It had to happen sometime, but I'm saddened by the death of the author of the Flashman books, which were an awful lot of fun
Link: He wrote Octopussy too...
I'll miss Fraser. A great deal of craft and thought went into those silly stories. Wish I could say the same about most of our new writers of entertainment.
The only problem I ever had with the marvelous Flashman books was the false sense of historical nous they gave me. I'd find myself perched at a bar somewhere holding forth knowledgeably on the causes of the Indian Mutiny or the disposition of guns at the charge of the Light Brigade, and suddenly I'd realise that my sole source of info was Harry Flashman's version of events... Still, at least I've got a decent handle on the geography of the Indian sub-continent to show for it. Or do I?
Fraser will be very sorely missed.
It's a real shame.
There are lots of episodes of the Flashman papers that are referenced in the novels but have never been expanded upon. We'll never get to read them now.
I think the books were pretty meticulously researched. I've always been pretty confident that the historical titbits I've picked up have been spot on.