Author Topic: Ardath Mayhar (1930-2012) (Read 2125 times)

Lysenko · « **on:** 07 February 2012, 19:22:28 »

I just wanted to pass along the news that Ardath Mayhar, author of The Sword and Dagger, died last Wednesday (1 FEB 2012). She was 81. Her biggest contribution to the fiction and universe was the concept of the "command circuit." She told me once that there had to be a way to send messages without dealing with Comstar. Thus, the Davion 'pony express in space' was created.

Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine :
et lux perpetua luceat eis.
In memoria æterna erit iustus,
ab auditione mala non timebit.

Dave Talley · « **Reply #1 on:** 07 February 2012, 19:59:40 »

also wrote a Fuzzy book
:-)

great author

Lysenko · « **Reply #2 on:** 07 February 2012, 20:02:11 »

That she did. She also wrote westerns, frontier stories, and fanatsy!

She was always packing heat, too. The other pistol she usually had in her purse was a long-barreled .22 revolver.

Hersh67 · « **Reply #3 on:** 07 February 2012, 20:03:33 »

Sigh. You know this sort of thing will happen to all, the great and small, good and wicked, it just isn't pleasant when it happens. Ms Mayhar, I only know you by the one book you wrote for BattleTech, but it was a very enjoyable one. My thanks.

Hersh67 · « **Reply #4 on:** 07 February 2012, 20:04:19 »

Quote from: Lysenko on 07 February 2012, 20:02:11

That she did. She also wrote westerns, frontier stories, and fanatsy!

She was always packing heat, too. The other pistol she usually had in her purse was a long-barreled .22 revolver.

Looks like a Walther in that picture.

Vallend · « **Reply #5 on:** 07 February 2012, 20:06:32 »

I always wanted to get a copy of her novel "The Sword and Dagger" to read and have in my collection, but never found one for the right price. I did see a copy in a Battletech book collection on a popular bidding site and Had the winning bid till the last 20 seconds when someone snuck in on me and took it away. Every time I wander into one of those used book stores I always check for a copy.

Taron Storm · « **Reply #6 on:** 07 February 2012, 20:07:03 »

Hers was the first Battletech novel I ever read. That novel started me playing a game for the last 23 years. Thank you Ms Mayhar.

FedSunsBorn · « **Reply #7 on:** 07 February 2012, 20:12:17 »

Rest in peace, Mrs. Mayhar, pioneer to so many things that have brought fun and joy to those on these Btech Boards.

TS_Hawk · « **Reply #8 on:** 07 February 2012, 20:33:01 »

Sadly I haven't read her novel yet. but no matter who it is that has passed away it is always sad. RIP young lady your legacy lives on in the books you have written and in your family.

SteelRaven · « **Reply #9 on:** 07 February 2012, 20:36:00 »

That is great pic to remember her by

David CGB · « **Reply #10 on:** 07 February 2012, 20:46:58 »

wonder if the novel will come out on e-book

Welshman · « **Reply #11 on:** 07 February 2012, 20:53:25 »

Thank you for the posting. She had a very engaging writing style that I still fondly remember. I will have to dig up my copy and reread it to honor her memory.

Atlas3060 · « **Reply #12 on:** 07 February 2012, 20:56:50 »

Battlecorps had an interview with her at one point so I'll have to find that and reread it in honor of her as well.

Set Jump coordinates to the unknown, Jump. Goodbye ma'am.

Stormlion1 · « **Reply #13 on:** 07 February 2012, 21:06:41 »

The one novel I don't own, maybe TPTB should get a limited run made up in her honor and put it out.

worktroll · « **Reply #14 on:** 07 February 2012, 21:24:50 »

Thoughts for her family and friends. And much appreciation for her role in setting up a rip-roaring universe we still love today.

W.

blackjack · « **Reply #15 on:** 07 February 2012, 22:16:01 »

A truly sad day...... She will be missed.

Lorcan Nagle · « **Reply #16 on:** 07 February 2012, 23:32:04 »

I can't say I especially enjoyed The Sword and the Dagger, but her contribution to BattleTech can't be ignored. Every death is a tragedy, no matter who they are. RIP.

