Last week, we lost two of our authors. One on Tuesday and the other on Thursday. Both from cancer.
To say it was a punch in the gut is an understatement.
Mike Resnick was a long-time contributor to our magazines. He was a Pulphouse writer during its original run. And he contributed a story to our first year of Fiction River (Fiction River: Time Streams). And he had a story in just about every issue of the newly reincarnated Pulphouse Fiction Magazine.
Mike was an amazing writer who inspired so many people. His daughter, Laura Resnick, wrote a beautiful tribute to Mike on Facebook to announce his death:
I’m very sad to announce that my dad died very early today, January 9, 2020, a little after midnight.
He was diagnosed in November with a very aggressive form of lymphoma. Treatment initially went well, and we were hopeful. But his health and strength began to decline sharply in mid-December, and a few days ago, the doctors told us they had made a decision to discontinue treatment, there was no hope, and they recommended hospice care.
Pop chose not to tell anyone how ill he was, because he was so convinced he’d get better and soon be his old self again. He mostly slept during his final days, but when awake he was in good spirits. He passed away quietly in his sleep, without pain or further suffering, a few hours ago.
His connection to his friends, his readers, and his colleagues enriched his life, and he never stopped being delighted to meet people who read his work, who were interested in writing, who loved books and stories, and who shared his sense of wonder. He remained enthusiastic about his craft and devoted to his writing to the end of his life, and was always thrilled to be part of the science fiction community, as both a fan and a pro. He taught me a lot about being a writer and a professional.
My dad met my mom nearly 60 years ago and has been devoted to her ever since. She said to me this morning that no one could have had a better husband. My mom will miss him more than anyone, but we know he will be missed by many people.
He will be cremated, as per his wishes, in a private family service. We will plan a memorial/remembrance gathering for him later this year, at a location where we hope many of his friends can be present–maybe a convention.
Meanwhile, his long illness leaves his widow, my mom, with many large medical bills, while grieving his loss, and without him being here to generate any more income. In his memory, if you would like to help her, his medical GoFundMe is still running.
On my dad’s behalf, thanks to all his friends and comrades for all the good times, good laughs, and good memories he enjoyed in what was a happy and fulfilling life.
Mike’s legacy will live on in his writing, and we will publish new works by him in the future. But today, we mourn his loss heavily.
And in the same week we lost another Pulphouse writer, but this one had not yet graced our pages. Legendary drummer and lyricist for Rush, Neil Peart, died Tuesday after a long battle with brain cancer. Neil and Kevin J. Anderson (a long-time contributor and editor of Fiction River and contributor to Pulphouse Fiction Magazine) co-wrote the novel Clockwork Angels, which was a novelization of Rush’s 2012 album Clockwork Angels. The pair were very close friends and worked on several other fiction projects together. We have two such stories coming up in future Pulphouse issues. The first, with a tribute to Neil written by Kevin, will be in Pulphouse #9, which will be released in February.
To read more about the amazingly talented Neil Peart, click here.
Our hearts go out to the families and close friends of Mike and Neil. Two bright lights burned out too soon.
Allyson Longueira is publisher of WMG Publishing. She is an award-winning writer, editor and designer, working mother, and brain tumor survivor.