‘I Read Anything That Had His Name On It’: Fans Mourn Passing of Peter David
Author who penned more than 50 Trek novels needed GoFundMe towards the end
Grief, admiration and love are all pouring out on social media after news that prolific genre author Peter David has died at age 68.
That grief was amplified by the fact that David — whose work spanned multiple sci-fi and comics franchises, including more than 50 Star Trek novels — required a GoFundMe campaign to meet expenses.
David’s wife, Kathleen O’Shea David, announced his death in a post on Facebook.
“Since it is out there. Peter David passed away last night. We are devastated. More when I can write about it,” she posted.
The death announcement came after she posted a string of updates talking about her husband’s serious hospitalization in recent days.
Peter David had had health challenges for years and is survived by his wife and his four children, Caroline Helen David, Shana David, Ariel David, and Guinevere David.
His career spanned several decades, including writing published Star Trek novels and comics.
Some of his best-known works in Star Trek include Imzadi, the 1993 novel about Will Riker’s time on Betazed and his early relationship with Deanna Troi, as well as the New Frontier series of novels, the first Star Trek tie-in fiction property not to be based on a television series.
(We’ve included an online interview with David himself from several years ago, below in “Moment of Trek.”)
Social media was immediately alight Sunday with an outpouring from fans and colleagues alike.
Fellow longtime Star Trek novelist Keith RA DeCandido shared this message:
“Just got the news that Peter David finally lost his rather lengthy battle with his failing physical form last night. I first met Peter 35 years ago, when he appeared on The Chronic Rift public access show, and over the last three-and-a-half decades, he has been a respected creator, a good friend, a valued colleague, and a generally wonderful person. I have a lot to say about him, but right now I'm just sad that I won't get to enjoy his delightfully smart and funny presence ever again. And I'm also thinking of his wife Kathleen O'Shea David, and his daughters Ariel, Shana, Gwen, and Caroline. Picture with this post is one of my favorites, from Peter and Kath's wedding in May 2001, of Peter with his best man, the late great Harlan Ellison, a picture that Peter said perfectly summed up his and Harlan's friendship, with Peter as the Daffy Duck to Harlan's Bugs Bunny. Rest in peace, my friend.”
Other Star Trek authors were equally affected.
“I’m crushed to have learned just now that author Peter David passed away last night. Through the years, Peter has been to me an icon, an inspiration, a peer, and a friend. My deepest condolences go out to his wife, his family, his friends, peers, and fans. May his memory be a blessing to us all,” posted David Mack, whose works include Star Trek: The Starfleet Survival Guide and Starfleet Corps of Engineers novels.
Diane Duane, who authored some of the earliest Star Trek novels dating to the 1980s, posted simply: “AH SHIT NO. Not my *other* husband too 😢 … All my love to Kathleen and the family.”
Even Jeopardy host Ken Jennings was a Peter David fan, although not specifically for David’s Star Trek material.
“Peter David wrote all my favorite Hulk comics when I was a kid. Then, years later, presumably not knowing that I was a fan, he showed up at a book signing of mine to wait in line and give me a signed copy of one of HIS books! Baller move. RIP to one of the greats,” Jennings wrote.
Fans, too, expressed grief and sadness, which included bitterness that David and his family had to rely on GoFundMe appeals for money to pay bills despite his prodigious and popular output.
“When you see the inevitable Marvel paean to beloved credit Peter David, remember that they continue to make money off of his work, but left his family scrambling for GoFundMe donations for half a decade,” wrote Ken Burnside, who identifies as a writer and game designer.
A social media account that goes by “Post Mordor” wrote: “I just simply call it evil. Not the first outspoken and prolific creator to have gotten shafted by this industry, and sadly won't be the last.”
Hailing Frequencies Open…
Here’s the latest that we've been keeping up with …
Interview: Kerrice Brooks And Bella Shepard On Why ‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’ Is Not A YA Show
FANS FRUSTRATED, BUT REFUNDS ROLLING OUT AFTER STAR TREK CONVENTION ABRUPTLY CANCELED
MOMENT FOR TREK
Conversation With Peter David
Enjoy this edition of Subspace Chatter?
Please make sure you …
And also …