Bad news travels fast

[redbird]

I've just learned that Hal Clement has died.

That's all the information I have--but he seemed fine at Albacon two weeks ago, putting together a slide show as he always did.

Comments

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear.

I only met the man four or five times, but that's just heartbreaking. Do you have any details?

[cheshyre]

Thanks for the news.

I just IM'd it to xiphias so he'd hear it from me first, rather than stumbling across it.

[roadnotes.livejournal.com]

Ah, damn. He was a sweetheart.

[rysmiel.livejournal.com]

Ah hell. I hope it was painless. I didn't know him except to see around at conventions, but he always struck me as an absolute gentleman.

[bibliotrope.livejournal.com]

That's sad. He was a very nice man, and will be greatly missed. I got to talk to him a few times at Confluence, and to hear him speak and see his slideshows was always interesting.

[mneme]

oh, bleah.

I didn't know him very well, but I did spend a few week in his company on a tour of Britian (before '95); he was sweet. :(

Growf

[teddywolf.livejournal.com]

I will miss him.
*sigh* He was looking kinda papery last time I saw him. He was a fixture and a very sweet fellow.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

Thank you for letting us know.

[kiya]

Mrrr.

[stevendj.livejournal.com]

Russ Handelmann came up with this Shakespeare quote from Julius Caesar, in connection with the solar flare:

"When beggars die there are no comets seen; the heavens themselves blaze forth at the death of princes."

[dglenn.livejournal.com]

I think I'll make that tomorrow's quote-of-the-day.

[redbird]

If you do, please check it against the text--I think that "at" is spurious, but my memory of Julius Caesar is weak.

[dglenn.livejournal.com]

You're right. I just Googled "When beggars die there are no comets seen" and got a bunch of copies with no "at". Thanks for the heads-up.

[stevendj.livejournal.com]

Good catch--I just cut-and-pasted what Russ posted.

[coyotegoth.livejournal.com]

Ahh- I reread Needle not three months ago. Rest in peace.

[mishalak.livejournal.com]

Forget two weeks ago, he seemed fine on Sunday when I talked to him at MileHiCon. ... Oh no, we're going to become known as the con that did in Hal Clement. Aeeeiiii!

[volund.livejournal.com]

Sad. He will be missed.

I looked at the Boston Globe site - they haven't prepared an obituary yet. There is, however, this obit (http://www.legacy.com/bostonglobe/LegacySubPage2.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=1555650), which has an attached guest book, as well as this more extensive one (http://www.ccgfuneralhome.com/services/services.asp) at the funeral home site (listed under his home town of Milton), which has this great head shot of a smiling Hal - the way a lot of us would want to remember him.

[redbird]

Thanks. I signed the guestbook at the funeral home, figuring his family is sure to see that.