At the age of 77, “just sitting at his desk” at his home in Cambridge, Mass., according to an email sent out by a representative of his U.K. publisher Quercus, Robert B. Parker is dead. The news of Parker’s death on Monday was confirmed by Parker’s U.S publisher, Putnam; an official statement is expected later today, though on Twitter a representative wrote: “R.I.P beloved author Robert B. Parker. You were indeed a Grand Master, your legacy lives on, and you will be missed by us all.” The thriller writer Joseph Finder also confirmed the news directly with Parker’s family, said to be “in shock.”And the Bookseller quotes Parker’s UK editor, Nick Johnston: “He was a great talent who will be mourned by all his many fans.”
I just want to say that Parker was one of my all time favorite writers. He’s one of the few about whom I can say that I’ve read every word he’s written (not an inconsiderable feat considering his output!). I’ll miss Spenser the most, I think. Spenser was a man you could depend on–macho and strong but kind and smart and a hell of a cook. He had a snappy literary quote for most any occasion, and he gave me my mental catch phrase for whenever I wanted to do something I knew I really shouldn’t: “We’d be fools not to.”
This is not to say I won’t miss Hawk and Sarah and Jesse Stone and Sunny and all the assorted cops, thugs, boxers and made men and cowboys that populated Parker’s books. They all brightened my life and gave me hours of utter enjoyment and pure entertainment.
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I am wintering in Florida. I was wondering if any issues will be mailed between March 1st and March 24th? I tried the email listing for customer service and it bounced back. The Post Office will forward magazines for two months. If an issue is going to be mailed between the above dates, I will provide you with my Florida address.
I checked with our publisher and have been told that the June issue will be shipping within this time-frame.