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Post by che2000 on Nov 30, 2009 21:04:39 GMT
The British Fantasy Society has reported the death of noted British fantasy writer Robert Holdstock who passed away on Sunday 29 November aged 61.
Author of the justly-praised Mythago Wood series of novels and co-author (with Angus Wells) of the Raven: Swordmistress of Chaos sword and sorcery novels under the pen-name of Richard Kirk.
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Post by Calenture on Nov 30, 2009 22:46:20 GMT
I'm dreadfully saddened to learn this, Che.
Aside from being a superb writer, Rob Holdstock, as some will know, was the guy who originally ran the BSFA's postal writer's forum, Orbiter. I wrote to him once asking to join it, and he wrote back saying I'd have to start it again first. He said he'd run it well for a year, badly for a year, not at all for a year. (Of course, I volunteered.)
Rob was studying tropical medicine; but then, in the BSFA's Vector, they reported that after having his first novel, Eye Among the Blind, published, he was taking the brave step of turning professional writer.
Rob never spoke of the novels which, thanks to Justin Marriott's Paperback Fanatic and the Vault, we now know he wrote; though one day he did mention in an Orbiter letter (he became a member after I took it over) that he was depressed at the pulp which was "glutting the market," and the way he was having to add to it to make a living. He said he'd just made himself sick writing one particularly violent scene, and wished he knew how to write Westerns, so that he wouldn't have to add to the rubbish appearing in the SF/Fantasy genre.
He was very strongly opinionated. When he said that he wished convicted murderers could be used for vivisection, one was never quite sure if he was joking, serious or playing Devil's Advocate.
He was an intense worker, and once suffered a period of amnesia through working at his writing non-stop far too long and too hard.
Basically, he was a hell of a guy. I still have some of his letters, and will always value the help he gave me with my own writing.
Rog
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