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Gary Gygax, Brilliant Book Publisher, Dies at 69

Gary Gygax, ‘Father of D&D,’ Dies at 69 | The Underwire from Wired.com

Gary Gygax, one of the co-creators of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, died Tuesday morning at his home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, according to Stephen Chenault, CEO of Troll Lord Games.

First off, I have to say that having the person who reports your death be the CEO of Troll Lord Games is pretty cool.

Next, I have to say that Gary Gygax had a profound impact on popular culture. I doubt if he ever made very many Top 100 lists, but he should have.

Finally, I have to say that from my perspective as a book publisher, Gary Gygax should be remembered not just as the guy who invented D&D, but as a brilliant author and book publisher.

His Dungeons and Dragons books sold like hotcakes and (appropriately) spawned dozens of new editions and spinoff titles. He did what every publisher dreams of.

Tip of the hat to Murdoc Online for spotting this story.

Tags: In Memoriam, Intergalactic Roll of Honor, What's New for Book-Lovers by admin
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Patrick Swayze has pancreatic cancer

Patrick Swayze Diagnosed With Cancer, Five Weeks Left to

Patrick Swayze, best known for his role in Dirty Dancing, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and told that he has just five weeks to live.

Swayze, 55, has been sick with the disease since he was diagnosed in late January with pancreatic cancer. The cancer has since spread to other organs and now the actor/dancer is dying.

For the past month, Swayze has been traveling to Stanford University’s prestigious cancer center in Palo Alto for radical chemotherapy, but his doctors are no longer optimistic that the treatments will be successful, according to the National Enquirer.

Swayze received three treatments of chemotherapy, causing the tumor to shrink, but less than his doctors had hoped for. He was then told that he should prepare for the end.

Way too many people have died recently. Patrick Swayze made some indelible contributions to people of my generation with DIRTY DANCING and GHOST.

Tags: Movie Phile, Music Phile by admin
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