We are deeply saddened to report that award-winning author Greg Bear died this weekend at the age of 71. The author of more than 50 books and winner of five Nebula Awards, Bear was also a co-founder of San Diego Comic Con, an artist, and a person beloved in SFF circles for his warmth and kindness.
Bear’s writing career began when he sold his first story as a teenager. His work is often considered “hard” science fiction—detailed and technical—but for this readers, Eon and Moving Mars were anything but hard; they were vital steps in discovering all the things science fiction could be. Bear wrote original work and novels set in existing universes, including Isaac Asimov’s Foundation, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Halo. His last novel, The Unfinished Land, was published in 2021.
The author’s award-winning work includes Nebula Awards for the novella Hardfought, the novelette “Blood Music,” the story “Tangents,” and the novels Moving Mars and Darwin’s Radio. “Blood Music” and “Tangents” also won Hugo Awards.
The bio on Bear’s website notes that his last “formal job” was as a bookseller; he also wrote movie reviews, book reviews, and opinion pieces for a wide variety of publications. Bear consulted for or worked with a fascinating array of organizations, including the Citizens Advisory Council on National Space Policy, which his bio says “contributed substantially to the end of the Cold War and advised NASA on the future of commercial space.”
Bear died on November 19th. He had had surgery a week earlier, and never awoke; as reported by File 770, blood clots from a previous surgery had caused multiple strokes. His wife, Astrid, wrote on Facebook: “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.”
Many of Bear’s friends and colleagues in the SFF community have taken to social media to share loving tributes, mourning his brilliance and kindness. At his blog, John Scalzi wrote:
What I will add here is the personal observation that in my experience of him, he was kind and decent, and treated me as a peer from a very early stage in my career, which is something I noted and appreciated, and tried to emulate in turn. I have condolences and care for Astrid and their children, and all who knew him, either personally or through his work. He will be missed. He is missed, already.
And now he is gone. Rest in peace, my beloved. Greg Bear 8/20/1951–11/19/2022 pic.twitter.com/EnTE8T16jD
— Astrid "I've voted, have you?" Bear (@AstridBear) November 20, 2022
The Forge of God and Eon are two of my favorite books.
I have greatly enjoyed all of his novels.
Sadness.
I’ve only read Songs of Earth and Power, but wow, I loved that book. Sorry to hear of his passing.
Such sad news that the field has lost one of its most acclaimed and versatile authors.
I’ve been a fan of Greg Bear’s forever. Love that he was a member of the “Killer B’s”, along with David Brin and Gregory Benford. I Love hard science fiction. <3. I used to go to used SciFi bookstores and remember to check the “B” section every time.
A great writer and good company: friendly, generous, upbeat. Always enjoyed hanging out with him at conventions.
He will be sorely missed.
He was a very important writer to Tor in our early years. For a time, our mass-market edition of EON was our best-selling single title ever. He was always a joy to deal with.
Greg Bear was a regular customer at the Seattle used bookstore where I worked in the late 90’s to early 00’s. I chatted with him a few times. He struck me as a kind and unpretentious person. I once rang him up for a big stack of biology textbooks. He mentioned something about needing to research evolution. Darwin’s Radio came out a couple of years later.
My wife and I knew Astrid through our costuming work and had met Greg a number of times though I can’t say we knew him well. However, he was always pleasant and a joy to be around.
I’ve read a number (though not nearly all) of his stories and have thoroughly enjoyed every one. He will be missed.
Our heartfelt condolences to Astrid.
I, a very precocious reader, did a 4th grade book report on Eon. My teacher didn’t believe I really read it. It has remained one of my favorite books.
The first secondhand signed book I ever found was The Forge of God by Greg Bear, an unknown author to me at the time, scooped it up and it’s still in the collection today. I enjoy the spooky side of Sci Fi so I will reach for Hull Zero Three this week. R.I.P.
I remember sitting on a bench on my college campus reading a brand new (library) copy of Forge of God.
A terrible loss. So many great books: Queen of Angels, Darwin’s Radio, Blood Music. Eon, The Forge of God etc. I enjoyed so much of his work. Hard science fiction writer doesn’t capture his versatility or style.
Condolences to Astrid and his entire family
Greg Bear was such an important writer to me.
Blood Music was my introduction to his work. And what an introduction. The implications of this book was that SF would make you feel uncomfortable, and that was a good thing because it forced your brain to think, and to tease out the resultants of present-day trends. Entertainment was the ‘in’ and insight was the ‘out’.
Bear’s work made his brand of ‘hard’ science fiction the only truly mind-expanding drug that really worked as expected – an ongoing elevation of intellect and insight without the come-down. Arthur C Clarke would have been proud.
Thanks Greg for all your amazing work, we are lucky to have had you. A shining beacon in the darkness….
Vale.
No one ever mentions _The Infinity Concerto_ and _The Serpent Mage_, but I enjoyed them both very much.
@14 : _The Infinity Concerto_ and _The Serpent Mage_ are contained in “Songs of Earth and Power”, mentioned @2, but the books deserve a double remark ;-)