Obituary

Former editor of the NYT Book Review during the 70s John Leonard, 69, died from complications of lung cancer. Most recently he was TV critic for New York Magazine and a book critic for Harper’s Magazine. “As a critic, Mr. Leonard was far less interested in saying yea or nay about a work of art than he was in scrutinizing the who, the what and the why of it. His writing opened a window onto the contemporary American scene, examining a book or film or television show as it was shaped by the cultural winds of the day. “Amid the […]

Michael Crichton’s family revealed his death at age 66 yesterday, saying that he had been “waging a private battle against cancer.” The family noted in their statement: “While the world knew him as a great storyteller that challenged our preconceived notions about the world around us — and entertained us all while doing so — his wife Sherri, daughter Taylor, family and friends knew Michael Crichton as a devoted husband, loving father and generous friend who inspired each of us to strive to see the wonders of our world through new eyes. He did this with a wry sense of […]

The AP was the first to report his passing on Friday. Among many honors, Terkel won the Pulitzer in 1985 for his remembrances of World War II, The Good War. Below are links to a few of the many articles about his life and work.Chicago Trib editorialWhy Terkel Mattered: Patrick Reardon in TribBob Minzesheimer at USATEdward Rothstein: An appraisal, NYTNYT Obit (William Grimes)LAT USAT

Marilyn Ferguson, author of THE AQUARIAN CONSPIRACY, “a galvanizing influence on participants in scores of alternative groups that coalesced as the New Age movement,” died October 19 at home.LAT And William Wharton, 82, author of the NBA-winning novel BIRDY, died last week,MSNBC

Novelist Tony Hillerman died of pulmonary failure on Sunday. “Hillerman’s evocative novels, which describe people struggling to maintain ancient traditions in the modern world, touched millions of readers, who made them best sellers. But although the themes of his books were not overtly political, he wrote with a purpose, he often said, and that purpose was to instill in his readers a respect for Indian culture. The plots of his stories, while steeped in contemporary crime and its consequences, were invariably instructive about ancient tribal beliefs and customs, from purification rituals for a soldier returned from a foreign war to […]

John Fagan–who already serves as director of marketing, Penguin Books; executive director, academic marketing & sales; and marketing director, eBooks–is taking on the additional role of marketing director for Plume and Hudson Street Press. Liz Keenan is moving up to publicity director for both imprints. Ginee Seo has resigned as editorial director of her eponymous children’s book imprint at Atheneum, PW writes. Longtime publishing executive Dan Harvey, 62, died yesterday after a long struggle with melanoma. He was most recently svp, director of marketing for Trident Media Group. For 17 years, he held senior management positions at the Putnam Publishing […]