What I miss about my friend and colleague Greg Bear…
That hearty-wise and dauntless laugh... I hear it now... and I will hear it always. Greg was the best of us... certainly the best of the ‘Killer Bees! The real article, as a human, as a good man, as a leader in our broad SF guild of explorers-of-the-plausible. His 50+ novels spanned the spectrum of speculative literature, from highly plausible (and sometimes scary) extrapolations of near-future technologies to glimpses farther ahead, at human destinies that struck the reader with astonishment and awe. He had that rare knack of cornering scientific and other experts, squeezing out of them their hopes and suspicions about tomorrow, then setting them on pages that glowed with passion, worry and fun.
(Image #1: Greg Bear, David Brin, Gregory Benford, Vernor Vinge around 2018: the 'Killer Bs.")
And yes, the most admirable trait of all – a good life partner to the wonderful and kind daughter of Poul and Karen and father to their grandchildren. And our dear friend. Cheryl and I extend blessings and love to Astrid & their clan... and to all who loved Greg and his immortal works.
Oh, a couple of addenda: One Turing test for the arrival of AI will be if the charming, brilliant Greg Bear emulators convey some of his sharp wit… and that hearty laugh I already miss so much.
The obit in Greg's original home town newspaper, the San Diego Union.
Judging from Psychlone and other great tales, Greg would take ANY kind of afterlife as a challenge and a dare to explore. To poke at the rules. He doubted it. I doubt it. But if so, go get em tiger. Drive em crazy with questions!
(Image #4 below: dinner honoring Greg at Loscon (LA) November 26, 2020: David Gerrold, Cindy Hernandez, Dan Brin, Tom Abrams, Naomi Fisher, Gerald David Nordley, Steve Barnes Gregory Benford, Ariana Brin, Cheryl Brin, David Brin, Larry Niven. Michelle Pincus isphotgrapher.)
== Octavia... and more... ==
And speaking of another terribly missed friend and colleague.
The Visions of Octavia Butler: A New York Times front page essay pays tribute to my sorely-missed friend and colleague, the great science fiction author Octavia Butler. Alas, it proclaims her great success was accurate prophecy. No, that under-rates her. Octavia's greatest contribution was vividly was helping us to prevent.
A site that offers quotations by your favorite authors. I'll start you with someone familiar.
10 great science fiction books for people who don't like science fiction. A lovely list.
Oh, in case you didn't know... I wrote the final book in his famous Robots and Foundation series – Foundation's Triumph, following upon equally good novels by Greg Bear and Gregory Benford. Together: the Second Foundation Trilogy.
I think Greg's Foundation and Chaos best captured Isaac's voice.
Bon Voyage, pal.
13 comments:
Godspeed Greg Bear!
We’ll all wind up at the Great Seminar in the sky. (Btw, was joking about byshenk being Smelser.)
Inspiration and mentor, even if he didn't know it. Thank you for the words.
To use a quote once used by Greg Bear's father in law:
'May he journey in the Boat of a Million Years'
What a lovely remembrance. I am unfamiliar with Greg Bear, but won't be for long. I always follow up on your recommendations, and haven't been disappointed yet :)
"Greg would take ANY kind of afterlife as a challenge and a dare to explore. To poke at the rules. He doubted it. I doubt it. But if so, go get em tiger. Drive em crazy with questions!" -- what an eloquent portrait that paints! (I think I'm gonna embroider "go get 'em tiger!" in needlepoint and frame it. That or a tee-shirt :) )
Again, thank you for the deep thoughts and smart optimism of CONTRARY BRIN. It always makes my week.
Farewell, and thanks for all the stories, Greg Bear.
Of all that I've read from him my clear favorite is one that isn't often (ever?) mentioned in any "best of" contexts, Anvil of Stars. Its precursor, The Forge of God, is excellent too and should always be read first.
mondojohnson... thanks. Made my morning.
My condolences to the loss of your friend and colleague, Dr. Brin.
Keith Halperin
Dr Brin in the main post:
Oh, in case you didn't know... I wrote the final book in his famous Robots and Foundation series – Foundation's Triumph, following upon equally good novels by Greg Bear and Gregory Benford. Together: the SECOND FOUNDATION TRILOGY.
I think Greg's Foundation and Chaos best captured Isaac's voice.
As you know, I was specifically looking for Asimov's voice in the sequels, and I agree with this observation. Though of the three authors, you (Dr Brin) were the only one I was familiar with at the time, and it was your contribution that brought me to the trilogy, I did notice a distinctly Asimov-like feel to the middle book.
I think the first Bear book I read was one recommended to me by my old friend, Prof. Edward Allen--Blood Music. A very interesting and original novel. The last of his that I read was Eon, just a few months back.
He also authored one of my favorite episodes of the new Twilight Zone (the Harlan Ellison version), "Dead Run."
This same friend, BTW, also recommended the Uplift books from another San Diego writer whose name escapes me at the moment. :)
I never met Greg, but I, too, will miss him greatly. :(
Huh. BLOOD MUSIC was the name of a radio play that I heard on a local Toronto station circa 1985. I assume it's the same story - a continent spanning biosphere unleashed by a microbiologist.
onward
onward
Dear Dr. Brin,
My condolences on the loss of your colleague and friend, Greg Bear. Thank you for sharing your experiences with him. I read a few of his books back in the late 1990s, including Blood Music, Moving Mars and Eon. As a tribute now I have picked up Darwin’s Radio and started reading it, thanks to your blog entry.
Kind regards,
Joe B.
Post a Comment