I know he wasn’t a science fiction or fantasy author, but J. D. Salinger, author of the controversial and classic Catcher in the Rye passed away yesterday. His death was apparently due to natural causes (which is a fancy way of saying “died of old age”). There’s a lot more at the link that might be of interest (it details a lot of his life, particularly as a writer).
I read Catcher in the Rye many years ago and had a love/hate relationship with it. On the one hand, I enjoyed it; on the other, I didn’t get what all the hype was about. But, looking back, I think it’s because of the world I live in now, which doesn’t deem the controversial elements of Catcher in the Rye as particularly controversial at all (cursewords especially).
Still, Salinger was a fine author who made one hell of an impact on the literary world, and whether you love or hate his book is irrelevant.
May he rest in peace!
