As do I. I'll be thinking of him.

Posted June 15, 2006 10:30 PM by Euan

Wishing him well. I don't know the man personally, but I know of him (mostly through the comments made by many authors). Hoping for the best.

Posted June 15, 2006 10:31 PM by marty

Life has sucked lately. (In the grand scheme of things way.)

A dear old First Fandom friend's wife passed about a week ago(long illness) , another dear friend's father was killed in an accident last Friday mid-day (June 9) and a long-time KaCSFFS-an (KC, MO's SF club) passed away last night (short illness, late diagnosed).

Mr. Baen better get better! All my thoughts and prayers are there for a good outcome!

Posted June 15, 2006 10:41 PM by Paula Helm Murray

Fingers crossed and prayers spoken for him. I hope he recovers quickly and completely.

Posted June 15, 2006 10:43 PM by Jackie Kessler

Oh man. Best wishes to him for recovery.

Posted June 15, 2006 10:58 PM by Scraps

Good luck to Jim Baen, a man I don't know personally but who has had a major influence on writing and reading. I hope he is well soon.

Posted June 15, 2006 11:09 PM by Ty Johnston

Best of wishes to Jim Baen. Let's hope he'll have a full recovery.

Posted June 15, 2006 11:23 PM by Writerious

We will keep him in our prayers.

Posted June 15, 2006 11:31 PM by John Farrell

Not good. Happy thoughts etc. in transit.

Posted June 15, 2006 11:33 PM by Garrett Fitzgerald

Oh no. So sorry to hear this. Positive vibes being redirected.

Posted June 16, 2006 12:06 AM by Greg London

Much goodness wished.

Posted June 16, 2006 12:14 AM by elise

Comment spam on Jim Baen info thread. :-(

I hope he pulls through.

Posted June 16, 2006 12:17 AM by Julia Jones sees particularly inappropriate comment spam

I hope he has a complete recovery.

Best wishes to him and his family.

Posted June 16, 2006 12:31 AM by Harry Connolly

Oh, that's not good. I've read many novels put out by Baen Books. I hope he recovers. He and his family have my thoughts and prayers.

Posted June 16, 2006 12:35 AM by Gary Townsend

Our best to Mr. Baen...

Posted June 16, 2006 12:47 AM by dan

I'm sorry to hear it. My thoughts are with him and his.

Posted June 16, 2006 1:05 AM by adamsj

Not good. I've never been much of a Baen books reader, and I've said rude things about their covers, but I've always been impressed by their brave and intriguing experiments with electronic publishing, serialised novels by subscription and parallel paper and free online editions. If anyone has a handle on the future shappe of publishing, it might well be Baen.

Hope all goes well.

Posted June 16, 2006 1:36 AM by Steve Taylor

I was going to try to say something much like Steve Taylor said, except, well, he said it, and he did so better than I would've.

Will send prayers for a full recovery.

Posted June 16, 2006 1:42 AM by Kevin Riggle

This is bad news. Thoughts and prayers going out.

Posted June 16, 2006 1:58 AM by Bruce Adelsohn

I'm holding him and his in the light (praying for him Quaker-style).

I hope he comes through this alive and with sound mind and body.

Posted June 16, 2006 2:29 AM by Annalee Flower Horne

Thoughts and best wishes to Jim, and his loved ones, family and friends. He has done a remarkable service to science fiction, especially with the free library project. I hope he returns to us soon to continue his good work, but if he cannot, please carry on woth his vision.

Posted June 16, 2006 3:46 AM by David Shields

That's very sad news, Baen Books has published some of my favorite authors and series over the years. Sending lots of positive thoughts his direction.

Posted June 16, 2006 4:04 AM by Cormac Russell

Jim Baen has done a lot of brave experimenting to take SF and magazine publishing into the 21st century, and this deserves praise.

Very sad to hear about his stroke. I wish him a full recovery.
:-/

Posted June 16, 2006 4:58 AM by A.R.Yngve

My best wishes and hope for a speedy recovery for him and strength to him, his family and friends in these difficult times.

Posted June 16, 2006 5:14 AM by Martin Wisse

Wishing Jim a good and speedy recovery.

