It is with a great deal of sadness and tears that I must report that our dear friend, author Aaron Allston, passed away Thursday.
Aaron was, as Timothy Zahn describes him, “a wonderful author, a devastating punster, an erudite teacher, and — most of all — a wonderful friend.”
For Star Wars fans, Aaron is perhaps best known for his many books in the X-Wing, New Jedi Order, Legacy of the Force and Fate of the Jedi series. His other books include Doc Sidhe, and he had recently self-published Plotting: A Novelist’s Workout Guide. He also conducted writing seminars at conventions such as Celebration, Origins and Dragon*Con, often in tandem with fellow author Mike Stackpole.
I don’t think there’s much I need to say about his writing to this crowd: It’s a rarity, but it seems like pretty much everyone loved Aaron’s books, Star Wars and otherwise.
I meet Aaron in the JadeCon suite one year, when GenCon was still in Milwaukee – it must have been the late 90′s. I was one of only a handful of people in the suite, and I was a bit nervous, because speaking to authors, or celebs of any kind, has never been my forte. But talking to Aaron was easy. He was personable, he was hilarious, he instantly made one feel at ease. Even if you had just met him, he treated you like a friend. He would have been an instant favorite of Club Jade even if he hadn’t written books we loved.
No matter what one thinks of the Expanded Universe, Aaron was a great asset to Star Wars and the fandom. Club Jade is honored to have known him, his work, and to have had him as our first and only Emperor.
Fans and friends are leaving remembrances on Aaron’s Facebook page.
Alas, a database burp took down the original version of this post, but here are the comments, at least in some way preserved:
fred // Feb 28, 2014 at 12:37 am
Rip :(
Andrew // Feb 28, 2014 at 12:48 am
This is a terrible loss. I loved his ability to write a terrific novel and be able to incorporate humor so easily. I always got a kick out of it. It’s one of the many qualities that made his novels such fun to read. I will treasure his works forever.
jawajames // Feb 28, 2014 at 1:51 am
Aaron will be missed as a writer and as a friend. He embodied such a welcoming warmth and a keen wit and genuine sense of care.
Hail to the Emperor!
Mark Newbold (@JediNews2010) // Feb 28, 2014 at 2:10 am
What a sad loss, didnt know him well but met a couple of times and interviewed 3 times for Jedi News, Lightsabre and The Insider. I hope that he gets the recognition he deserves.
Ryus // Feb 28, 2014 at 3:09 am
RIP Aaron + best wishes to his friends and family in getting through the tough times ahead.
He was one of my favorite Star Wars authors, I’ll never forget Wraith Squardon.
Aaron // Feb 28, 2014 at 6:23 am
The old EU lost a big part of its soul last night. He created some of the most enjoyable, most funny and – in the case of his various death scenes – most moving moments in the entire Expanded Universe, turning “heroes” into mortals and making Star Wars fun in ways few writers have.
A couple of years ago, I met him at a convention. Quite spontaneously, he agreed to a short video interview. I was incredibly nervous, and he basically turned the whole thing into a very nerdesque and very friendly conversation about Star Wars and the NJO. We talked for what felt like 5 minutes and was actually about half an hour.
A truly sad day that not even Wes Janson can brighten up…
Nancy K // Feb 28, 2014 at 6:27 am
Aw, no. Very sad news. He was one of my favorite authors, able to make me cry and make me laugh.
My heart goes out to his family and friends.
Emily // Feb 28, 2014 at 6:42 am
He was definitely one of the good ones.
Thoughts to his family and friends.
Mary // Feb 28, 2014 at 7:18 am
Our tears this morning represent shock, loss, and grief. But how many times have I laughed ’til I cried reading hilarious scenes in Aaron’s books? The beauty is that I will laugh again and again when I re-read those Allston classics – books that a remarkable number of us are able to quote with ease.
Meeting Aaron and sharing laughter in real life was even better. I am remembering so many moments that are helping me cope with his passing.
Missed, you are. Missed, you will be.
Kelly // Feb 28, 2014 at 7:22 am
Just devastated. A great friend, mentor, and wonderful human being.
Stooge // Feb 28, 2014 at 7:48 am
Awfully sad. A real loss.
MichelleH // Feb 28, 2014 at 9:33 am
So sad. :( The X-Wing books are some of my all-time favourites.
Tish // Feb 28, 2014 at 9:45 am
We would cram his panels and demand that he sign our arms with a Sharpie. I still have the YUB YUB, Emperor button. He was a lovely man, a terrific writer, and a wonderful friend.
Sithspit // Feb 28, 2014 at 9:52 am
I owe a lot to Aaron. I’m just heartsick this morning.
Schweig // Feb 28, 2014 at 10:00 am
Aaron always had a smile and an ice-breaking, often groan-inducing pun for everyone he met, whether a fan he just met or a longtime friend. His novels and game material demonstrated his intelligence, wit, and playful spirit…all things we’ll miss. Fly casual, Aaron.
Mark // Feb 28, 2014 at 10:26 am
He really was someone you could just walk up and talk to. I met him at Dragon*Con and he was just hanging out talking to my friend and me between panels. We had never met him before or anything but it really seemed like we had been friends forever. Great guy. So sad to see him go.
Zeynep // Feb 28, 2014 at 10:38 am
He was a great person, beyond being a great writer. His loss hurts, and he will be missed with sorrow.
Beth // Feb 28, 2014 at 10:49 am
The quote “I can’t believe he is gone” popped into my head, and will not leave.
Lucien // Feb 28, 2014 at 11:00 am
I am so blessed to have known him and his love for writing, gaming, punning and tie dye rivals none! Hugs to the Emperor.
Ryan M. // Feb 28, 2014 at 11:08 am
One of the greats…he’d probably would’ve continued his streak if he could’ve gotten his hands on material in our upcoming Ep.VII world.
Doyle // Feb 28, 2014 at 11:23 am
Ah jeez, this is heartbreaking. A great author and an absolutely great guy. He just had this fantastic ability to make you feel at ease whenever you met him, no matter the circumstances.
I remember he sat down next to me during some down time at one of the first cons he guested at after his post-Outcast heart issues. We had run into a each other a couple of times before (he was a regular guest, and I usually volunteered at the con), but he obviously didn’t recognize me. I introduced myself and told him that I had heard about his health issues and that I was really glad that he was still with us. We got to talking, and he always remembered my name after that. Always had a joke and a smile for me. No reason for it…That’s just the kind of person he was
I really wish that I could have that conversation with him again.
Maragorn // Feb 28, 2014 at 11:24 am
Oh…no…
John // Feb 28, 2014 at 11:48 am
This is devastating news. Allston was my favorite Star Wars author. No one could capture the light-hearted and humorous moments of adventure quite like him.
RIP
Doublesith // Feb 28, 2014 at 12:34 pm
RIP, Aaron. Thank you for all your wonderful books, and thank you for remembering that humor is an essential part of why Star Wars -and real life -works.
Han Jones // Feb 28, 2014 at 1:23 pm
First Ann Crispin and now him. Very sad. They were both in my top 5 of EU authors along with Zahn and Stackpole. He did an admirable job of following up Stackpole in the X-Wing series. So sad that he didn’t live to see the new trilogy.
kataja // Feb 28, 2014 at 2:37 pm
RIP
Bryan Young // Mar 2, 2014 at 2:12 pm
I’m still not okay with this.
Dunc // Mar 2, 2014 at 3:32 pm
No one is, man. No one.