Gregory Dale Bear, 1951 - 2022.
November 20, 2022 5:09 PM Subscribe
R.I.P. an American science fiction writer. Winner of Hugo and Nebula awards, Bear wrote more than fifty books.
Remembrances from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Association, Daily Kos, computer gamers (for his Halo books), and from MetaFilter's own John Scalzi.
Remembrances from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Association, Daily Kos, computer gamers (for his Halo books), and from MetaFilter's own John Scalzi.
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posted by lalochezia at 5:13 PM on November 20, 2022
posted by lalochezia at 5:13 PM on November 20, 2022
Here's a list of his books sorted by popularity on Goodreads. You can also sort by rating but I find popularity is often more useful.
posted by Nelson at 5:15 PM on November 20, 2022
posted by Nelson at 5:15 PM on November 20, 2022
Huh, I remember liking Blood Music and Slant but had no idea Slant was part of a series.
posted by juv3nal at 5:17 PM on November 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by juv3nal at 5:17 PM on November 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
Blood Music changed my life in 1985.
posted by Rash at 5:28 PM on November 20, 2022 [10 favorites]
posted by Rash at 5:28 PM on November 20, 2022 [10 favorites]
Yeah, even as a teen without a huge reading history, I knew his books were special. I wasn't quite sure they went when I picked one up, but I knew it would be worth reading.
And "Blood Music" also left a big impression on me, too.
đź“š
posted by wenestvedt at 5:35 PM on November 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
And "Blood Music" also left a big impression on me, too.
đź“š
posted by wenestvedt at 5:35 PM on November 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
Blood Music was the first really strange SF book I read. Made a big mark.
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posted by signal at 5:38 PM on November 20, 2022 [4 favorites]
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posted by signal at 5:38 PM on November 20, 2022 [4 favorites]
Blood Music: A hundred billion, dying, would not begin to have the same importance as a single human death.
posted by meehawl at 5:51 PM on November 20, 2022 [11 favorites]
posted by meehawl at 5:51 PM on November 20, 2022 [11 favorites]
Well shit.
posted by Shutter at 6:09 PM on November 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Shutter at 6:09 PM on November 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
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posted by gentlyepigrams at 6:43 PM on November 20, 2022
posted by gentlyepigrams at 6:43 PM on November 20, 2022
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posted by kabong the wiser at 6:48 PM on November 20, 2022
posted by kabong the wiser at 6:48 PM on November 20, 2022
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Greg was kind and generous. Much love to Astrid and the family.
posted by RakDaddy at 7:13 PM on November 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
Greg was kind and generous. Much love to Astrid and the family.
posted by RakDaddy at 7:13 PM on November 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
🚀
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 8:07 PM on November 20, 2022
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 8:07 PM on November 20, 2022
Not just his science fiction: I loved "The Infinity Concerto" and "The Serpent Mage".
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posted by TheophileEscargot at 8:26 PM on November 20, 2022 [5 favorites]
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posted by TheophileEscargot at 8:26 PM on November 20, 2022 [5 favorites]
His stories were always interesting, and he used a lot of cool concepts.
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posted by Spike Glee at 8:31 PM on November 20, 2022
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posted by Spike Glee at 8:31 PM on November 20, 2022
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posted by zengargoyle at 8:49 PM on November 20, 2022
posted by zengargoyle at 8:49 PM on November 20, 2022
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posted by Halloween Jack at 9:26 PM on November 20, 2022
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:26 PM on November 20, 2022
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posted by Alterscape at 9:45 PM on November 20, 2022
posted by Alterscape at 9:45 PM on November 20, 2022
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When I was in the eighth grade in the late 1980s, I read Eon. My English teacher saw me reading it and said, "Oh! Greg Bear is an ex-student of mine!" When I finished the book, I was puzzled by one particular plot point, and she encouraged me to write to him and mention who my English teacher was. Which I did, a proper late eighties word-processed and dot-matrix-printed letter, sent off in the mail, for though the digital world had dawned, it was not yet connected. And boy did I hit paydirt! He wrote me back a very gracious and warm two-page typed letter. It is buried somewhere in my parents' attic. I recall that he answered my question about the plot but also commented "it's all just a bit of super-science anyway" which I took at the time as advice to not get hung up on plot points. The experience taught the young me that authors were real people. My English teacher became a lifelong mentor who is still alive and kicking, and disappointed that I did not become an author myself. She will be sad to hear this news.