Posted June 16, 2006 5:50 AM by John Vilnis

I'm sorry to have to announce that Jim Baen suffered a stroke on Monday, and has been in the hospital ever since. His condition is serious, but it's too early for any prognosis as to how he'll fare from here on in.

His family has arrived in NC, and are with him in the hospital. I've been to see him, as have other members of Baen's staff and his friend David Drake. In the meantime, so far as Baen Books is concerned, our plans continue on schedule.

The business is fine, we're all simply very concerned about Jim.

Toni Weisskopf Chief editor, Baen Books

Posted June 16, 2006 7:36 AM by James D. Macdonald

Beams to Jim.

Posted June 16, 2006 7:51 AM by Dan Guy

My prayers to Jim for a quick and complete recovery. I owe him my professional start in this field. So do a lot of other people. Here's hoping all that good karma comes winging back twentyfold.

Posted June 16, 2006 8:50 AM by Connor Freff Cochran

Good thoughts from me too for a full recovery.

Posted June 16, 2006 9:45 AM by suzanne

I will light a candle for him, that he has a complete recovery in body, mind, and spirit.

Posted June 16, 2006 9:53 AM by Magenta Griffith

I don't really know him, except from on the Bar, but I hope he recovers completely.

Posted June 16, 2006 9:53 AM by Melissa Mead

We're all really sorry to hear this and will keep Jim and his family in our thoughts.

Posted June 16, 2006 10:01 AM by Melissa Singer

I hope Jim makes a full recovery.

Posted June 16, 2006 10:23 AM by Victor Raymond

Prayers and vibes. I hope he makes a recovery.

Posted June 16, 2006 10:29 AM by Trey

My wife and I will keep him in our thoughts.

Posted June 16, 2006 10:44 AM by Damien Roth

I hope he recovers.

Posted June 16, 2006 11:11 AM by P J Evans

Get well very soon Jim.

Posted June 16, 2006 11:23 AM by Michael Harrison

Best wishes for a full recovery for Mr. Baen.

I'll light a candle for him and his when I get home...

Posted June 16, 2006 11:27 AM by Lori Coulson

Prayers for Mr. Baen, his family and his medical/rehab team.

Posted June 16, 2006 11:59 AM by Lila

This is sad news. I hope he makes a complete recovery.

Posted June 16, 2006 12:12 PM by Fragano Ledgister

I have to admit that Baen books do not tend to be my favorites, but I have always admired the publishing company itself. Jim Baen and his family and friends will be in my thoughts and prayers. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Posted June 16, 2006 12:25 PM by Kasey Mackenzie

I hope that rather than it being a severe stroke, it turns out to be something else. (There are other conditions that can look eerily like a stroke at first; basically anything, that can throw off plaques into the circulation and produce a transient ischaemic attack. Such conditions aren't good -- they cause most of the same symptoms -- but the prognosis for treatment and recovery is often better.)

I probably wouldn't mention this, except one report said that Jim had felt unwell, went to hospital, and had a stroke while being examined. Actual cerebrovascular incidents don't, AFAIK, telegraph themselves in advance -- but something like acute bacterial edocarditis might very well do so.

Grasping at straws, I know. But one can hope.

Posted June 16, 2006 12:34 PM by Charlie Stross

I don't know Jim personally, but it's impossible to be a science fiction fan and not get it that he's one of the great characters and innovators in the field. And I sure have read a lot of the books he's published. I hope Jim recovers fully and we can have him around for a lot longer.

Meanwhile, for the rest of you (us), have you had your blood pressure checked lately? Cut back on the salt? Eating more veggies and salads? Exercising? Spending more time with your friends/family? In the words of a friend: and no dying.

Posted June 16, 2006 12:41 PM by TomB

All best wishes for everyone involved, and my thoughts and prayers go out to Jim and his family and friends.

Posted June 16, 2006 1:05 PM by Aspen

I hope he recovers. If it's true, and he indeed had a stroke at the hospital, there's a good chance he got the appropriate drugs within the time limit necessary for them to work. We can hope.

My prayers are with him and his family.

