X-Message-Number: 17182
From: "john grigg" <>
Subject: SF great Poul Anderson has died
Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 22:26:50 

Eugene Leitl shared this on the extrolist.  It is a letter from SF writer 
Greg Bear about his friend and fellow writer Poul Anderson who has passed 
away.

The question which goes begging is..., did Poul Anderson really know about 
cryonics and organizations like Alcor and CI?  And if so, why did he choose 
to decline his ticket to the future?

best wishes,

John

Friends,

Poul Anderson passed away last night, July 31-August 1, around midnight.
During the afternoon, he received hundreds of emails and messages from
friends and readers and fellow writers, which Astrid and Karen printed out 
and read to him. He died knowing (and how!) that he was loved and valued, 
and hearing how much his work had entertained and moved so many. Though he 
was weak at the end, there was no loss of mental capacity, and my last 
conversation with him was slow but sparkling with the curiosity and 
deep-seated gentlemanliness that Poul always had, and which was, I think, 
built into his whole body and being.
He is survived by his wife and writing partner, Karen, his daughter Astrid, 
brother John, grandchildren Erik and Alexandra, nieces Janet and Cathy, and 
by millions of readers.

There will be a memorial, probably this Saturday, in the Bay Area, details 
not yet worked out; I will send them later. I hope no one minds my inserting 
two of my favorite photographs of Poul, one of him as a child with his 
mother, Astrid, and one of Poul and Karen, visiting our house and reading 
anessay written by Erik, with obvious delight. This is the Poul I will 
remember. And on our shelves, many dozens of books, waiting to be re-read, 
and some more waiting to be published.

Bravo!

Greg Bear






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