak wrote: > All, > > > > Sorry if I'm the bearer of ill tidings but according to David Drake > (I'm on > his newsletter group) Jim Baen died yesterday. > > > > Mr. Drake says it FAR better than I ever could... > > > > http://david-drake.com/baen.html > Thanks so much for sharing. I have been an avid SF reader since 3rd grade (ca 1959) although I am not a "fan" in the sense of Fandom. I don't know much about the players in the field but I know the authors whom I enjoy. This is the only list I read (and occasionally write). Baen's books were among the ones I looked for, because I enjoyed his writers. The giants of my youth are mostly gone (Heinlein, Asimov, Campbell, etc.) and now it seems those of my middle years are at risk. (As an aside, survivors of thalamic stroke generally are not a happy crew-- Mr. Baen had the better possible outcome). Please pass my thanks to Mr. Drake for his eloquence. Ken