John M. Ford

[dewline]

Seems like it's going to be a day for sad things on this blog. And I'd rather show proper respect by giving each of those its own entry.

First off, John M. Ford is dead.

I've got his two Star Trek novels, The Final Reflection and How Much for Just the Planet?, great works both for different reasons. Never met the man, and now I'm angry/sad over the fact that I never can now. I think I shall re-read How Much... later today or tonight, by way of observance of his memory, as it's the Funniest Trek Novel Yet Written.

I would see Mr. Ford's memory properly honoured by challenging Pocket Books to commission a work or three in a similar vein over the next few years. I know the 2007 schedule's locked in at this point, but there's time yet for 2008 and beyond, surely?

Comments

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

His books deserved to be reprinted and re-introduced. I've long hoped that anthology of his short stories and miscellanea would be published.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

I'll be interested to see what fallout might result over at, say, trekbbs.com over this. You might get at least part of the wish of your first comment.

As for the rest of his works...no idea. I'll be interested to learn more as it develops. I wish the same might yet be done for Leslie Charteris and his Saint novels someday.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, it would be great to see the Saint novels again. There are a lot of things that should be in print - and things that disappear for a few decades and come back.

I've always thought John M. Ford deserved a bigger audience.

[black13.livejournal.com]

I think I also read some of his original novels.

"How much..." didn't work for me (too Marx Brothers-y), except for the ending. But I read "Reflection" several times.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

I guess I saw too many Marx Brothers, Laurel and Hardy, Chaplin et al. in grade school as a kid. Back then, they actually brought these old movies to the schools as an occasional entertainment. Might explain why I took to that novel as well as I did.

[steve-roby.livejournal.com]

I just posted a response about this over at KRAD's LJ. Looking at Ford's bibliography, it was surprising to realize how much of his stuff I read (lots of short stories in Asimov's and the Liavek books, the Trek books -- including one I didn't realize was his, Voyage to Adventure, published under a pseudonym -- and the Dragon Waiting). I bought Web of Angels relatively recently. I'll have to dig it up soon.

[jackolantern.livejournal.com]

That's very sad. The Final Reflection is the best Trek novel that I've read, and I've read a few.