Godot 149 Posted March 22, 2013 I met James Herbert once at a do. We chatted about something but I can't remember what it was. I dare say I'd have been pissed since it would have been the 1990s. All I can recall from his books was somebody with a pair of gardening sheers lopping off the todger of someone else in a gym. Or was that some other book by some other author? I appreciate that as James Herbert anecdotes go, this one is piss poor. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Going Underground 74 Posted March 22, 2013 Any James Herbert anecdote is better than No James Herbert anecdote. The bit with the shears in the gym is one of Herbert's and is from 'The Fog' That whole of the gym part was pretty shocking I must admit!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spade_Cooley 9,535 Posted March 22, 2013 Things fall apart. And by "things" I mean Chinua Achebe. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Estuarian Float 97 Posted March 22, 2013 Oh wow. Chinua was living in America working as a college professor. Had no idea. He died in Boston. I've picked him in other pools before. Looks like he's never been picked in DDP. Shame that he won't get a mention. I should've stuck him in my Bet on Black team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Whitehouse 872 Posted April 3, 2013 Author Ian Banks has terminal cancer. If he survives till new years eve, he's a sitting duck for 2014. Edit: Dammit, fucker got his own topic. Whitehouse; resurrector of dead topics... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CaptainChorizo 1,983 Posted April 6, 2013 http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/j-david-kuo-onetime-leader-of-bushs-faith-based-initiative-dies-at-44/2013/04/06/24e9cd6a-987e-11e2-97cd-3d8c1afe4f0f_story.html David Kuo who's book Tempting Faith became a NY Times Best Seller has died at 44 after a 10 year battle with brain cancer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Death Impends 7,979 Posted April 6, 2013 http://www.washingto...4f0f_story.html David Kuo who's book Tempting Faith became a NY Times Best Seller has died at 44 after a 10 year battle with brain cancer I'd been aware of him/his illness, never seriously considered him for my team though due to obit unsureness. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Godot 149 Posted April 8, 2013 Just looking at Martin Amis on telly (Newsnight), going on about Margaret Thatcher. He looks remarkably jaundiced, like a carrot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
themaninblack 2,112 Posted April 9, 2013 Just looking at Martin Amis on telly (Newsnight), going on about Margaret Thatcher. He looks remarkably jaundiced, like a carrot. That's because he is remarkably jaundiced. I always find it funny that he turned out to have the same trajectory as his Dad - bright young writer, now a sad, right-wing old buzzard... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bibliogryphon 9,586 Posted April 16, 2013 A couple more kids authors who may be worth keeping an eye on David McKee (b.1935) who is responsible for Mr Benn, King Rollo and Elmer the Patchwork elephant and Jill Murphy (b.1949) who created The Worst Witch series of books which are about the antics of a girl who goes to a special boarding school for the magically inclined an gets involved in all sorts of adventures. These were written well before the adventures of a certain boy wizard and are a lot more fun a responsible for the destruction of less trees - I presume she doesn't have very good lawyers or belives in live and let live. She also won awards for her Large family picture books and The Last Noo-Noo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handrejka 1,904 Posted April 16, 2013 A couple more kids authors who may be worth keeping an eye on David McKee (b.1935) who is responsible for Mr Benn, King Rollo and Elmer the Patchwork elephant and Jill Murphy (b.1949) who created The Worst Witch series of books which are about the antics of a girl who goes to a special boarding school for the magically inclined an gets involved in all sorts of adventures. These were written well before the adventures of a certain boy wizard and are a lot more fun a responsible for the destruction of less trees - I presume she doesn't have very good lawyers or belives in live and let live. She also won awards for her Large family picture books and The Lasy Noo-Noo. Murphy has had breast cancer in the past so she may be worth keeping an eye on. I used to love The Worst Witch books. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bibliogryphon 9,586 Posted April 22, 2013 American Children's author and multiple Newbury medal winner E L Konigsburg I must admit off my radar. More research needed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bibliogryphon 9,586 Posted May 16, 2013 Once, Twice Three times a lady? Fay Weldon describes her two near death experiences. Looks like she might be brought into the 2014 theme team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toast 16,143 Posted May 16, 2013 Surprised to find that she's still with us. I might have got her mixed up with Claire Rayner. Or Maeve Binchy. Or somebody like that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Death Impends 7,979 Posted May 20, 2013 Bernard Waber, known for his Lyle the Crocodile series of children's books, said "see you later alligator" aged 91. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adrian0719 224 Posted May 29, 2013 Hugo award winning SF writer Jack Vance is still with us - Born 1916 A good replacement for any who had Harry Harrison on their lists. Gone. http://www.locusmag.com/News/2013/05/jack-vance-1916-2013/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adrian0719 224 Posted June 6, 2013 Tom Sharpe, Porterhouse Blue author, at 85. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
themaninblack 2,112 Posted June 6, 2013 'Blott on the Landscape' author Tom Sharpe has died aged 85... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
time 8,617 Posted June 6, 2013 Surely Tom Sharpe has merely Wilted? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Garn2 34 Posted June 19, 2013 Vince Flynn, the great author of the Mitch Rapp series has stage 3 metastatic cancer. Sad Sad News Dead Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VSBfromH 74 Posted June 24, 2013 Michael Baigent The New Zealand born co-author (with Richard Leigh) of "The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail" has died aged 65. In 2006 they unsuccessfully sued Dan Brown's publisher claiming that "The Da Vinci Code" had infringed their copyright. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Whitehouse 872 Posted June 24, 2013 Writer of "I am Legend" and many "Twilight Zone" episodes Richard Matheson dies at 87. Edit: Also posted in Yank science fiction series. Debatable Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bibliogryphon 9,586 Posted July 2, 2013 Brian Aldiss has written his last SF novel (Don't all cheer at once) but he is still intending to go on writing mainstream novels and presumably popping up everytime one of his contempories dies to remind us all how good he is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
time 8,617 Posted July 4, 2013 Author Deric Longden has died aged 76. He wrote about living with disability with probably his most famous work being 'Lost for Words', focusing on looking after his mother as she declined into dementia, the film of which starred Pete Postlethwaite and Thora Hird. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VSBfromH 74 Posted July 6, 2013 Snoo Wilson The British playwright has died aged 64. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites