Hacker News Reader

I grew up on his sci-fi books. The Mote in God's Eye, to me, is the best science fiction I've ever read.

Lucifer's Hammer was way up there and hit close to home (being in California and all).

Robert A. Heinlein, who gave the authors extensive advice on the novel,[2] described the story as "possibly the finest science fiction novel I have ever read." https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mote_in_God%27s_Eye

His sci-fi and computer skill were renowned. The world will be a lesser place with out him.

More than his skill I'd argue his enthusiasm and apparently boundless passion for these things was the brighest part of his persona. There might be better programmers and better writers, but he's always been one of the best at making what he loved seem fun, interesting, and worth taking up as a career.

Science fiction may have lost another great, but I'd bet he inspired many writers in his time.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com