posted by /\/\/\/ at 10:30 PM on November 20, 2022 [29 favorites]
When I was in the eighth grade in the late 1980s, I read Eon. My English teacher saw me reading it and said, "Oh! Greg Bear is an ex-student of mine!" When I finished the book, I was puzzled by one particular plot point, and she encouraged me to write to him and mention who my English teacher was. Which I did, a proper late eighties word-processed and dot-matrix-printed letter, sent off in the mail, for though the digital world had dawned, it was not yet connected. And boy did I hit paydirt! He wrote me back a very gracious and warm two-page typed letter. It is buried somewhere in my parents' attic. I recall that he answered my question about the plot but also commented "it's all just a bit of super-science anyway" which I took at the time as advice to not get hung up on plot points. The experience taught the young me that authors were real people. My English teacher became a lifelong mentor who is still alive and kicking, and disappointed that I did not become an author myself. She will be sad to hear this news.
posted by /\/\/\/ at 10:30 PM on November 20, 2022 [29 favorites]
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posted by Silverstone at 10:55 PM on November 20, 2022
posted by Silverstone at 10:55 PM on November 20, 2022
The Queen of Angels series was a favorite of mine. And another one that's not as well-known: Vitals. Made me very paranoid about...government surveillance (or something, it's been a while since I read that one).
posted by zardoz at 12:58 AM on November 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by zardoz at 12:58 AM on November 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by kitten kaboodle at 1:12 AM on November 21, 2022
posted by kitten kaboodle at 1:12 AM on November 21, 2022
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posted by crocomancer at 4:59 AM on November 21, 2022
posted by crocomancer at 4:59 AM on November 21, 2022
RIP
posted by Hugh Routley at 5:05 AM on November 21, 2022
posted by Hugh Routley at 5:05 AM on November 21, 2022
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Read "Eon" in 1986, when I was 14 - it was my first truly "big idea" sci-fi book, and I loved it.
posted by rozcakj at 5:25 AM on November 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Read "Eon" in 1986, when I was 14 - it was my first truly "big idea" sci-fi book, and I loved it.
posted by rozcakj at 5:25 AM on November 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
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Am I right remembering that Bear, along with Brin and Benford, was one of a cohort proposing the idea that the reason we weren’t “hearing” any evidence of other civilizations in space was that they had either been wiped out by other more hostile/advanced civilizations or had learned to shut the fuck up. That certainly fits in with Anvil of Stars.
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 5:57 AM on November 21, 2022 [3 favorites]
Am I right remembering that Bear, along with Brin and Benford, was one of a cohort proposing the idea that the reason we weren’t “hearing” any evidence of other civilizations in space was that they had either been wiped out by other more hostile/advanced civilizations or had learned to shut the fuck up. That certainly fits in with Anvil of Stars.
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 5:57 AM on November 21, 2022 [3 favorites]
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posted by Don.Kinsayder at 7:55 AM on November 21, 2022
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 7:55 AM on November 21, 2022
I feel like he gets well-earned appreciation for his novels, but deserves more recognition for his excellent short fiction. THE WIND FROM A BURNING WOMAN is a fabulous collection and the anchor story "Hardfought" inspired me as a young writer of SF.
He will be missed.
posted by newdaddy at 8:01 AM on November 21, 2022 [3 favorites]
He will be missed.
posted by newdaddy at 8:01 AM on November 21, 2022 [3 favorites]
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I'm still haunted by Hull Zero Three.
posted by suetanvil at 8:02 AM on November 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
I'm still haunted by Hull Zero Three.
posted by suetanvil at 8:02 AM on November 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
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Time to reread Songs of Earth and Power (aka The Infinity Concerto + The Serpent Mage put back together into a single novel) again.
posted by Quasirandom at 8:10 AM on November 21, 2022
Time to reread Songs of Earth and Power (aka The Infinity Concerto + The Serpent Mage put back together into a single novel) again.
posted by Quasirandom at 8:10 AM on November 21, 2022
idea that the reason we weren’t “hearing” any evidence of other civilizations in space was that they
My take on this is that their communications technology evolved to meet higher and higher bandwidth needs. So - for example, digital communications over spread-spectrum channel hopping sounds like noise - add attenuation over light-year distance and it would only get worse. Or - we are probably only a decade or two away from quantum communications, which would be completely radio silent. Looking for 1930's era broadcast signals, I hope is not the state of the art, but if it is - that's why things are silent - IMO.
posted by rozcakj at 8:15 AM on November 21, 2022
My take on this is that their communications technology evolved to meet higher and higher bandwidth needs. So - for example, digital communications over spread-spectrum channel hopping sounds like noise - add attenuation over light-year distance and it would only get worse. Or - we are probably only a decade or two away from quantum communications, which would be completely radio silent. Looking for 1930's era broadcast signals, I hope is not the state of the art, but if it is - that's why things are silent - IMO.
posted by rozcakj at 8:15 AM on November 21, 2022
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posted by exlotuseater at 8:17 AM on November 21, 2022
posted by exlotuseater at 8:17 AM on November 21, 2022
This is heartbreaking to hear.
