RIP Ann Crispin

[annathepiper]

The SF/F genre has taken a heavy blow today. Just a few scant days after her post to Facebook that she was doing battle with cancer, Ann Crispin, who wrote under the name A.C. Crispin, has passed away. I’m seeing the news going all over Twitter, and Making Light has a post up here.

For me, her impact was heaviest with her amazing Han Solo trilogy in the Star Wars universe: The Paradise Snare, The Hutt Gambit, and Rebel Dawn. I adored the HELL out of those novels, and found them critical reference material for when I played Han on Star Wars MUSH. She did such a fabulous job as well utilizing what was established in the previous Han novels by Brian Daley as well.

I even wrote to her about those novels, way back when, and I remember having had a lovely conversation with her by email about them.

Dara has a copy of her excellent Trek novel Yesterday’s Son as well, and while it’s been a while since I’ve read that, I quite respected that book too.

Many, many condolences to her loved ones and fans.

ETA: Victoria Strauss at Writer Beware calls upon Ann’s fans to honor her memory by reading her work, and by continuing to spread the good word to writers about how to watch out for themselves. Strauss says Writer Beware WILL continue operations.

Tor.com has posted an obituary.

ETA #2: The Mary Sue has a post up now about Crispin over here.

ETA #3: SFWA’s obit for her is here.

Mirrored from angelahighland.com.

Comments

[feuervogel]

I took her writing workshop at DragonCon in 2008. I learned a lot about the business end of writing. She was always encouraging new writers.

Such a loss.

[annathepiper]

I went digging into my email archive to see when I mailed her--1998. Wow. This was right smack dab when I'd started playing on Star Wars MUSH and about when I'd taken over playing Solo.

I was pleased to see so many people talking about her and honoring her passing.

[mmegaera]

Writer Beware has been an excellent resource for so long. I'm very glad it's going to continue operations.

And I don't know what it is with SF writers and cancer, but this needs to stop. Please!

[annathepiper]

Amen to that on both counts.

[mmegaera]

Something strange is going on with DW. The last couple of comment notifications I received when I commented on your account have been completely empty messages. No link to click on to bring me to the webpage to answer or anything.

I wonder what's happening.

[annathepiper]

Huh. My comment notifications have been coming through okay. Wonder what's up.