# RIP SF Writer Greg Bear at 71
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-sf-writer-greg-bear-at-71/975249
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** celebrity-death, books-writing-myths
**Created:** [November 20, 2022, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-sf-writer-greg-bear-at-71/975249 "2022-11-20T08:04:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2022, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-sf-writer-greg-bear-at-71/975249/1 "2022-11-20T08:04:23Z")
> I had a long and informative meeting with Greg’s care team this afternoon: neurologist, critical cardiac care doctor, surgeon, and palliative care team. The neurologist showed me the MRI images and carefully explained the range of impacts to expect from the many areas of stroke damage in many parts of the brain. Even if he returned to consciousness, and they feel this is highly unlikely, he would probably need 24 hour care and be limited in his cognitive and communication abilities, as well as many other issues. This is not the life he wants to lead, and the conversation we had and his advance directive were both very clear on this. These were a final gift from Greg, and I am confident in making this decision now that he is unable to express his wishes.
>
> So we will be removing life support, tomorrow or Sunday, after the kids and I have another chance to spend time with him, with more holding hands and expressing love. Once that is done, they will keep him pain free and calm, and his passing will be peaceful.
>
> I will spare you daily updates until that time, but know that I’ll be there as much as I can, as he journeys to the undiscovered country.
> **[Astrid Bear - I had a long and informative meeting with...](https://www.facebook.com/astrid.bear/posts/pfbid045PjKbttdAiaBysKLooESWGpna6h5MdvkAXX97rQxz3V1MPdYWMukydSzq2h3GYyl)**
>
> I had a long and informative meeting with Greg’s care team this afternoon: neurologist, critical cardiac care doctor, surgeon, and palliative care team....
> **[Greg Bear](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Bear)**
>
> Gregory Dale Bear (August 20, 1951 – November 19, 2022) was an American writer and illustrator best known for science fiction. His work covered themes of galactic conflict (Forge of God books), parallel universes (The Way series), consciousness and cultural practices (Queen of Angels), and accelerated evolution (Blood Music, Darwin's Radio, and Darwin's Children). His last work was the 2021 novel The Unfinished Land. Greg Bear wrote over 50 books in total.
> Greg Bear was born in San Diego, Cali...
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### Author:  [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2022, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-sf-writer-greg-bear-at-71/975249/2 "2022-11-20T09:39:23Z")
My sympathies to his family. Even with an advance directive and clear knowledge of the person’s wishes these situations are hard.
I enjoyed Mr. Bear’s work and I’m glad he gave it to the world to enjoy.
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### Author:  [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2022, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-sf-writer-greg-bear-at-71/975249/3 "2022-11-20T09:50:15Z")
That’s too bad. I enjoyed his work. I checked my bookshelf and I have _Hull Zero Three_ and _Darwin’s Children_. I think I have a couple more on my Kindle. He’ll be missed.
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### Author:  [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2022, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-sf-writer-greg-bear-at-71/975249/4 "2022-11-20T10:04:05Z")
One of my favourite authors. The Forge of God duology and the Way series are both chock-full of intriguing concepts and moments of cosmic wonder. Forge of God includes one of the most detailed and engrossing explorations of the Dark Forest solution to the Fermi Paradox.
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### Author:  [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2022, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-sf-writer-greg-bear-at-71/975249/5 "2022-11-20T10:23:13Z")
RIP. I have really enjoyed his writing, and I’m sad for his death. And how difficult for his wife to have to do that.
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### Author:  [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2022, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-sf-writer-greg-bear-at-71/975249/6 "2022-11-20T14:00:11Z")
I have not read any of his books recently, but about 20 years ago he was one of my go-to SF writers when I would hit the library. RIP Greg, I greatly enjoyed your work.
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2022, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-sf-writer-greg-bear-at-71/975249/7 "2022-11-20T15:45:48Z")
I also haven’t read anything by him recently, but went through a huge phase a decade or so ago. The Forge of God is one of my favorite books of all time. The slow march of doom was really well done. It should be a limited series.
RIP
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### Author:  [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2022, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-sf-writer-greg-bear-at-71/975249/8 "2022-11-20T16:34:32Z")
Here’s how small the sf world is. I met Astrid at a Worldcon party when she was 15 and I was 18. And I knew Greg’s first wife because she was the sister of a friend of mine.
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### Author:  [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2022, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-sf-writer-greg-bear-at-71/975249/9 "2022-11-20T16:47:11Z")
He will be remembered with Honor.
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### Author:  [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2022, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-sf-writer-greg-bear-at-71/975249/10 "2022-11-20T17:20:56Z")
I haven’t read much by him; but what I’ve read I liked. Maybe I’ll read some more of his work, having been reminded to look for it.
And good on his wife, for making it slightly easier on others who have to make the same sort of decision.
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### Author:  [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2022, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-sf-writer-greg-bear-at-71/975249/11 "2022-11-20T18:22:17Z")
It’s a shame to loae him so young.i enjoyed many of his books - I’ll call out Eon and Blood Music
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### Author:  [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2022, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-sf-writer-greg-bear-at-71/975249/12 "2022-11-20T20:13:18Z")
May his memory be a blessing. I have been following the whole thing on facebook, being friends with many authors and artists in the SF/fantasy community. I am very sad, having met him on a number of occasions when going to cons. He was a true gentleman and I will miss him greatly.
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### Author:  [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2022, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-sf-writer-greg-bear-at-71/975249/13 "2022-11-21T01:39:55Z")
I didn’t find any obituaries/ reminiscences when I made the OP. Here are some:
> **[In Memoriam - Greg Bear - SFWA](https://www.sfwa.org/2022/11/20/in-memoriam-greg-bear/)**
>
> Author and former SFWA President Greg Bear (b.1951) died on November 19 following a stroke after complications during heart surgery. Bear’s first short story, “Destroyers,” appeared in 1967 in Famous Science Fiction and his first...
> **[Greg Bear (1951-2022)](https://file770.com/greg-bear-1951-2022/)**
>
> Greg Bear Five-time Nebula winner Greg Bear died November 19, a week after heart surgery from which he never awoke. A CT scan showed stroke damage was caused to many parts of the brain by clots tha…
> **[Greg Bear, 1951-2022: Best-selling writer influenced sci-fi world, on and off...](https://www.geekwire.com/2022/greg-bear-1951-2022-science-fiction-writer/)**
>
> Greg Bear, a Seattle science-fiction author who helped define how global audiences saw future final frontiers, has died at the age of 71.
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### Author:  [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2022, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-sf-writer-greg-bear-at-71/975249/14 "2022-11-21T02:20:57Z")
So sad to hear this. He was one of my favorite SF authors.
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### Author:  [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2022, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-sf-writer-greg-bear-at-71/975249/15 "2022-11-21T14:16:40Z")
Such talent lost to the world. My thoughts are with all his loved ones.
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### Author:  [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2022, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-sf-writer-greg-bear-at-71/975249/16 "2022-11-21T14:56:19Z")
One of my favorites, and I know who I’ll be reading next.
RIP
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2022, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-sf-writer-greg-bear-at-71/975249/17 "2022-11-21T18:19:25Z")
_Darwin’s Radio_ and _Darwin’s Children_ were two of the best books I’ve ever read. If he had only done that he would have accomplished a lot.