The Nebula Award finalists were announced the other day and, to my excitement, one of the stories on the ballot is Eugie Foster's "When it Ends, He Catches Her." I love this story, which is both touching and disturbing and a beautiful elegy on life and death.
I wish everyone would read the story. I wish everyone would consider it for the Hugo and Nebula Awards (the story was on my nominating list for both awards).
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to tell Eugie how much I loved this story because she passed away the day after it was published. But as with all authors, a part of her lives on through her stories.
The November 2014 issue of Locus Magazine published my short remembrance of Eugie. Here's the essay in case you missed it.
Remembering Eugie Foster
There's never enough time. There are never enough words. The day before Eugie Foster died, Daily Science Fiction published her amazing new short story "When It Ends, He Catches Her." The story — a lyrical tale about the dance of life and death and loss — touched me like few others have in recent years. I wanted so badly to tell Eugie how much I loved the story. But there's never enough time and, when Eugie passed the next day, there were no more words to share.
But words are still why I loved Eugie's writings so much. She was a friend, yes, but also one of my favorite authors. Her stories ranged from fairy tales to science fiction to horror, from stories which could puzzle even cynical and jaded adults to tales which couldn't help but delight eternally eager children. Eugie embraced the entire range of possibilities contained in the short story form, with her Nebula Award winning novelette "Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast" ranking as a classic which people will read and wonder about for years to come.
Eugie was a powerful voice for short stories in a time and a culture where short stories are nearly a forgotten genre. As editor of The Fix short fiction review, she highlighted stories which otherwise would have been overlooked by readers. Through her friendships with fellow short story writers she encouraged so many authors to greater heights. I know I personally wouldn't be where I am today as a writer without her kind words and support.
Eugie's husband Matthew asked that instead of sending flowers, people remember her by reading her stories. That is a beautiful request and one which fits so well with Eugie's life and writings. Remember her life. Read her stories. Share her stories with others.
Goodbye, Eugie. You were a wonderful person and author. While it's never easy to say goodbye, I know I will continue to reread your stories — and urge others to read them — for as long as I live.