sholio: (Books)
Sholio ([personal profile] sholio) wrote2008-10-26 09:34 pm

*woe*

Okay, famous people, stop dying now!

Author Tony Hillerman dead at age 83.

His Leaphorn/Chee mysteries were some of my very favorite books when I was a teenager, and even though I don't think the later ones are nearly as strong as the early ones (either that, or I've become a more demanding reader; maybe a little of both), I've still been buying them because I'm addicted to the characters. I'm sad for his family, of course, but on a selfish personal level, terribly bummed that we'll never have any more of Chee and Leaphorn and Bernie and Louisa.
ext_1981: (SGA)

[identity profile] friendshipper.livejournal.com 2008-10-28 05:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, it's clearly not the worst thing that's ever happened to me! But thanks.

[identity profile] parisindy.livejournal.com 2008-10-28 11:38 pm (UTC)(link)
still..

[identity profile] sol-se.livejournal.com 2008-10-27 11:08 am (UTC)(link)
Oh no! :(

I never read the books, but I loved the PBS movies.
ext_1981: (SGA)

[identity profile] friendshipper.livejournal.com 2008-10-28 05:19 pm (UTC)(link)
You ought to try a couple of the books! They're tightly paced, and the desert setting is beautifully depicted.

[identity profile] nebbyjen.livejournal.com 2008-10-27 11:24 am (UTC)(link)
Awww. I got hooked on his books after seeing the PBS movies. A few titles of his decorate my bookshelves.
ext_1981: (SGA)

[identity profile] friendshipper.livejournal.com 2008-10-28 05:24 pm (UTC)(link)
I haven't read some of them since I was a kid. Maybe it's time for a re-read ...

[identity profile] klostes.livejournal.com 2008-10-27 11:50 am (UTC)(link)
Noooooo....

I'm the same; loved his books when I was younger and found a bit lacking as I got older. But his characters were always wonderful, always. No more Leaphorn, Chee, Bernie or Louisa? Damn.
ext_1981: (SGA)

[identity profile] friendshipper.livejournal.com 2008-10-28 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
It's a little startling to me to realize how much those books have been a part of my life! I've been getting regular fixes of the characters and world since I was a kid; even though they were no longer books that I hung around Amazon eagerly waiting for, it makes me very sad to think of no more, ever.

[identity profile] courtberger.livejournal.com 2008-10-27 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh no! I love him! I live in New Mexico, he's one of the first authors I ever read, this is so sad!

*hugs you back*
ext_1981: (SGA)

[identity profile] friendshipper.livejournal.com 2008-10-28 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Time for a re-read, maybe ...

[identity profile] courtberger.livejournal.com 2008-10-28 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Defintely
ext_1356: (Default)

[identity profile] sobelle.livejournal.com 2008-10-28 12:12 am (UTC)(link)
*woe* what an amazing person and awesome writer he was.

I got to meet him back in 1987 at a lecture he gave. He signed a couple of his first books for me and I was so awe-struck that I couldn't think to say anything intelligent to him. =P

All around me were people talking to him about characters and specific scenes and all I could lamely say was "I love your books"...

He was very kind. He was also a very tall man and bent down as he took my hand in his and gave me his full attention as he thanked me.

It has always been a good memory. He will be missed.

ext_1981: (SGA)

[identity profile] friendshipper.livejournal.com 2008-10-28 05:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, how wonderful that you had that opportunity! From all accounts, he sounds like a good man, and someone who deserved the accolades he got.

[identity profile] stargatebabe.livejournal.com 2008-10-28 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
I adore Hillerman and have all the novels. I've traveled extensively for many years in that area and know it intimately. Every so often I re-read one just to remember.
ext_1981: (SGA)

[identity profile] friendshipper.livejournal.com 2008-10-28 05:30 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm completely unfamiliar with the area, but he depicted it so vividly that I felt like I'd been there, and have always wanted to go. In fact, I think that reading his novels at a formative age is part of what's given me a desire to depict a strong sense of "place" in my own writing, because he did it so well.