Poul Anderson in Hospice Care

Czhorat · Post by **Czhorat** » Wed Aug 01, 2001 8:16 am

I just saw this link posted on another site: <A HREF="http://www.panix.com/~pnh/poul.html" TARGET=_blank>www.panix.com/~pnh/poul.html</A> I haven't had a chance to investigate if it's true, but if so it's a very sad thing. I love Poul's work dearly. It's been a bad time for the greats in the field of SF.I just thought some of you would like to know.--LSid

T Campbell · Post by **T Campbell** » Wed Aug 01, 2001 9:00 am

Indeed.I can't confirm either at present...

Czhorat · Post by **Czhorat** » Wed Aug 01, 2001 10:35 am

Sad, sad news. I was just trying to confirm Mr. Anderson's condition, and came across this obituary on the SFWA site:
<A HREF="http://www.sfwa.org/News/panderson.htm" TARGET=_blank>www.sfwa.org/News/panderson.htm</A> Words fail me at this point. Anderson is one of those unique voices I grew up with, and one of the great old ones whose work helped cultivate my love for science fiction. His is one of those voices that WAS science fiction to me. He'll be dearly missed. --LSid

Muttley · Post by **Muttley** » Thu Aug 02, 2001 1:37 am

My earliest recollections of Poul Anderson's work are the Nicholas van Rijn stories ("The Trouble Twisters" and so on). An excellent antidote to the downbeat New Wave, the fat hero isn't even a warrior, but a trader. Later reading included such landmarks as The Broken Sword, Three Hearts and Three Lions and The High Crusade.He wrote an excellent essay warning of the rise of Bad Fantasy, <A HREF="http://www.sfwa.org/writing/thud.htm" TARGET=_blank>"On Thud and Blunder"</A> in 1978 when the Fantasy Revival was in full swing.For the Fans, Kathy should be the most upset, as he was one of the founders of the SCA in 1966.One of the brightest lights in our firmament has gone out.MuttleyAfter all my time here, I've yet to see any problem, however complicated, which when you looked at it the right way didn't become still more complicated.
-- Poul Anderson [on doing research]

Drooling Fan Girl · Post by **Drooling Fan Girl** » Thu Aug 02, 2001 2:24 am

I followed the second link, only to discover the general obituary page. My initial response was incredibly stupid, but I think perhapse to be fogiven.How dare Marion Zimmer Bradley, Gordon Dickson and all the others have passed on with out my knowing it! They *can't* be dead! I still have their books. Come to think of it, that one is true after a fashion.I haven't been this upset since I found out about Alice Sheldon.Well, I'm glad this forum exists. Where else could I express this sentiment and have even the slightest hope that it might be understood?Mr. Anderson, how dare you go now! I was finally starting to read and appreciate you.Take Care
DFG

T Campbell · Post by **T Campbell** » Thu Aug 02, 2001 2:33 am

Sad indeed. The loss is chiefly ours, since from all indications Poul lived as he wanted to live... Greg and I have been working on a story for next year which may include a tribute, now.

Bevan · Post by **Bevan** » Thu Aug 02, 2001 9:03 am

I owe a lot to Poul. Interestingly enough, it's not for his science-fiction that I remember him, but his fantasy.The Broken Sword is one of the few pieces of swords-and-sorcery that I still like, nay still consider a piece of art.His love of nordic mythology shined through his books, and unlike many fantasy writers, he didn't glamorize it. He showed it warts and all, and thus made his stories much more fascinating. He presented a three-dimensional culture, complete with amoral gods and fairies, fascinating in their whimsy. And for that I will remember him.Amen.