OTish, was RE: [DSII]When gravity fails

The subject heading has, unfortunately, reminded me of something.

George Alec Effinger, author of _When Gravity Fails_ -- as well as a LOT
of
very fine works of fiction and even a few gaming products -- died
earlier this week.

http://www.locusmag.com/2002/News/News04Log2.html has a brief obituary.

It's not been a good year for science fiction thus far, has it?