John Maddox Roberts 1947-2024

[Almuric II]

Just heard the bad news over at Frontier Partisans:

frontierpartisans.com/34703/a-frontier-partisan-has-gone-up-the-trail/

I shall drink to his shade.

[Von K]

Thanks for letting us know Almuric.

Sad to hear of the passing of another swordbrother. He last visited the forum here just over two months ago but hadn't posted here for quite a few years. He preferred hanging out at the campfire with Jim and the posters over at Frontier Partisans. He was proud of having been a friend of the noted authority on Medieval weapons Hank Reinhardt.

He was a hell of a fast and prolific writer too. Wrote the first of the Falcon books in ten days according to the following interview series, where he also describes how he got into writing the Conan pastiches:

RIP John.

[Von K]

Just wonder if this thread ought to be in he Arts section as JMR wrote in quite a few genres outside of S+S.

From reddit's ConantheBarbarian fora:

RIP John Maddox Roberts, author of numerous Conan novels such as 'Conan and the Treasure of Python'

www.reddit.com/r/ConanTheBarbarian/comments/1d8w310/rip_john_maddox_roberts_author_of_numerous_conan/

From Keith over at Adventures Fantastic:

RIP, John Maddox Roberts

adventuresfantastic.com/rip-john-maddox-roberts/

And from Brandon Williams over at Book Notification:

Remembering John Maddox Roberts: A Master of Historical and Speculative Fiction

www.booknotification.com/news/remembering-john-maddox-roberts-a-master-of-historical-and-speculative-fiction/

Throughout his career, Roberts was praised for his ability to bring historical periods to life, whether through the lens of a detective in ancient Rome or the epic adventures of fantasy heroes. His works often explored themes of power, politics, and the human condition, making them resonate with readers across different genres.

As far as his personal life went, Roberts lived in New Mexico with his wife, where he was deeply involved in the local literary community. Known for his generosity and wit, Roberts was a mentor to many aspiring writers and a beloved figure among his peers.

Roberts’ death marked the end of a remarkable career that spanned nearly five decades and left an indelible mark on the world of literature. He is remembered not only for his contributions to historical and speculative fiction but also for his enduring legacy as a storyteller who could transport readers to different worlds and eras with his words.

Brandon Williams