It is with great sadness I report the death of science fiction writer (and legend) Poul Anderson. He'd been in the hospital for a month before his death, yesterday a note from Greg Bear had circulated on the net that he'd returned home and wasn't expected to live more than a week.

Greg Bear (sf writer who happens to be Anderson's son-in-law) posted the following today (I forget where I grabbed it, I've seen it a bunch of places):

Friends,

Poul Anderson passed away last night, July 31-August 1, around midnight.During the afternoon, he received hundreds of emails and messages from friends and readers and fellow writers, which Astrid and Karen printed out and read to him. He died knowing (and how!) that he was loved and valued, and hearing how much his work had entertained and moved so many. Though he was weak at the end, there was no loss of mental capacity, and my last conversation with him was slow but sparkling with the curiosity and deep-seated gentlemanliness that Poul always had, and which was, I think, built into his whole body and being.

He is survived by his wife and writing partner, Karen, his daughter Astrid, brother John, grandchildren Erik and Alexandra, nieces Janet and Cathy, and by millions of readers.

I'm sure lots of tributes and obituaries are forthcoming. It's hard to express how big of a gap he leaves with his passing. I'll add links to obits and tributes here as they begin to show up online.

Obit / Rememberences at SFWA site

Locus Magazine / A 1997 interview with Anderson in Locus

Sci Fi Wire / SFF.net

One might also stop by rec.arts.sf.fandom and rec.arts.sf.written where I'm sure some people will be posting their thoughts. Or visit DejaGoogle and search on "Poul Anderson" in "rec.arts.sf.*"

Here's the New York Times obit (requires free login).

AP Obit (at startribune)

Reuters Obit