Posted June 16, 2006 1:10 PM by Lizzy L

All good thoughts to Jim. This field owes him a huge debt of gratitude and support, and I hope he feels it now.

Posted June 16, 2006 1:48 PM by Madeleine Robins

Good thoughts and best wishes for luck to Jim Baen and his family. Not sure what else I could say.

Posted June 16, 2006 1:53 PM by Clifton Royston

I worked for Jim Baen part-time for a year or so and have free-lanced for Baen Books off and on over the years. He was always decent to me. I hope he recovers completely from this.

Posted June 16, 2006 3:51 PM by Robert L

Good vibes going out to Jim and family.

Posted June 16, 2006 4:15 PM by Liam Jackson

Charlie Stross writes: I hope that rather than it being a severe stroke, it turns out to be something else. (There are other conditions that can look eerily like a stroke at first; basically anything, that can throw off plaques into the circulation and produce a transient ischaemic attack. Such conditions aren't good -- they cause most of the same symptoms -- but the prognosis for treatment and recovery is often better.)

I do hope you're right, though, not to derail this thread with nit-picky medicine, transient ischemic attacks (TIA) usually resolve within 24 hours after onset of symptoms.

I hope it's a TIA.

Posted June 16, 2006 4:21 PM by Tae

Good vibes (an it be his own true will) from me as well.

And TomB: I just got my CPR home-training kit in the mail yesterday. Gonna work it. No good for a stroke, of course, but people have heart attacks too.

Posted June 16, 2006 4:22 PM by Xopher

Best wishes for Jim's recovery. Scary stuff, this--I'm sure the publishing house will survive in his absence, but one would hope it wouldn't have to just yet.

(On a tangent: It is an indication of how, er, well-trained my husband is at this "being married to a writer" thing that when he read the unhappy news on boingboing.net he thought to forward me the link.)

Posted June 16, 2006 4:31 PM by Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little

With good luck, it will clear up with drugs. With bad luck, it's a hemorrhagic stroke, for which all they can do, medically speaking, is stop the bleeding. (I speak from experience: it's what happened to my father. He recovered completely the first time and partially the second time.)

Posted June 16, 2006 4:36 PM by P J Evans

My best wishes to Jim, his family and co-workers...and to a speedy recovery as well.

Posted June 16, 2006 4:40 PM by Chris M. Barkley

I am thinking good thoughts in Jim's direction. This has been a bad year for the field, and it's time we got some good news.

Jane

Posted June 16, 2006 5:29 PM by jane

Tae: I was thinking very specifically of what happened to my dad three years ago. He was feeling increasingly ill for a few weeks, until my mother finally got worried enough to call an ambulance. Admitted to hospital, he had a stroke a few hours later and was unconscious and showing signs of hemilateral paralysis. Then the senior registrar on the cardio HDU thought to check his blood pressure, and found it was low, which set the alarm bells going. (Cerebrovascular incidents correlate negatively with low blood pressure.) A few hours later he began to show signs of pyrexia. What he had wasn't a stroke, it was a bacterial plaque growing on his mitral valve; the "stroke" was an ischaemic attack caused by a clot of bacteria being thrown off and lodging in an artery downstream. Not "transient", and he was deeply ill -- but it wasn't a ruptured artery.

Three weeks and about half a kilogram of penicillin VK and gentamicin later, he regained consciousness. Three months later he was out of hospital and respite care, and three years later he's made a substantial recovery (to the point where the hemilateral paralysis is no more than a slight weakness in his left thumb).

It's not an experience I'd wish on anyone -- except as an alternative to a severe stroke.

Posted June 16, 2006 5:51 PM by Charlie Stross

A candle lit with best Wishes for Jim Baen's complete recovery.
Hurrah for the company having emergency plans in place. (do I? do you?)

Posted June 16, 2006 6:00 PM by RuTemple

Mr. Baen, please don't go and die on me. I don't always agree with your taste in literature, but, on the other hand, I enjoy it more often than not. Further, yours is the only major publishing house that "gets it" with respect to ebooks....for that alone you're more than entitled to seeing your second or even third century. Get well soon, tis a darker universe with you incapacitated.

