In Memoriam: Science Fiction Editor Jim Baen has died. . .

A very great man, who published some of the most important philosophical work of the last three decades. He was an educator as much as a publisher, and he didn't publish liberal crap. Quite the opposite - he was responsible for the mass communication of some of the best politically incorrect, anti-liberal, work ever. Anyone who adopted Steve Stirling when Baen did deserves a place in the pantheon (regardless of what one thinks Steve is really talking about).

I got the email on 6-29-06 and was grieved to hear of his death. I thought he would not make it with the severe stroke and coma, still it was really unwelcome news. Jim was probably the best publisher of SF since John Campbell. He really was pushing for the short story format to come back and the new Universe email magazine had just got the first issue out on June 1, 2006.

Jim Baen also was one of the lone people resisting the DRM and encryption of ebooks as he thought quite rightly that anything that makes it harder to read, lowers your number of customers. Since Baen ebooks has been one a the few very sucessfull businesses publishing ebooks, he has shown the correctness of his approach with hard cold sales numbers and the simple test result of making money.

He was very open to new writers and actively solicited new stories through the Baen Bar. He also was active in gettng the rights to older SF and republishing the classic SF. Since he has done that other SF publishing houses have also started republishing the classics.

His wife is going to continue as publisher and the day to day operation so we can hope that Jims' vision and enterprise will continue.

His wife has asked in Memorium that to go out and purchase " The World Turned Upside Down " a large paperback full of classic short stories and give it to teenagers and libraries so to introduce new readers to SF. If you have not read any of the stories, please give yourself the pleasure and go out and buy it; either in the book store or download from The Bar Webscriptions.

Jim Baen was a visionary in every sense of the word. He'll be missed by many who've become addicted to just about anything Baen Publishing releases. I pray that whoever takes his place recognises like he did, that his customers aren't thieves.

My deepest sympathy goes to his family and friends, as the loss is much greater.

I'll raise a glass to Jim for the many hours of pleasure he has brought me over the years.

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