Phil Foglio ([info]philfoglio) wrote,
2008-05-23 13:57:00

Robert Asprin


robert_asprin
Originally uploaded by studiofoglio
Bob Asprin died yesterday.

Bob was the guy who actually got me my first actual job within both the science-fiction community AND comics. When Kelley Freas left Starblaze, the company that was publishing Bob's MythAdventures series, he recommended me to replace him as the series' illustrator. When he sold the series to WARP Graphics to be adapted into a comic, he recommended me as the writer/artist.

This was a text book example of the old "It's Who you know, not What you know" at work, as I had never done any of these things before. Now they're what I do for a living.

I met Bob when I was just starting college, and thus had entirely too much time on my hands. To use up this time, I attended science fiction conventions in the midwest. They were fun, and not too expensive, and I had a friend who loved nothing more than to drive long distances in fast cars (Hi, Jim), so I attended a lot of them.

After awhile, Bob and I noticed that we kept seeing each other at these cons, and became acquaintances. I can't even really say why we became friends, as we had widely different interests.

Bob liked to fence. I'm a spud.

Bob liked the SCA. I hated camping.

Bob liked to drink. I didn't drink at all.

Bob liked the ladies. So did I, but not the same ones, and Bob was a true gentleman, in that no matter how outrageously he pursued them, he never talked about it afterwards.

Bob liked to sing. It's best for all concerned if I do not.

However both Bob and I liked entertaining people. Telling stories. Getting people to laugh. He was very good at it, and I really enjoyed working with him.

So long, Bob. Thanks for everything.

  • Post a new comment

    Error

    Anonymous comments are disabled in this journal

    switch

    Your IP address will be recorded 

     
    Help
  • 32 comments

[info]goldenstag

May 23 2008, 21:08:11 UTC 4 years ago

I have always liked his writing ... a sad day.

[info]muskrat_john

May 23 2008, 21:15:10 UTC 4 years ago

I thought of you as soon as I heard the news...

[info]reverancepavane

May 23 2008, 21:33:22 UTC 4 years ago

Yang the Nauseating is dead?

Commandammit BOb Aspirin of the Dorsai Very Irregular is no more?

<sigh> A little more light has left the universe.

Condolences.

[info]pfloyd

May 23 2008, 21:38:35 UTC 4 years ago

A sad day indeed in the universe. I remember starting to read the Myth books way back in the sixth grade... good gods, 25 years ago? (And yes, I subsequently read the more-than-excellent WaRP Graphics comics too, Phil. Excellent work!)

A sad surprise indeed for the world of fantasy.

First Gary Gygax, now Robert Asprin...

[info]jimf42

May 23 2008, 21:44:56 UTC 4 years ago

Bob

Wow...what a surprise...hard to believe. Bob was one of the first folks I (we) met when I joined fandom. I agree...thanks for all the entertainment!

(now I drive shorter distances in faster cars)

Jim

[info]scavgraphics

May 23 2008, 21:46:48 UTC 4 years ago

This is very sad.

I met Rpbert Asprin years ago at a New Orleans Science Fiction & Fantasy Festival. All my pals had crashed in the RPG room, but I wasn't weak like them, so I trolled the halls for some action and ran into him. We chatted a bit and a group gathered and we sang songs (I recall The Impossible Dream as one) to the wee hours of the morning. It's one of my favorite memories in my geek history.

Rest in peace, Mythter Asprin.

[info]aeire

May 23 2008, 21:48:23 UTC 4 years ago

I'm still so...irrationally upset that I never met the man.

[info]krmtdfrog

May 24 2008, 03:25:31 UTC 4 years ago

Very much the same :(

[info]varianor

May 23 2008, 21:57:41 UTC 4 years ago

Wow. The Myth series was very funny. (Not to mention your comics version!) I also enjoyed a lot of his other projects - Thieve's World. I'm sorry that he's passed on and for the loss of your friend.

[info]pgnblade

May 23 2008, 21:59:59 UTC 4 years ago

Both you and Bob brought a sense of humor and a joy to communities I was part of. You both are linked in many ways in my mind. Your covers for his Myth books are the ONLY ones I've ever bought, if I had an option at all. I was a WaRP fan and nearly DIED when I saw that you and he were doing the Myth title. (I still wish that could have gone on longer.)

I am sorry for your personal loss, which when compared to my own who had never met the man who affected my life as profoundly seems smallish.

If there is a convention after party... We will assuredly see him there. ; )

[info]scarlettina

May 23 2008, 22:34:58 UTC 4 years ago

My sympathies, Phil. I may yet see you this evening, and a hug will be forthcoming.

[info]oakdragon

May 23 2008, 22:35:25 UTC 4 years ago

I understand he died reading a Terry Pratchett book.

I expect he'd appreciate the poetic nature of it all if he'd been reading Mort, Reaper Man or even Thud!