Posted June 16, 2006 7:57 PM by Bryan P

[Baen] is the only major publishing house that "gets it" with respect to ebooks

Holy crap, is that ever true. The full story of just how true will be written in Heaven.

Posted June 16, 2006 8:06 PM by Patrick Nielsen Hayden

Best wishes to Jim. I'm hoping for a complete recovery.

Posted June 16, 2006 8:11 PM by Seth Breidbart

As I posted earlier on RASFW, I've often been quite vocal about some of Baen Books' editorial choices, but right now I simply wish Jim Baen the best and hope for as complete a recovery as possible, full stop.

Posted June 16, 2006 9:25 PM by David Bilek

I met Jim Baen in the early nineties, when I'd just started reading submissions for publication as e-books for the Mac.

They picked me mostly because I read quickly, read a lot, and read SF which was selling better than any other kind of book we sold.

I had no idea how to deal with a slush pile. I thought I was obligated to read every word of everything we got, which included pretty much every kind of submission you could imagine, good and bad.

Reading it all and responding to it all was, quite honestly, exhausting me.

Jim Baen was exceedingly kind and managed to educate me without making me feel stupid or being overbearing. He had practical, useful advice; it was only after the hour long conversation that he gave me his card and I realized he wasn't a "Baen editor," which was how he'd been introduced to me.

Posted June 16, 2006 9:58 PM by Lisa Spangenberg

Charlie, by definition, TIAs don't result in coma, so Jim didn't have a TIA.

(Cerebrovascular incidents correlate negatively with low blood pressure.)

In vastly most incidents, that's true. I had my big stroke & coma because my BP was too low and I didn't get enough blood and oxygen to my brain for a while. If I had just the stroke & coma, I'd still be able to work. I was 32 then, though, and I think Jim is closer to my current age. I wish him the same good fortune that I had.

Posted June 16, 2006 10:19 PM by Marilee

more positive/healing thoughts added (i'm assured that they have effect even if one is agnostic as to the possibility), to go with hopes for as speedy and as complete a recovery as possible.
(only met the once: but i've enjoyed much of the results of his work since he became editor at if, and then also of galaxy.)

Posted June 16, 2006 10:56 PM by ppint.

He is in my prayers.

Posted June 16, 2006 10:58 PM by Anne Sheller

Charlie didn't say temporary ischemic attack -- he said ischemic attack. There are two basic types of strokes -- ischemic and haemorrhagic. The latter only make up about 20% of all strokes.

The exact cause of the blockage can be many things; blood clots from the heart (often from the atrium with a-fib) or the legs with DVT. Charlie mentioned a case of a bacterial plaque.

TIAs are often red flags for a major stroke coming. The main difference between a TIA and an ischemic attack is that the latter ... isn't temporary.

Posted June 17, 2006 12:02 AM by Jim Macdonald

I've enjoyed a lot of books off of Baen's site and am sorry to hear he's hads health problem with this stroke. All my best, and still thanking you in advance.

Posted June 17, 2006 12:53 AM by barry jaffe

Of course I'm hoping Jim Baen will pull through. Personal stuff: he was a cheeringly exuberant presence at the 1978 UK Eastercon (a real American publisher, we committee people marvelled, who gave parties!), and he reissued my own sort-of-military sf novel as a Baen Book when I thought its life was over. And then there was Destinies. I owe him.

Posted June 17, 2006 5:44 PM by Dave Langford

Charlie Stross:
It's not an experience I'd wish on anyone -- except as an alternative to a severe stroke.

Charlie, I am very glad your dad made such excellent recovery!

However, as Jim points out above, there are two kinds of strokes, and your dad had the embolic type.

Posted June 17, 2006 9:52 PM by Tae

My thoughts wish only full recovery for Mr. Baen.

Posted June 17, 2006 11:10 PM by Dave Kuzminski

Tae, Jim points out there are two *basic* kinds of strokes. The kind of stroke I had is a watershed infarct, which is usually listed as a type of ischemic stroke. Mine wasn't, I had no block, just really really low BP (caused by medication ordered by the doctor, administered by the nurse, while I was in the hospital with renal failure).

Jim, Charlie says TIA here and I assumed he continued to mean that in the second post.

