I hate to see another good writer going so soon after Robert Holdstock. This story about Terry Pratchett almost made me cry. Sad time for readers. posted by irisclara at 5:03 PM on January 31, 2010
Loved her and the amazing world she created. This is very sad news. posted by OolooKitty at 5:09 PM on January 31, 2010
Oh my god, this terrible. I didn't even know she was sick. posted by Kevin Street at 5:44 PM on January 31, 2010
I didn't know she was sick, either. Sad news. posted by Forktine at 6:28 PM on January 31, 2010
Kage was one of those authors I'd come across in short story collections and always meant to read more of. It's sad to think that I can now read her complete collection.
Damn. I had no idea she was sick. I've been collecting all of her Company and other stuff (small press) for the past few years. I've always felt she was underrated as an author.
One of the best scifi authors from asimov's, she converted me to her novels with wonderful short stories, which were excellent on their own, but made richer by the story arc of The Company.
Been a fan for a while, but it's sad regardless of the quality of her writing.
Thank you so much for not using the word succumbed. I've been seeing 'succumbed to cancer' in obits/headlines a lot lately, and I really, really hate that. posted by BrotherCaine at 11:53 PM on January 31, 2010
Sorry, that came out wrong. I meant it'd still be sad even if I hadn't loved her work. posted by BrotherCaine at 12:19 AM on February 1, 2010
.
Kage Baker made me happy during some hard times. I'm sorry to see her go.
On the bright side it looks like I missed the last couple of Company novels. Time to get to a bookstore. posted by mmoncur at 12:48 AM on February 1, 2010
Though I never met her, I've been reading her books for so long it feels oddly like losing a friend. Farewell to a brilliant builder of worlds and teller of tales. posted by Pallas Athena at 7:32 AM on February 1, 2010
She kept her illness private until about two weeks ago, so not many people knew she was sick.
I haven't read more of her than some Company short fiction; I'll look forward to reading more. posted by Zed at 9:43 AM on February 1, 2010
I have long loved the Company books, because they were such a great combination of solid, basic sci-fi tropes (cyborgs, time travel, etc.) with good characters and dialogue. *sigh* And I was very much looking forward to another one coming out sometime not too far off.
Ah, the last six months have been like watching the lights go out, one by one. :7( posted by wenestvedt at 9:43 AM on February 1, 2010
Right after I got started in publishing, I had the pleasure of having a professional dinner with Kage and a few other people. I was still a little shell-shocked by the not-small number of authors who turned out to be loud, obnoxious, self-aggrandizing jerks. Kage was their antidote: sweet, quiet, professional, generally pleasant to be around, and able to treat some wet behind the ears editorial assistant as if he might be -- gasp! -- a real person. Ten years later, I haven't forgotten it.
Though I will say that I'm glad she "finished" (more or less) the Company series before she got sick. So that will live on. posted by jenfullmoon at 2:41 PM on February 1, 2010
Oh God, how I will miss her work. It was so lovely to know that that kind of talent was working away practically in my backyard (I'm from the Central Coast).
posted by Artw at 2:33 PM on January 31, 2010