MidAmeriCon 1976

http://www.lspraguedecamp.com/ reports that L. Sprague de Camp passed away November 6, 2000. He was preceded in death by Catherine Crook de Camp, his wife of 60 years, in April of this year.

The author of over 120 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books and several hundred short stories, L. Sprague de Camp also wrote many non-fiction works in history, science, and biography. Sprague received many awards, among them the Nebula Award, the Hugo Award, The First Fandom Pilgrim Award, the Grand Master Award for Lifetime Achievement in Fantasy, and Science Fiction Writers of America Grand Master Nebula Award.

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Rememberence by Joanie Knappenberger

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting the Mr. De Camp for the first time when I was working as guest liaison at a small convention in Johnson county Kansas in the late '70s. I had always loved his work and it was a great joy to just be around him.

His proper and refined manner took on a new brightness and fun. To sit and listen to Sprague on many topics is a treat I will always treasure. From dinosaurs to lost cities to raising children he gave his opinion with a twinkle in his eye and a smile. It is hard to conceive of the idea that there will be no more cheery notes from Plano, no new great books to read into the wee hours of the night. But the thing I remember most is not the wonderful friend I will really miss but how he interacted with the any fan in the autograph line. He would look in the fans eyes make a compliment on something associated with the fan and answer any questions that were asked. You had his undivided attention for just a while and were treated with respect.

For as important an author as he was to this genre he was larger as person. Rest in peace dear friend.

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Rememberence by Wilson Tucker

   He stood tall and ramrod straight beside me on the stage, watching me with penetrating stare. It was some long ago year and at some long ago convention; I was introducing him as the Guest of Honor to the crowded room but an introduction was really not needed. Everyone there knew who he was and what he had written, everyone there was waiting for me to finish and get out of the way. I suspect Sprague was waiting for the same.
   At the close of the introduction I told the audience about a marvelous character, a character created by Sprague in one of his novels. This character was a nameless prisoner in a nameless cell who had but one line of dialogue. Once each hour, every hour, the prisoner would shuffle forward and grasp the bars to shout "Yngvi is a louse!"
   I mispronounced the name "Yngvi."
   Sprague began his talk that afternoon with a lecture, lecturing me on how to properly pronounce "Yngvi." He said the name several times but I never got it right, I couldn't summon the guttural twist needed to say it properly. That prisoner and his single line of dialogue swept the fan world and was repeated for years afterward. Articles were published about the matter and at least one fan magazine was named for the line. With the passage of years I had forgotten Johnny Black and had forgotten Harold Shea but I have never forgotten Yngvi. He was a louse.

Photo courtesy of Dave Truesdale.

Updated November-7-2000