Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Legend

Today I received the news that my all-time favourite author, David Gemmell, has passed away, leaving a void in the literary world that no-one will be able to fill.

Ironically, words cannot do justice to what his writing does for (and to) me. No other author has ever produced a body of work that draws me back to it, to read it over and over again. I've lost count of the number of times I've read the tales of Druss and Waylander, of Jon Shannow and the Sipstrassi, of Parmenion and Iskander. Whatever the circumstances, they buoy my spirits and make me want to be a better person.

I count myself lucky to have met him on several occasions; no matter how packed the area was, and how many other fans and agents were clamouring for his attention, he was always willing to say hello, to have a chat, share an anecdote with you. The first time I met him he wished me happy birthday; I stared at him goggle-eyed at this feat of psychic power.... only later did the missus confess to having written to him to forewarn him about the besotted fanboy who might pop-up at the signing. The thing is though, he'd read the letter, and remembered it.


David may have moved on, but his stories live on, pale reflections of the genius that created them.

He was a man to walk the mountains with.

David passed away on 28/07/2006.

You can sign an online Book of Remembrance here.
Posted by Mark :: 21:31 :: 0 Comments:

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