[info]ocicat

May 23 2008, 23:29:51 UTC 4 years ago

My friend Dawn, who was also a friend of his back in those midwestern cons (and SCA events) has a personal goodbye to him that I found very touching.

http://purplerabbit.livejournal.com/212964.htm

[info]blackbyrd2

May 24 2008, 02:14:58 UTC 4 years ago

Bad link. Perhaps it was friendslocked, which would be perfectly understandable.

[info]powerlord

4 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]ocicat

4 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]grahzny

May 23 2008, 23:41:17 UTC 4 years ago

Ouch. This makes me very sad. Thanks for letting us know.

[info]dear_ayla

May 23 2008, 23:54:44 UTC 4 years ago

The MYTH series was my first introduction to your art. I'm a big collector of all the MYTH books I could find, and own several of each book b/c I liked the different artwork so much. I'm so sad to hear about this, but so happy I had found the MYTH books. Aahz and Skeeve are a big part of my life.

[info]5thwheel

May 24 2008, 01:10:50 UTC 4 years ago

So sad... but so glad he started writing again to leave an even greater legacy.

[info]graht

May 24 2008, 01:42:42 UTC 4 years ago

Dang. I love Robert Asprin's books. I got an A in college english when I wrote a book report on the Thieves World series and actually got my teacher to read them.

Goodbye Mr. Asprin. You will be mythed.

[info]0ccam

May 24 2008, 02:09:40 UTC 4 years ago

I still have all my Thieves World books. I miss visiting.

[info]kallisti

May 24 2008, 03:04:10 UTC 4 years ago

Alas, I never met him, but I know a number of people who were friends of his. Through them, and through the various things he created, written, musical, and as part of Fandom, it is easy to tell he was a great man. From the email I was forwarded from the person who found him, although no death is good, he did die doing one thing that he loved, reading a good book (by Terry Pratchett).

The world will be much poorer for his passing.

ttyl
Farrell McGovern

[info]krmtdfrog

May 24 2008, 03:27:43 UTC 4 years ago

Wow. I'd just finished reading his last Myth book, too. One of my first sci-fi authors I really got into. I'm very saddened to hear this, but thank you for being the one to mention this.

[info]ersatzinsomnia

May 24 2008, 03:53:14 UTC 4 years ago

Damn. His stuff was some of the first comedic fantasy I ever ran into. I used to serially check his books out of the library until I could buy a full set for myself. Saw him talk at Dragon*con a couple times, and was always entertaining.

Wish I'd been able to know him personally, rather than just through his books. But that'll have to do...

[info]lordshell

May 24 2008, 13:19:50 UTC 4 years ago

Awwww fuck.

[info]cyaneyed

May 25 2008, 01:10:35 UTC 4 years ago

aw.

i loved his stories. they were so goofy yet organized.

he was the first fantasy writer whose work I adored because he wrote such great humor and terrific characters with sci-fi fantasy as a backdrop. it made me look for all of his books.

how sad. thanks robert asprin for all of the laughter, and for Skeev , Aahz, Tananda, Gleep and the whole cast.

[info]smoagendash

May 25 2008, 17:25:26 UTC 4 years ago

In 1985, I went to my very first con (Boskone). One of my fondest memories was a narrated slideshow by Phil and Bob called either "Kidnapped" or "Abducted" wherein an entire Chicago con was abducted by aliens for study.

Favorite line: "The captives say that we are pretty inferior as superior beings go."

Out of curiosity, do you still have the art and script for that? I'd love to see that online!

[info]apostle_of_eris

May 25 2008, 20:17:33 UTC 4 years ago

"The Capture"
Phil is gentleman enough to keep giving as much credit to Bob as possible for a story which only really took off after Phil illustrated it. It also includes a large slab of homage to Kelly.
There was once a Capture coloring book with all the drawings, but I'd imagine that whoever still has one (Roscoe knows where my copy is, in all the boxes!) doesn't want to part with it.

[info]jducoeur

4 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]packy

May 26 2008, 20:31:01 UTC 4 years ago

The comic adaptations of MythAdventures were my introduction to both yours and Bob's work. He'll be sorely missed.

[info]polrua

May 26 2008, 23:09:41 UTC 4 years ago

Just... damn.

[info]hawkfist

May 27 2008, 02:56:13 UTC 4 years ago

Phil, you were my first GoH at Silicon; what I probably never mentioned is that I'd wanted it so badly to be a double-bill of you and Bob; but Silicon was the Thanksgiving weekend, and he was committed to the Dallas Fantasy Faire.

Every year, after Silicon, I'd ask him again. He'd chuckle, and decline graciously. It became a running joke with us, and the one time a year I could justify chatting with one of my favorite writers - not that he ever required I have one.

I am sorry for your loss, and for the loss of his many readers.

Create an Account
Forgot your login or password?
Facebook Twitter More login options
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…