Peter David suffers a stroke

[BillJ]

Greg Cox wrote:

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Among the highlights, a long and memorable run on THE INCREDIBLE HULK, as well as fondly-remembered stints on SUPERGIRL, X-FACTOR, and many other series.

Peter is also one of the most popular (probably the most popular) Star Trek authors out there.

Here's hoping he recovers soon.

Don't forget his runs on two different DC incarnations of Star Trek. Including probably the best Trek comic to date, Once a Hero...

[Irvy]

I have loved Peter David's Trek novels for years, and engaged with him on a Star Trek forum years ago, and he's always been one of my favourite Trek writers.

I worked with a few people recovering from a stroke early in my career as a care worker, and each of them told me the same thing; the Doctors can only do so much, because ultimately, it's your own determination that will beat the stroke, and not medicines.

My thoughts are with Mr David and his family and friends around him, and wish them every strength in the days ahead, and a speedy and triumphant recovery.

[shivkala]

I fear this may come off as wrong, to some people coming into the thread saying, "Who's Peter David," so just know that I'm not intending to be mean or condescending when I say, whether or not you were aware of it, if you are a fan of sci-fi, especially from the late 80's onward, you've come across Peter David in some shape or form.

As has been stated, as a comic writer, Peter David did legendary runs on:

• The Incredible Hulk
• Aquaman
• Supergirl
• Spider-Man
• Spider-Man: 2099
• Young Justice
• Star Trek
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• X-Factor

He's also written the Spike and Spike vs. Dracula comics based on the character from the Whedonverse, and he wrote the dialogue on The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born comic, as well as scripted the subsequent Dark Tower comic based off of Stephen King's novels.

As well as a ton of other books, which are easily found on his Wikipedia Bibliography Page

He's also written a number of Star Trek novels, two of which (Imzadi and The Captain's Daughter), were recently featured on i09's list of Essential Star Trek Novels that even non-Trekkies Should Read. He even had his own Trek Novel series, New Frontier, where, as in his Trek comic days, he took little known and/or one-off characters and integrated them into his cast (such as Commander Shelby from "The Best of Both Worlds," Dr. Selar from "The Schizoid Man," Robin Lefler from "Darmok" and "The Game," etc.)

He's also written a number of movie novelizations for such movies as The Rocketeer, Batman Forever, The Fantastic Four, Hulk, The Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, Iron Man, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and Battleship.

Fans of Babylon 5 (such as myself) known him from "Soul Mates," and "There All Honor Lies", as well as his trilogy of novels set on Centauri Prime that, among other things show what happened on Centauri Prime during "War Without End." In addition, he wrote the novelizations of the TNT movies In the Beginning and Thirdspace. He also wrote "Ruling from the Tomb" for Crusade.

He collaborated with B5 cast member, Bill Mumy, on the Nickelodeon sci-fi show, Space Cases. Alone, he wrote the "In Charm's Way" episode of Ben 10: Alien Force, as well as several episodes of the Young Justice cartoon (which took its name from his comic book series, though not the tone).

In video games he wrote Spider-Man: The Edge of Time and Shadow Complex, as well as the novelization for Epic Mickey, as well as a prequel digicomic for that game.

He wrote Headcases for Stan Lee's You Tube channel, but I don't think it has premiered yet.

And I'm barely scratching the surface here. Honestly, and again, I don't want to come off wrong here, but if you're not familiar with Peter David's work, I think it's time you should look into it, if, as I said before, you haven't come across it unknowingly.

As for the man himself, I wish him a speedy recovery, and good health in 2013 and beyond. He's given me so much in terms of entertainment, it's sad we really can't give much in return right now except our thoughts, wishes, and prayers.

[Mr. Adventure]

the G-man wrote:

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I never knew that he and Ellison were friends. of course I never knew that Ellison had any friends.

His friends are people he's only sued once.

Seriously though, those kind of guys are usually the type that will stand by their friends at the end.

[Jan]

Here's an update posted by Peter's wife Kathleen:

http://kathwp.malibulist.com/index.p...ink-of-an-eye/

[Mr. Adventure]

Scary stuff, I try to be more careful now because I'm the type who also would tend to "soldier on" and fail to heed the warnings.

[kirk55555]

I hope everything turns out ok for him. He's one of my favorite comic writers.

[butch101]

I wish him the best for the next year. Get well soon !

[Kai "the spy"]

Jan wrote:

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Here's an update posted by Peter's wife Kathleen:

http://kathwp.malibulist.com/index.p...ink-of-an-eye/

... having told Peter that he might be having a cardiac episode, he put on his best comic guy voice and said, ”Worst Episode Ever.”

Classic Peter David. I'm glad he still got his incredible sense of humor, even in the face of such a crisis. Again, best wishes to him and his family in this difficult time. And may their new year yet turn out to be a happy one.

[Cutter John]

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery. I've been a fan for years, and his New Frontier series is the main reason I'm still a Trek fan.

[Snaploud]

I'm glad the stroke does not appear to have impacted his personality/memory/thought-processes. It sucks for a writer to be stuck using just one hand (for any length of time), but it could have been a lot worse. My best wishes to the family, and I wish him a speedy recovery.

[Vendikarr]

Snaploud wrote:

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I'm glad the stroke does not appear to have impacted his personality/memory/thought-processes. It sucks for a writer to be stuck using just one hand (for any length of time), but it could have been a lot worse.

This is easily overcome at this point. Get a digital recorder and dictate your stories, then hire an assistant to type up your dictation.

It may be an adjustment, but he can continue to work. I know without my work I would be lost.

[Neroon]

Here is an update on Peter, posted today by Kathleen on her blog:

Link to - "How do you tell a 10 year old that her father might never be the same?"

[shivkala]

Kathleen posted to PeterDavid.net an update on PAD's condition and ways in which you can help them tackle some of the medical bills.

Here's the update:

He was able with assistance to get up and sit in a chair where he spent most of the day. He worked with his various physical therapy and occupational therapy personnel on continuing to strengthen his arm and leg. The eye seems to be correcting itself a little but that’s going to be looked at in rehab as to what they can do besides a stylish eye-patch. He also revised an X-Factor script for his editor at Marvel, which I think made him feel good/more normal than he has been feeling.

Remember the waiting game? Well we MIGHT be moving him to his rehab facility but it is not a done deal because they don’t like some of the markers in various pieces of blood work. It may be an aberration and they are going to test him six ways from Sunday this morning to give us a go or no go on his going to rehab today. We have all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle in place except the Doctor’s OK to go.

Hard to believe that one week ago all this started.

And here's how you can help:

Even though we have health insurance we have co-pays and the like. And since this stroke fell at the end of the year, we have all the new co-pays to deal with (I can honestly see those of you who have had to deal with this nodding your heads). And there are things that the insurance company just won’t cover (more head nodding). So we are at the beginning of what is going to be a very expensive year even though we are only 4 days in.

The most direct way is to buy his books from Crazy 8 Press (via ComicMix) or from Amazon or Barnes and Noble websites. These are books that he gets the money from directly and the most per book.

The blog post has more specific information on ordering his books through Crazy 8 Press, including some direct links.

[the G-man]

Neroon wrote:

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Here is an update on Peter, posted today by Kathleen on her blog:

Link to - "How do you tell a 10 year old that her father might never be the same?"

I didn't realize he had kids that young. That's one of the tough things about having kids from a second marriage, I guess (written with sympathy, not criticism or judgement).