Brian M. Thomsen dies
It is with great sadness that we have to report of the passing of Brian M. Thomsen, science fiction author and editor, perhaps best known to comics fans as the co-author of Julius Schwartz’s autobiography, Man of Two Worlds: My Life in Science Fiction and Comics
Brian was an editor at Warner Books during the days of their SF imprint Questar, then an editor at TSR Books, and most recently at Tor Books. He wrote, edited, and contributed to dozens of books
He will be missed. We’ll post more details as we get them.
I am lucky enough to be able to have called Brian a close friend. Brian loved publishing and did it the old fashioned way. His very being was devoted to getting something, anything in print. He did this with joy, love and passion. You knew he just loved being in the same business as Julie Schwartz and Lester Del Rey. He felt the most joy when connected to publishing’s pulpy core. He was a mercenary of Falstaffian proportion both in stature and spirit; brave, calculating, libidinous, callous, boorish, and frank and I would not have had him any other way. Life is suddenly less interesting and book publishing less fun. I will miss him deeply.
Brian was responsible for resurrecting my SF novel Doomstar at Questar, and bringing me in to write Murder in Halruua, the last Forgotten Realms Dungeons & Dragons book before TSR was bought by Wizards of the West. Both remain my (own) favorite novels, in no small part due to Brian's enthusiasm, talent, and comraderie. I am deeply saddened by his passing, but deeply grateful and happy for his existence.
I knew Brian when he was an editor at the old Warner Books. He was goofy, smart, joyous, and famous for his office, which was a mess of towering manuscripts and stuff. He also had a heart of gold. So sad…I just received this information about the wake and mass:WAKE — Wednesday – 2-4:30 and 7-9:30 — Thursday – 2-4:30 and 7-9:30Ralph Aievoli Funeral Home1275 65th Street, BrooklynBrooklyn, NY 11219(718) 331-2100MASS– Friday – probably 10:15 (time to be confirmed)Our Lady of Angels Church7320 Fourth AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11209 (718) 836-7200 <a href="http://www.ourladyofangelsparish.org” target=”_blank”>www.ourladyofangelsparish.org
Brian was my husband's student at LIU; then my editorial assistant at Warner Books, and I rather feel as if I've lost a family member. He was funny, hard-working, and a genuinely good person; the world is worse off without him. Say hello to Terry for me, Brian!