Eric Flint, one of the most prolific and influential authors of alternate history science fiction, passed away on July 17, 2022, at the age of 75. His death was announced by several sources, but his cause of death has not been revealed yet. In this article, we will pay tribute to his life and legacy, and explore some of his most notable works and achievements.
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A Passionate Historian and Activist
Eric Flint was born on February 6, 1947, in Burbank, California. He had a keen interest in history since his childhood, and pursued a Ph.D. in history specializing in southern African history at the University of California, Los Angeles. However, he left his doctoral program in order to become a political activist in the labor movement. He supported himself from that time until age 50 in a variety of jobs, including longshoreman, truck driver, machinist, and labor union organizer. He was also a long-time leftist political activist and a member of the Socialist Workers Party.
A Successful Writer and Editor
Flint began his writing career in 1993, when he won the fourth quarter of the Writers of the Future contest. He published his first novel, Mother of Demons, in 1997, and moved to full-time writing in 1999. He soon became one of the most popular and prolific writers of alternate history science fiction, a genre that explores what would have happened if historical events had turned out differently. His works have been listed on The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Locus magazine best seller lists.
Flint is best known for his 1632 series, which he started in 2000 with the novel 1632. The series depicts the adventures of a small town from West Virginia that is transported back in time to the middle of the Thirty Years’ War in Europe. The series has spawned dozens of novels, anthologies, and fan-fiction stories by Flint and other authors. It has also been praised for its historical accuracy, realism, and humor.
Flint was also a co-founder and editor of the Baen Free Library, an online platform that offers free access to many science fiction and fantasy books published by Baen Books. He was a prominent advocate of digital publishing and opposed copy protection measures. He believed that free distribution of books would increase readership and sales.
Flint also edited the works of several classic science fiction authors, such as H. Beam Piper, Keith Laumer, James H. Schmitz, and Murray Leinster. He repackaged their short stories into collections and fix-up novels, bringing them back to print and introducing them to new generations of readers.
A Generous Donor and Mentor
Flint was not only a successful writer and editor, but also a generous donor and mentor. In 2008, he donated his archive to the department of Rare Books and Special Collections at Northern Illinois University. The archive contains manuscripts, correspondence, research materials, fan mail, and other items related to his writing career.
Flint was also involved in several projects that aimed to support and promote new and aspiring writers. He was the author guest of honor for the 2010 NASFiC (North American Science Fiction Convention), ReConStruction. He also participated in The Stellar Guild series published by Phoenix Pick, which paired established authors with new ones to create collaborative works.
Flint also founded and edited the Grantville Gazette, an online magazine that features fan-fiction stories set in the 1632 universe. He encouraged fans to write their own stories based on his characters and settings, and provided feedback and guidance to them. He also paid professional rates to the authors whose stories were selected for publication.
A Loss for Science Fiction and Fantasy
Flint’s death was mourned by many fans, friends, and fellow writers who expressed their condolences and appreciation for his work on social media. John Scalzi, a Hugo Award-winning science fiction author, wrote on Twitter: “What a loss for science fiction and fantasy, and especially for alternate history, where he wrote the book on the genre with his 1632 series. He was always kind and decent, and I admired him. RIP.”
Eric Flint was a legend in the field of science fiction and fantasy, especially in the subgenre of alternate history. He left behind a rich legacy of books, stories, and ideas that will continue to entertain and inspire readers for years to come. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, fans, and colleagues. Rest in peace, Eric Flint.
