Long time science fiction writer and fan, F. M. “Buz” Busby passed away Thursday afternoon, February 17, 2005. He was at Health and Rehabilitation of Seattle, where he was moved following several weeks of surgery and treatment at Swedish Hospital of Seattle.

Funeral arrangements have not been made at this time but messages to his wife, Elinor, may be left online at http://www3.caringbridge.org/wa/buz/guestbook.html. The Caring Bridge site was set up before his death and messages that had been posted there were read to Buz on the day of his death.

Francis Marion Busby was born in 1921. As F. M. Busby he published over 20 novels and collections, including Cage a Man and the Rissa Kerguelen series.

Along with his wife, and others, he published the fanzine, Cry of the Nameless, which won the Best Fanzine Hugo Award in 1960. Other fanzines titles included Cry and Polarity.

Buz chaired Westercon 12 in 1959 and was a Guest of Honor or special guest at many conventions. He was Toastmaster of IguanaCon II, the 1978 World Science Fiction Convention. From 1974-1976 he was Vice President of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).

Posted February 18, 2005