Posted June 17, 2006 11:58 PM by Marilee

Here's an update from ralan.com on Mr. Baen's editorial condition:

UPDATE - 17 June 2006: Jim Baen suffers stroke, in comma; ...

Mr. Baen seems to have an extraordinarily virulent form of the disease, so I wish him a full recovery.

Posted June 18, 2006 12:03 AM by Brenda Kalt

Difficult news. Our thoughts and prayers are with him from this corner as well.

Walter.

Posted June 18, 2006 12:12 AM by Walter Hunt

Been reading Baen Books as long as they've been around, and my Palm Pilot is full of evidence that the man knows what e-books are about. Also, having had my own TIA three months ago (carotid plaque, no lasting effects but one hell of a two-day kick in the head while the docs worked things out) I feel all the more sympathy for what he and his family are going through. Please, keep us posted.

Posted June 18, 2006 12:14 AM by C. A. Bridges

Feh.

I've never met him, but of course I know who he is, as Baen publishes some of my favorite books and authors.

I will think good thoughts, and hope to hear some good news about recovery.

Posted June 19, 2006 6:24 AM by Tina

I bought two books from Webscriptions last Saturday night. Best wishes for recovery.

Posted June 19, 2006 6:31 PM by Bob

From Nancy Hanger's blog

http://editrx.livejournal.com/141402.html

Posted June 20, 2006 12:34 AM by Mercedes Lackey

I believe there's news at the Baen Bar. It's not particularly good.

Posted June 20, 2006 10:28 AM by adamsj

Adamsj, could you repost whatever news there is at Baen Bar, even if it isn't good. I'm not registered there, but would like to know, as might other people.

Thank you.

Posted June 20, 2006 11:00 AM by Magenta Griffith

The link to Nancy Hanger's blog doesn't have anything new, as far as I can tell. Does anyone have any definite news, post-weekend? Or even a definite no-change?

Posted June 20, 2006 11:07 AM by Dave Bell

From Baen's Bar, this morning:

Dear Friends of Jim Baen and Baen Books,

At this time we regret we are unable to give you positive news regarding Jim's condition.

As many of you know, last Monday Jim suffered a stroke. The doctors describe it as a massive bilateral stroke in the thalamus. Jim has not regained consciousness and his condition has become severe. He is resting comfortably now, and appears to be in no pain; however the doctors' prognosis is grave.

We know that very many people care for Jim and have been hoping and praying for a positive outcome, but we wanted to share this information with you, as so many have asked and expressed great concern.

Jessica Baen & Toni Weisskopf

Posted June 20, 2006 11:10 AM by Patrick Nielsen Hayden

It sounds like a non-serviceable part is broken.

(I know, but even a small funny can help. Been there, done that, have vivid memories of my father's last stroke. 'His first helicopter ride, and he wasn't awake to enjoy it,' my mother said.)

He will be missed.

Posted June 20, 2006 11:20 AM by P J Evans

Cory Doctorow writes about Jim here.

Posted June 20, 2006 11:37 AM by Patrick Nielsen Hayden

Oh, damn, Patrick, I was indeed hoping for better news. The world needs all the people open to innovation it can get, darn it.

Posted June 20, 2006 12:46 PM by Bruce Baugh

Jim is/was a risk taker, and had the know-how to make it work. He is/was a man you could talk with, who could change his mind matter-of-factly if you made a case for it. I'm fortunate to have known him. I''ve written for him since 1981, when as a VP at Tor, he bought the first of going on 30 novels from me.

Posted June 20, 2006 11:19 PM by John Dalmas

An old AOL colleague called today. She blew an aneurysm a few years back and went into a two-month coma. Today, she still has some aphasia, but she graduated from college yesterday. She'd never even thought of going to college before the aneurysm. Sometimes people make remarkable recoveries.

Posted June 21, 2006 9:19 PM by Marilee

Remembered in my prayers.

