in santa cruz i had a friend at work, he was even a bigger geek than me. We would talk whenever we had time--and sometimes when we didn't--about the various versions of Dune, art, music, all sorts of crazy books no one else had heard of before.

his desk area was surrounded, protected, by shelves full of a magnificent collection of Godzillas and other monsters, robots and super heros.

he left work due to health reasons--or, as i teased, to play WOW more--awaiting a transplant, just before i moved home to modesto.

things didn't go well, surgery after surgery. And then i got an email a few days ago saying he was coming home from the hospital, hospice care, nothing they could do. I sent an email to his wife to be read to him...a light, brief, reminiscent email talking about monsters and Dune and chatting instead of working. I asked him if he needed any comics. I heard he enjoyed the email, and i'm glad, and i hope he knew what i really meant, that i think it really sucks, that this great, talented, loving guy could struggle and struggle and waste away. i think it a fine thing he could be at home with his family for his last couple of days.

Mark Gordon