Way way back when I got to be a guest host on KING AM back in 1986 or 1987 which had a talk show format then.
The regular host was a man named Jim Althoff. His producers had a list of suggested guests but I had mine and vetoed most of theirs -- for instance, their choice for local science fiction author was Ben Bova.
I said "Oh, no, don't even think about it -- I want Greg Bear!" And I got him.
The high point was when he came on was when I described his work as being a combination of the high tech of John Varley meets the cosmic mystic philosophyof Olaf Stapledon in my introduction. He raised his head back at me, squinted and said "Wow! You really know your onions!" I had no idea at the time how much revered Olaf Stapledon.
I was floating on air for weeks thereafter after he said that.
And guess who KING AM picked as their new go to science fiction author from then on? Well, duh. Ben Bova, my ass.
He was in the phone book back then and I spoke to him off and on over the years. I remember calling him after 9/11 and mentioning how a film of Blood Music now was out of the question. His response was "Oh, I don't know about that..."
He was and is one of my favorite science fiction authors ever and getting to meet him was such delight. He was so sharp and witty and such an incredibly kind and gracious man. This is so sad to hear.
PS. What newdaddy said in regards to Hardfought and The Wind From a Burning Woman above.
posted by y2karl at 8:17 AM on November 21, 2022 [10 favorites]
Way way back when I got to be a guest host on KING AM back in 1986 or 1987 which had a talk show format then.
The regular host was a man named Jim Althoff. His producers had a list of suggested guests but I had mine and vetoed most of theirs -- for instance, their choice for local science fiction author was Ben Bova.
I said "Oh, no, don't even think about it -- I want Greg Bear!" And I got him.
The high point was when he came on was when I described his work as being a combination of the high tech of John Varley meets the cosmic mystic philosophyof Olaf Stapledon in my introduction. He raised his head back at me, squinted and said "Wow! You really know your onions!" I had no idea at the time how much revered Olaf Stapledon.
I was floating on air for weeks thereafter after he said that.
And guess who KING AM picked as their new go to science fiction author from then on? Well, duh. Ben Bova, my ass.
He was in the phone book back then and I spoke to him off and on over the years. I remember calling him after 9/11 and mentioning how a film of Blood Music now was out of the question. His response was "Oh, I don't know about that..."
He was and is one of my favorite science fiction authors ever and getting to meet him was such delight. He was so sharp and witty and such an incredibly kind and gracious man. This is so sad to hear.
PS. What newdaddy said in regards to Hardfought and The Wind From a Burning Woman above.
posted by y2karl at 8:17 AM on November 21, 2022 [10 favorites]
On a side note -- Greg Bear's widow Astrid is rhe daughter of Poul Anderson. What a small world science fiction was back in the day.
posted by y2karl at 8:33 AM on November 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by y2karl at 8:33 AM on November 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
I'm an old SF reader who reads (and now listens) to a lot. But I've never been in an SF community. I just get what shows up on the rack or, now, Audible.
So somehow I have no awareness of this author. But from the comments here, it's my loss.
I should fix that.
Where should I start?
posted by cccorlew at 8:34 AM on November 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
So somehow I have no awareness of this author. But from the comments here, it's my loss.
I should fix that.
Where should I start?
posted by cccorlew at 8:34 AM on November 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Any work, fantasy or science fiction, named in this thread will do for a start.
posted by y2karl at 8:48 AM on November 21, 2022
posted by y2karl at 8:48 AM on November 21, 2022
cccorlew , it depends on what you're into within sf.
Forge of God is an alien invasion novel. The sequel takes things into deep space.
Darwin's Radio is a blend of thriller with biological extrapolation.
Blood Music, maybe his most famous, is a cyberpunk-ish take on biology and medicine.
Eon is a wild take on "big dumb objects" - a huge asteroid lumbers up to Earth, and there's stuff inside. More than it seems at first.
Hull Zero Three is about someone coming to awareness on a spaceship that, ah, no spoilers.
And like newdaddy says, just dig into the short stories?
posted by doctornemo at 11:15 AM on November 21, 2022 [3 favorites]
Forge of God is an alien invasion novel. The sequel takes things into deep space.
Darwin's Radio is a blend of thriller with biological extrapolation.
