Game and novel author Aaron Allston
passed away Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014, at the age of 53. I knew Aaron
from our involvement in the adventure games hobby and the Star
Wars fiction franchise, though our acquaintance wasn’t as deep
as I would have liked. He was a quiet yet significant contributor to
numerous games throughout his life; he also published novels in his
own, original settings in addition to his involvement in the Star
Wars and Terminator licenses.
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| Fly casual, Aaron. |
In the few days since Aaron’s passing
many friends and colleagues who knew him better have offered their
fond memories and condolences, including game industry luminary Allen Varney (who broke the news to much of gaming fandom and drafted the earliest obituary), the prolific Matt Forbeck, and Bruce Heard, who
provided a comprehensive, impressive game and fiction bibliography of
Aaron’s work. No doubt more will follow my meager contribution to
the many internet missives remembering Aaron’s life and work.
Ironically our family was thinking
fondly of Aaron the week he passed away as we endured a long car ride
home from a wedding. My aunt had given our four year-old “Little
Guy” a bag full of toys, including a Playskool Clone-Wars-era
pull-back starfighter for young Obi-Wan; unfortunately the Obi-Wan
figure with lightsaber was difficult to fit into the cockpit, so the
Little Guy pulled out his Playskool Wicket the Ewok figure he’d
brought along for the journey and fit him perfectly into the cockpit
(except for the spear point). We immediately thought of Aaron with a
smile, remembering how he incorporated the humorous image of Ewok
“pilots” into his X-Wing: Wraith Squadron novels.
Aaron’s Star Wars novels were
just hitting publication when West End Games folded, so I never had
the privilege of working with him as a game or Journal editor,
but we knew each other through occasional meetings at conventions and
rare correspondence on Star Wars matters. My wife and I were
fortunate enough to get to know him at several conventions we
attended in North Carolina where, with fellow authors Timothy Zahn
and Michael A. Stackpole – with whom I had worked at the Journal
– he was part of the always entertaining “Tim, Mike, and Aaron
Show.” Aaron was incredibly intelligent and witty, quietly listened
to folks he met, and always had at least one, if not a flurry, of
puns handy to break the ice among new acquaintances. In his
self-effacing demeanor he sometimes referred to himself as the
“pun-gent.”
In reflecting on Aaron’s life and his
passing I arrive at several realizations, many relevant to anyone’s
passing and some unique to Aaron’s. Two particularly stand out: be
friendly and be playful. Aaron’s friendship – whether in a brief
convention exchange or throughout a career – displayed a quiet
intelligence and a positive outlook. He always had a kind or
encouraging word for people, and I never recall hearing him disparage
others...not an easy feat in a niche hobby where numerous,
contentious small factions build themselves up by tearing others
down. Aaron also reminds us to maintain a playful spirit; whether
writing for games, infusing Star Wars novels with his agile
wit, or simply cracking numerous, groan-inducing puns to share some
laughs and set folks at ease. Aaron shared his playfulness with
everyone.
At these times we often say we regret
not getting to know people better during their time among us. Aaron’s
passing reminds us to appreciate people in our lives, from our
closest loved ones and friends to casual acquaintances and even those
in the adventure gaming hobby whom we admire from afar. Take a moment
to drop an e-mail to someone who’s made a positive difference in
your life and thank them. Drop a +1 onto someone’s deserving
Google+ post to show them their ideas and opinions matter. Reach out
and engage someone in an informed, respectful discussion with the aim
of forging a positive connection and a greater community.
I think fellow Star Wars
novelist and Aaron’s friend Timothy Zahn put it best in his
Facebook post regarding Aaron’s passing: “Aaron was a wonderful
author, a devastating punster, an erudite teacher, and – most of
all – a wonderful friend. His humor in the midst of his pain and
medical difficulties was an inspiration to everyone around him.”
