Poul Anderson 1926 - 2001

A knight there was, and that a worthy man, That from the moment that he first began To riden out, he loved chivalry, Truth and honour, freedom and courtesy.

—Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales

On July 31, 2001, science fiction and fantasy writer Poul Anderson died of complications of prostate cancer. Born November 25, 1926, Anderson sold his first science fiction story, "Tomorrow's Children," in 1947. He became a professional writer immediately after receiving his degree in physics in 1948 and continued writing until his death; several works remain to be published.

Anderson's writing received numerous awards, including the Libertarian Futurist Society's first Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this year… Many of his novels and stories examine the human pursuit of freedom, including his classic Polesotechnic League series; his more recent Anson Guthrie series; and Orion Shall Rise, set in a post-nuclear-war future.

We brought Poul home from Alta Bates for terminal hospice care. We gave him Jubilaeum Akvavit, Carlsberg Beer and Boeuf Tartare. We gave him all our love. About midnight, he slipped away.

—Karen Anderson and Astrid Anderson Bear