dragaera-request at dragaera.info wrote: Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 11:07:52 -0400 From: Kenneth Gorelick <pulmon at mac.com> Subject: Re: Jim Baen - October 22, 1943 - June 28, 2006 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 ------------------------------ Fandom. I don't know why many sf/f readers feel they are not "part of fandom". There isn't a rule that says a Real Fan has to attend conventions... or run a fanzine/ezine... or wear costumes that match a particular motif... or write fanfic... or be on sf/f newsgroups... or participate in running conventions... or write letters to F&SF or Asimov's [or even read either of 'em]... or be part of a local sf/f group that may or may not do any number of those things. I could go on and on. I'll spare you. You don't even have to *just* be a reader. Yes, that happens to be the core of my being a fan, but surely I am no guide to anyone else. It still freaks me out that people in NASA follow Star Trek avidly. [No, I don't know why, it just does.] Nothing wrong with that either. I like Babylon 5 and Firefly, but you certainly don't have to, or even think that they're of any value. =shrug= I'd say all that matters is that you enjoy what YOU call science fiction, or spec fiction, or whatever you call it. Or fantasy. Or horror. Including any flavor combination of those lovely marketing categories. Nothing wrong with the lines being blurred as to what you're reading either. These are all my opinions. Can't blame them on the parrot. :> Aside: Am sorry for the loss of Jim Baen. I am most sorry for those who grieve for him... Thank you, Eric, for the updates. *--- --- A.S. Zanoni Personal Assistant to Steven Brust Steven's Travel & Event Schedule: http://www.angelfire.com/fang/dreamcafe_chica