Terry Bisson, R.I.P. (1942-2024)

From LOCUS MAGAZINE'S 1-10-24 obituary for Nebula Award-winning writer, Terry Bisson:

Author Terry Bisson, 81, died in the early hours of January 10, 2024 [...].

[Bisson's] first novel Wyrldmaker appeared in 1981, followed by World Fantasy finalist Talking Man (1986) and Fire on the Mountain (1988). Other novels include Voyage to the Red Planet (1990), Pirates of the Universe (1990), The Pickup Artist (2001), and Any Day Now (2012). He completed the late Walter M. Miller, Jr.’s Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman (1997), and has co-written YA novels with Stephanie Spinner, written children’s books about NASCAR racing as ‘‘T.B. Calhoun,’’ produced numerous film and TV novelizations and media tie-ins, and written non-fiction titles, notably On A Move: The Story of Mumia Abu-Jamal (2001).

Bisson rose to prominence in the SF field with Hugo, Sturgeon, Locus, and Nebula Award winning story ‘‘Bears Discover Fire’’ (1990). Other notable short stories include Hugo finalists ‘‘Press Ann’’ (1991), ‘‘The Shadow Knows’’ (1993), ‘‘Dead Man’s Curve’’ (1994), ‘‘Get Me to the Church on Time’’ (1998); Nebula Award nominees ‘‘They’re Made out of Meat’’ (1991) and ‘‘Necronauts’’ (1995); Hugo, World Fantasy, and Nebula Award finalist ‘‘England Underway’’ (1993); Nebula Award winner and Hugo and Sturgeon finalist ‘‘macs’’ (1999); and novellas Dear Abbey (2003) and Planet of Mystery (2008). His short fiction has been collected in Bears Discover Fire (1993), In the Upper Room and Other Likely Stories (2000), Numbers Don’t Lie (2003), Greetings & Other Stories (2005), Billy’s Book (2009), and TVA Baby (2011). The Left Left Behind (2009) includes the title story, a play, and an interview and autobiography.

Bisson also wrote the long-running “This Month in History” series for Locus, recently profiled by the New Yorker. The micro-fiction series has run in the magazine for over 20 years. We will deeply miss his creativity, wry humor, and friendship. The field is lesser without him.

To read the entire obituary, click HERE. 

I recommend reading Bisson's award-winning 1990 short story, "Bears Discover Fire," at LIGHTSPEED MAGAZINE. Read his 1991 short story, "They're Made Out of Meat," at his official website, TERRY BISSON OF THE UNIVERSE. Read his 2009 short story, "Billy and the Flying Saucer," at Rudy Rucker's FLURB #7.