Monday 21 November 2022

Greg Bear (1951 - 2022)

 I'm shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Greg Bear, following complications after surgery. His works meant a tremendous amount to me. Blood Music nearly cost me a degree: I was so enraptured by it that I had to tear myself away for last-minute revision. I adored Eon and its successors, Eternity and Legacy. All three stamped indelible images into my brain. The Forge of God kept me awake and focussed during the long grind of an observing run at the Anglo-Australian Telescope; its sequel, Anvil of Stars was one of the first books (perhaps the first) to play with cosmic-scale ideas about the role of competing alien intelligence in the universe, dealing with first contact, galactic war and the Fermi paradox in always fresh, exciting ways. His short novel Heads, which first appeared in Interzone, was a suitably creepy and well-imagined story about cryogenics and weird physics, one of the few SF stories to explore thermodynamics as a theme, and to do so with phenomenal boldness. I think it fits into a future history which also includes the fine Moving Mars, as well as Queen of Angels and Slant, all of which are richly recommended. His short fiction taught me how to open a story.

He could be delightfully playful. Reading the description of the alien Jart in Eon/Eternity, I realised that they were literally the Hallucigenia fossils from the Burgess Shale.

I met him only once or twice, both brief occasions at American SF conventions. He was genial, welcoming and approachable.

Thanks, Greg, and all love and best wishes to his family.

8 comments:

  1. Greg Bear - one of my all-time favourite authors so I am very sad for him and his family. I will never forget the surprise and excitement I got when first reading Eon, or the sheer brilliance of Darwin's Children. Queen of Angels too - a central concept that the film The Cell clearly stole from! So many brilliant ideas and boy am I sad we will never get another novel from him.

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  2. As you say, shocking news. Seventy-one is too young to die these days, but a reminder that nothing in life is certain, especially that one can expect to continue living.

    A reminder that I've a novel to finish editing, and another that needs finishing. I just hope I can live long enough to write some more stories too.

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  3. Loved Eon so much.One of the few books I've read 3 times. So much WOW factor in one novel

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  4. A nice tribute - vale

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  5. He was the only killer B that alas, I never got to meet. His work was inspiring and his mind was always limber as he tried new things.
    RIP Mr. Bear.

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  6. I worked closely with Greg at a startup several years back and he was always amazing to me and my family. I'm sad that I hadn't been in touch with him in recent years, but I am saddened as a friend and fan and wish my best to his loved ones.

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  7. Greg Bear really got me hooked on Sci-Fi. Eon, Eternity and The Forge of God to name but a few. His pacing and story telling kept me reading for hours. A brilliant author and sad to hear the news of his passing.

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  8. It all started with Ron for me. I really cannot remember when I picked it up. But awed me until today. I think I have read them about 7 times. Almost always during vacations. Next to the revelation space novels, house of suns, pushing ice, the Hyperion cantos and and work by Dan Simmons I reread over and over again.
    He will be missed.

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