Medron Pryde · « **Reply #17 on:** 07 February 2012, 23:46:32 »

I also only knew here for the one book.

I shall miss her and I hope she is smiling down on us now.

Frabby · « **Reply #18 on:** 08 February 2012, 01:01:39 »

I also knew her for only "that one BT book" - incidentially, the first BT book I ever read. Took me all of... 3 hours I think to read it back to back, and I was hooked and grabbed the next BT book (Thunder Rift) that day.

For all those who haven't read it, there's a detailed plot synopsis over at Sarna.net: The Sword and the Dagger

The article also covers her brief essay about "Writing BattleTech: The Sword and the Dagger". From what she said there, it seems the book was written under a special contract different from all other BT book authors and that contract is the reason why FASA (or FanPro, or now Topps/IMR/CGL) could never re-publish it in English.

Rest in Peace, Ardath Mayhar.

Edit: Lysenko, where did you get that picture from?

foxbat · « **Reply #19 on:** 08 February 2012, 04:19:45 »

The Sword and the Dagger was my favorite among the 6 BT novels that were translated in French, and that were the first BT fiction I ever read and hooked me to the BT Universe. My condolences to her family, and ùmy thanks for such great moments. May her rest in peace.

Martius · « **Reply #20 on:** 08 February 2012, 06:24:39 »

I enjoyed The Sword and the Dagger.

Wish you the best wherever you are now, Ardath Mayhar.

elizibar · « **Reply #21 on:** 08 February 2012, 06:27:00 »

Man, I guess I should go find a copy of Sword and the Dagger to read. It's one of the many books I still haven't read.

Lysenko · « **Reply #22 on:** 08 February 2012, 07:57:23 »

@Frabby: The pic came from an article last year on mysantonio.com about finding more shuttle debris at Lake Nacogdoches last year (Nacogdoches is near Chireno where she was from). She's just mentioned in the pic roll. that pic is exactly what she looked like when I first met in 1995 when I went into her bookstore "The View From Orbit."

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Drought-uncoversfuel-tank-from-shuttle-1699327.php#photo-1227918

I was looking for a copy of "The Sword and the Dagger" and didn't know I was asking the author if they had any BT novels! /that conversion began a friendship with a wonderful lady. I just taled to her about 2 weeks before she died, and while she was "feeling poorly," I was firmly convinced that she'd outlive me. She had grit.

Edit: oh, and the pic is #89 of 106 on the pic roll.

rafale56 · « **Reply #23 on:** 08 February 2012, 08:49:22 »

I, too, get hooked into Battletech universe thanks to Ardath Mayhar and that marvelous novel that was Sword and Dagger....

RIP and many thanks for all

Vallend · « **Reply #24 on:** 08 February 2012, 08:56:41 »

Lysenko it must of been a thrill for you to meet her and get to know her. May she RIP.

God and Davion · « **Reply #25 on:** 08 February 2012, 10:20:57 »

Toughts and prayers!

Tizona · « **Reply #26 on:** 08 February 2012, 12:10:54 »

I read The Sword and the Dagger for the first time five years ago. After almost 20 years since the Warrior trilogy introduced me to Battletech, it was as being face to face with a universe reborn. It was as intense as that first time.

Thank you, Mrs. Mayhar.

R.I.P.

trboturtle · « **Reply #27 on:** 08 February 2012, 13:55:29 »

New Battletech state Blog about her passing,,,,

Craig

Rorke · « **Reply #28 on:** 08 February 2012, 14:01:55 »

Quote from: SteelRaven on 07 February 2012, 20:36:00

That is great pic to remember her by

Indeed it is and i'm sorry to hear the news.

I managed to find a copy of the book a few years ago, and while rough in places
i enjoyed it.

va_wanderer · « **Reply #29 on:** 08 February 2012, 15:00:47 »

That novel, along with the Grey Death books was my intro to Battletech fiction.

It's a sign about how long you've been around when the writers you loved reading pass away in their old age. First McCaffrey, now this.

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Author Topic: Ardath Mayhar (1930-2012) (Read 2125 times)