I missed this yesterday, but the master of many of the finest written dreams, Jim Baen, died of a stroke early this week. David Drake has written a beautiful obit.
Those of us who live -- or have lived -- among the stacks of science fiction novels know that the world is losing more than a publisher. Baen was a guiding hand and mentor to numbers of up-and-coming SF authors, over the years, and, as indicated by the quality of books under his publishing name, a friend to both established authors and readers at all levels of SF experience. From the geek and nerd to the wannabes to those simply interested in a world of imagination and hope, Jim Baen was the man who made that future available.
When I worked the shelves in the book biz, I could always be guaranteed I would enjoy the books with his imprint upon them. I used to fight for the rare advance copy to come through the mail. Some of those still rest in places of high regard, in my house.
Baen will be missed.
HT: Instapundit
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