David Gemmell (1948 - 2006)

[David Franklin]

I seem to recall there a few David Gemmell fans on here. Sad news I'm afraid (link).

[azande]

A very sad day!

[Rhythm King]

A very sad day!

I met David on several occasions and he was always interested in what his readers had to say. He started writing Legend, whilst on sick leave from work, and it always seemed likely he would burn out before his time. A thrilling author and a thoroughly nice bloke.

[David Bailey]

Bloody hell, 57? God, that's not old...

I saw him at a book signing 15 years ago - it's a great shame, he wrote some good stuff.

[Dizzy]

It is a great shame as I am a great fan of his books

57 is really not old at all.

[Dreadful Scathe]

Fantastic author, he'll be sorely missed.

[marty_baby]

That is really sad!

He was my fav author in my teen years

[Gus]

Just realised. I read "Lord of the Silver Bow" over Xmas. I thought it was one of his best works and was really looking forward to how he was going to take the story forward. Looks like thats not going to happen now. As said by others, will be sorely missed.

[David Bailey]

Just realised. I read "Lord of the Silver Bow" over Xmas. I thought it was one of his best works and was really looking forward to how he was going to take the story forward. Looks like thats not going to happen now.

I imagine they'll have the rest of the trilogy done by a ghost / guest writer, I'm sure Gemmell left a reasonable set of notes etc. But it won't be the same, of course.

[David Franklin]

I imagine they'll have the rest of the trilogy done by a ghost / guest writer, I'm sure Gemmell left a reasonable set of notes etc. But it won't be the same, of course.

Book 2 is due for September publication, so would have been finished a while ago. Apparently he died while working on the 3rd.

[andystyle]

A big shame.

He was one of the first fantasy authors I read, and while I've not read any of his books in years, his stories were fantastic and set me on the path to reading many more books of the same genre.

Added to that, Druss is still one of my favourite characters.

[Sliced Bread]

Oh my goodness, this is awful, I didn't even know about this at all.

I'm very saddened.

[TheTramp]

RIP.

I will also miss the books...

[David Bailey]

I've now raced through "Troy - Fall of Kings", which was finished by his wife Stella.

Excellent book, with a lovely epilogue and a great re-telling of the legend. Whilst you knew pretty much what was going to happen, it was still gripping to see how it happened. The middle half drags a bit, relatively, but it improves greatly towards the end.

It's a great book, and a good way to finish. I just hope that it gets left there, with no more "based on notes" books, as has happened to the Dune and Tolkien franchises.