Blood Music, maybe his most famous, is a cyberpunk-ish take on biology and medicine.
Eon is a wild take on "big dumb objects" - a huge asteroid lumbers up to Earth, and there's stuff inside. More than it seems at first.
Hull Zero Three is about someone coming to awareness on a spaceship that, ah, no spoilers.
And like newdaddy says, just dig into the short stories?
posted by doctornemo at 11:15 AM on November 21, 2022 [3 favorites]
Like f'rinstance via meehawl's link, upthread, which takes you to the original short-story version of "Blood Music."
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posted by Rash at 11:31 AM on November 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by Rash at 11:31 AM on November 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
I think about Eon and Blood Music often — especially Eon — and also Forge of God and I feel like I rarely get to experience a big awe-inspiring SF book like Eon or Forge of God very often these days. The part at Yosemite near the end of Forge of God is unforgettable and terrifying.
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posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 11:51 AM on November 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 11:51 AM on November 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Huh, I had no idea Eon was at the top of the popularity list of his works.
I stumbled across it in perhaps junior high, attracted mostly by its doorstopper size (I had a very long bus ride at the time, and so was looking for something that would last a week or more). I think it was possibly the first, or at least the most memorable, "Big Dumb Object" story I'd encountered.
It was also the original source of my username, which I picked on a lark for a local BBS and then just kept using (up until conflicts with existing accounts on Usenet and Slashdot made me add some numbers to it).
posted by Kadin2048 at 12:23 PM on November 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
I stumbled across it in perhaps junior high, attracted mostly by its doorstopper size (I had a very long bus ride at the time, and so was looking for something that would last a week or more). I think it was possibly the first, or at least the most memorable, "Big Dumb Object" story I'd encountered.
It was also the original source of my username, which I picked on a lark for a local BBS and then just kept using (up until conflicts with existing accounts on Usenet and Slashdot made me add some numbers to it).
posted by Kadin2048 at 12:23 PM on November 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Like f'rinstance via meehawl's link, upthread, which takes you to the original short-story version of "Blood Music."
Which I had never read before. It's even scarier than the novel. A second look at Eon is now in order too.
posted by y2karl at 12:51 PM on November 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Which I had never read before. It's even scarier than the novel. A second look at Eon is now in order too.
posted by y2karl at 12:51 PM on November 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
One of my favorite bits in Bear's writing is the first words an alien says in first contact:
"I have bad news."
Oh man.
posted by doctornemo at 12:53 PM on November 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
"I have bad news."
Oh man.
posted by doctornemo at 12:53 PM on November 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
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posted by a snickering nuthatch at 2:01 PM on November 21, 2022
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 2:01 PM on November 21, 2022
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posted by hydropsyche at 2:14 PM on November 21, 2022
posted by hydropsyche at 2:14 PM on November 21, 2022
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posted by skyscraper at 6:21 PM on November 21, 2022
posted by skyscraper at 6:21 PM on November 21, 2022
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I always mixed him up in my head with Gregory Benford, but both were formative for me and especially my appreciation for "hard" sci-fi.
(And not to take sides, but comparing Hull Zero Three to the later Uplift series is my answer to who had the greater creative longevity.)
The notion of "momerath" from Anvil of Stars -- basically, approaching a problem in a seemingly oblique way (but one that is tractable by your most powerful analytical tools) -- continues to be my mental picture of both my own thinking and a large chunk of modern technology.
posted by bjrubble at 9:54 AM on November 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
I always mixed him up in my head with Gregory Benford, but both were formative for me and especially my appreciation for "hard" sci-fi.
(And not to take sides, but comparing Hull Zero Three to the later Uplift series is my answer to who had the greater creative longevity.)
The notion of "momerath" from Anvil of Stars -- basically, approaching a problem in a seemingly oblique way (but one that is tractable by your most powerful analytical tools) -- continues to be my mental picture of both my own thinking and a large chunk of modern technology.
posted by bjrubble at 9:54 AM on November 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
Late notice, but for any of y'all who manage to see this within the next 70 minutes or so:
There is a rolling toast to Greg Bear starting today at 4:21 pm PST, and continuing around the globe as the clock reaches 4:21pm in adjacent time zones.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 3:15 PM on November 26, 2022
There is a rolling toast to Greg Bear starting today at 4:21 pm PST, and continuing around the globe as the clock reaches 4:21pm in adjacent time zones.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 3:15 PM on November 26, 2022
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posted by inpHilltr8r at 4:04 PM on November 30, 2022
posted by inpHilltr8r at 4:04 PM on November 30, 2022
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