George Alec Effinger, born 1947, has died in New Orleans. A graduate of Clarion, he was the author of numerous novels and stories, including the popular cyberpunk series beginning with When Gravity Fails (1987), Hugo-, Nebula-, and Sturgeon-award winning novelette "Schrödinger's Kitten" (1988), and many satirical works from early short story "All the Last Wars at Once" (1971) to a recent series of stories about Maureen Birnbaum, Barbarian Swordsperson. Known affectionately in the science fiction community as "Piglet", Effinger had been ill for several years. Further details will be posted when they become available.

(from locus online. the whole thing is posted because i can't figure out how to link to that item by its self. technical help to my email address, eh?)

i read _when gravity fails_ in high school and i loved it. the maureen birnbaum stories didn't particularly grab me, but that didn't stop me from loving his earlier stuff.

rest in peace.