Noted science fiction author James P. Hogan was found dead at his Irish home yesterday.

http://io9.com/5586134/rip-hard-science-fiction-writer-james-p-hogan

Here's a link (http://www.baen.com/inthogan.htm ) to a short interview of Hogan by Baen's Toni Weisskopf in which he discusses how the film 2001: A Space Odyssey started him on his career as a science fiction author. Hogan's an author who's work I've long been aware of yet never read. An oversight which needs to be rectified.

Hogan's death comes on the same day as that of independent comics legend Harvey Pekar of American Splendor fame.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=27123

Rest in peace to both.

Also,

[Duh! I'm a doofus. There should have been a reminder here about July's meeting to discuss Neal Stephenson's ambitious Anathem. It turned out to be a "love it or leave it" selection with ratings ranging from 1 to 10. For my part, I appreciated the inventiveness and where he took the book. You start with a strong Leibowitz vibe and end up someplace very different. Actually, that's not quite true. Toward the end of Anathem the setting is rather similar to the ending of Leibowitz. Hell of a thing.

The lesson here - Read before you publish.]