SFWA’s In Memoriam marks the loss of writers and other science fiction and fantasy creators by celebrating their literary legacies and their contributions to the publishing community. The person whose loss we are marking does not have to be a SFWA member. It is enough that they contributed to the world of SFF and leave behind people who wish to honor their life and work. Please contact publications@sfwa.org if you wish for us to add an entry for a recently lost creator to the list.
In Memoriam: Jean Rabe
Jean Rabe (19 June 1957–19 January 2026) was a prolific multi-genre prose and game writer, editor, anthologist, mentor, and journalist across a wide variety of media and interests. Rabe was the head of the Role Playing Game Association for many…
In Memoriam: Rebecca Heineman
Rebecca Ann Heineman (30 October 1963–17 November 2025), lovingly known as “Burger Becky,” was a prolific and foundational game designer and programmer credited on at least six dozen games. An inductee to the International Video Game Hall of Fame, she…
In Memoriam: John Varley
John Varley (09 August 1947–10 December 2025) was a popular and influential novelist and short story writer with four decades of work across science fiction genres and mediums. Born in Texas, Varley studied physics and then English in Michigan, then…
In Memoriam: Robert R. Chase
Robert R. Chase (30 August 1948–20 October 2025) was a science-fiction short story writer and novelist. A long-time attorney for the United States Army and science-fiction fan, Chase wrote three novels, published between 1986 and 1991, of which The Game…
In Memoriam: Ru Emerson
Ru Emerson (15 December 1944–15 August 2025), also writing as Roberta Cray, was a fantasy novelist, best known for writing original tie-in fiction. A lifetime speculative fiction reader and writer, Emerson was first published in 1986 with the fantasy novel…
In Memoriam: Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro (15 September 1942–31 August 2025) was a prolific writer of novels and short stories across a wide range of speculative genres. Yarbro was honored with a World Horror Convention Grand Master Award, a World Fantasy Convention Life…
In Memoriam: Ron Montana
Ron Montana (18 May 1938–01 January 2025) was a novel, short story, screenplay writer, and local television show host. A SFWA member for many years, he was a volunteer for the Grievance Committee. Ron Montana lived 86 years.
In Memoriam: Heather Osborne
Dr. Heather Kathleen Forest Osborne (03 June 1981–20 September 2024) was a lifelong writer of short speculative fiction, a debut novelist, and a proud member of several fandoms. She was the Associate Editor of Foundation: The International Journal of Science…
In Memoriam: Dr. Anthony R. Lewis
Dr. Anthony R. Lewis (08 February 1941–11 February 2025) was a fan writer, anthologist, and convention organizer, deeply involved in the formation of the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS), and an active member of several professional organizations, including SFWA. Dr….
In Memoriam: Laurel Amberdine
Laurel Amberdine (1970–21 January 2025) was a writer, interviewer, and genre editor. She worked for Locus Magazine for ten years, and was an assistant editor for Lightspeed magazine. Amberdine was known for her kind and thoughtful interviews, yet she also…
In Memoriam: Howard Andrew Jones
Howard Andrew Jones (19 July 1968–16 January 2025) was a beloved sword-and-sorcery editor, reader, scholar, and writer, known for works such as the Ring-Sworn trilogy and the Chronicles of Hanuvar series. In 2016, the Black Gate: Adventures in Fantasy Literature…
In Memoriam: George Zebrowski
George Zebrowski (28 December 1945–20 December 2024) was a prolific writer and anthologist. He edited three Nebula anthologies and headed SFWA’s committee that oversaw the selection of editors for Nebula Awards anthologies from 1983-95. His collection of Bulletins and Forums…
In Memoriam: Barry N. Malzberg
Barry N. Malzberg (24 July 1939–19 December 2024), also writing as Mel Johnson, K.M. O’Donnell, Nathan Herbert, Mike Barry, Claudine Dumas, Lee W. Mason, and Gerrold Watkins, was a prolific and varied writer, anthologist, columnist, critic, satirist, and editor. Malzberg…
In Memoriam: T. Jackson King
Thomas Jackson King, Jr., (24 May 1948–3 December 2024) was an archeologist, an activist, a prolific writer of science-fiction, horror, and urban fantasy, and an award-winning journalist. He wrote articles for The SFWA Bulletin and SFWA Handbook, and served as…
In Memoriam: Janet Morris
Janet Morris (25 May 1946 – 10 August 2024) was a military fantasy writer most known for blending history, ancient mythologies, and science fiction into secondworlds. With a publication career spanning over 35 years, Morris is known for works such…