In memory of Robert Lynn Asprin

[fings]

I first heard the rumor last night, and confirmed this morning, that Robert Asprin had died.

This makes me sad. I saw him this past September at DragonCon, went to a couple of his panels, got to ask him some questions.

Way back around 1980, when I discovered the Myth series, they served as a fantasy counterpoint to Douglas Adams's Hitchhiker books. Not that they were all that similar -- Bob was more given to puns, and his books were more cartoonish -- but they were both humor mixed with genre, and lovingly poking fun at the genres they inhabited. They knocked down some of the stodginess and let in some fresh air.

Years later, my younger brother glommed onto his books even harder than I had. Enjoyment of Robert Asprin books is one of our common interests.

So last year, when yolen and I were leaving DragonCon and on our way to the MARTA to get to the airport, we passed through the Peachtree Center food court. And there was Robert Asprin, having finished his meal, sitting, reading a book and sipping a drink. I hesitated; I thought I should get a picture for my brother. I stopped and asked yolen, and with some trepidation, I approached him. Fortunately, I saw he was just finishing a chapter, so I waited a moment, and then said "Mr. Asprin?", and I asked him if I could have a photo. He was gracious and said of course. Yolen snapped a picture, and I said "Thank you!" and we were on our way.



It occurs to me I should call my brother and tell him the sad news.

Comments

[ishldgetoutmore.livejournal.com]

Damn, this is like a punch in the gut; it leaves me angry and sad. Sad for obvious reasons, angry that life interfered so much with his creative process that he did not get to create as much as he was inspired to.

I'm going to have to finish out my collections of his stuff. He left a lot unfinished.