A FINAL FAREWELL

My fellow space cadets… it is with a heavy heart that I write this letter to you. Yesterday the world lost a gaming legend, and it is a darker place for his absence. My friend, my co-writer, and my partner in crime, James M. Ward, has rolled the dice for the last time. I will miss him, I will mourn him, and I will celebrate his legacy.

I still remember the first time I had the privilege to game with him. I knew about Dungeons and Dragons, but I’d never played. Growing up in a military town didn’t lend itself to the stability required to find a table. I read the Forgotten Realms books, but I never connected the dots to the game. Then I started writing for the boys over at Galaxy’s Edge, and I got invited to the Sci-Fi Writers Playing Old School D&D streamed game. I got the privilege of role-playing in his CrimsonHawk City campaign world. I learned more about fantasy concepts from three hours with him than I did from three years as an English Major.

It was some of the best memories from the pre-COVID era, and through that, Nick Cole asked us to co-write a series for WarGate Books. I spent untold hours talking with James, planning this world, and the other one we had in progress. I count those memories as some of the best. When his son Breck reached out to tell me the sad news, he thanked me for the fun his dad had during our talks. It is I who should thank them for letting me have him for those daily chats. It made me happier than words can express.

With him gone, I plan on completing the work we had in progress. James was a creative genius, so I will use my words to honor him. It is the best way that I know to give the world one last slice of the creativity genius we all loved. It will be my singular focus until I can bring it to fruition. Then, I will nag the very willing publisher to speed up the back end of the publishing world. We will ensure that you can see his vision on the printed page one last time.

When the world was at its darkest for me, as I dealt with family stuff that I never made public, James was my rock. He was the rudder that kept me from straying from the path, and for that, I’ll be eternally grateful. I dabbled in the drink after the war, fought through those troubles, and came out the better for it. When it got dark, and I was tempted, our chats kept me from dropping the ball. Even better, he taught me to be a better person through the process. I am better for having known him, and the world is brighter for his having been here.

I don’t know much about religion or what happens on the other side, but if the universe is just, he will get to ‘roll dem bones’ with his best friend, Gary Gygax. I take comfort in that, and you should, too.

Not goodbye, just until we meet again, my friend.

With a heavy heart,

JR Handley

Until next time, stay frosty and don’t forget to keep your powder dry!

JR

->As usual, all images came from the Google’s “labeled for reuse” section or are screen grabs taken by JR Handley for use under the Fair Use Doctrine.