Posted June 22, 2006 9:14 AM by Hal Colebatch

This sucks. Jim is one of the "Good Guys", someone who cares about books and treats his writers right, insofar as possible in the publishing business (which, after all, is a *business*, not a charity). His stuff isn't my cup of tea in general (my tastes and his tastes don't overlap much, he prefers "traditional" science fiction with spaceships and such and I prefer more adventurous science fiction that goes boldly where no one has gone before), but he knows what he likes and he knows his audience and if you are selling that kind of stuff he is (was?) one of the greatest friends you could have. He will be missed not only by his immediate family, but by the whole science fiction community.

Posted June 22, 2006 2:20 PM by BadTux

I don't know Jim, but I'd suggest we speak of him in the present tense while he yet lives. To speak of him as if dead is the worst sort of magic, although I'm absolutely certain it's unintentional. </priest mode>

Posted June 22, 2006 2:40 PM by Xopher

No more news of Jim as of yesterday evening; he seems to be resting well and is in no apparent pain, though is still in a coma. The office, particularly Marla and Hank, are sounding small, exhausted, and wrung out. We need to remember them in our prayers, too. The daily running of the company is falling on their shoulders, along with Toni.

Posted June 23, 2006 11:21 AM by Nancy C. Hanger

Just a hope you recover and get well wish from the old world - long way for the States but I was shocked to hear this sad news. Hope he recovers - Kees van Toorn, Netherlands (chairman 48th World SF Convention the Hague)

Posted June 26, 2006 2:40 PM by Kees van Toorn

No change as of today, according to Toni and Arnold.

While thalamic area strokes are extremely serious, Jim is through the critical week-to-ten days period without signs of decline. He's stable and getting very good care.

We can only continue to hope and pray for the best outcome, supporting the Baen family [in the broadest terms] through this trial.

Posted June 26, 2006 5:14 PM by JJ Brannon

In his new Universe ezine, Jim's Publishers Podium column is entitled "Why Die?" Jim, please listen to yourself there. Please!

Posted June 28, 2006 1:04 AM by Scott McGee

Posted this morning on Baen's Bar"

'My friend Jim Baen passed away peacefully and with dignity at 5 pm yesterday, June 28, 2006. --
Dave Drake'

Posted June 29, 2006 9:38 AM by JJ Brannon

David Drake has a memorial here

)-:

Posted June 29, 2006 9:44 AM by Suzanne

Goodbye, Jim. I'll miss you. I'm glad I got to meet you, even if ever so briefly, at N4.

My condolences to Toni and Jim's other friends and family.

(David Drake's obituary for Jim Baen, via BoingBoing)

Posted June 29, 2006 9:46 AM by Christopher Davis

My grandpa went in for a triple bypass two weeks ago and had a stroke affecting the thalamus. My prayers will be with Jim and his family! This is very hard to see them like this. I have several questions and infomation I would love to share with you, if you have time to write back I would love to find out as much infomation as I can on this. Again, we will pray for your family.
Mellissa

Posted July 11, 2006 9:12 AM by Mellissa

Mellissa, I'm sorry to tell you that, as noted above, Jim Baen died on the 28th.

There's nontechnical information at the websites for the National Stroke Association and the American Stroke Association (a division of the American Heart Association). This Mayo Clinic document is also good. And this section of the Merck Manual Home Edition provides an explanation of what happens in strokes in plain language. Much of this information is about warning signs and prevention, but they also deal with aftercare and treatment.

There's a great deal of technical material on stroke available online, but much of it assumes that the reader is a medical professional, with a technical vocabulary. Others may only find the documents confusing, and unnecessarily scary. Nothing is scarier than what you don't understand, so finding usable information is worth doing.

I hope you find what you're looking for.

Posted July 11, 2006 10:36 AM by John M. Ford

wh r y ppl?

h ws n sshl nd jrk t wmn, vn chtng n hs wf nd hs mstrss.

H ws jrk t thr wmn rtsts nd wrtrs.

th nxt nt s wll b hm n hs lddr gn nt bcmng hmn bng.

Posted July 17, 2006 12:32 AM by Hrld Hpkns

Last comment.

Posted July 17, 2006 1:25 AM by Teresa or Patrick have a look at this

And not just for reasons of de mortuis nil nisi bonum. Some people should be banned for their very first comment IMO.

Posted July 17, 2006 10:06 AM by Xopher agrees with last commenter that comment previous to that should be deleted