I am seeing unconfirmed reports that Gene Wolfe, one of the greatest SF authors ever to walk the face of the earth, has passed away.
I’ll try to link to reliable obits when I find them.
Edited to add:
"My definition of a great story has nothing to do with "a varied and interesting background." It is: One that can be read with pleasure by a cultivated reader and reread with increasing pleasure." – Gene Wolfe
— Dean Bradley (@DeanBradleySFF) April 15, 2019
I did make it down to Cabela’s yesterday, but I didn’t see anything that really called out to me and said “Take me home!”
They did have a bunch of S&W Model 59s in one of the display cases – I want to say at least ten out on the floor, and I don’t know if they had more in back. It looked like they’d been knocked around some, so I’m thinking these were trade-ins or surplus from somewhere. But I didn’t have a chance to ask, or look closely at any of them, as the counter people were busy. The price isn’t too awful – $350 – and it is a Smith I don’t have, but I just don’t know if I need another hi-cap 9mm right now.
They also had a surprising number of Winchester Model 70s out on the rack (as opposed to in the gun library) but nothing pre-64 (of course) and none of them were in calibers that I found desirable: mostly .30-06 and .243, with one each in .300 Win Mag and .308. Also a bunch of Savage rifles, but, again, nothing in a caliber or configuration that really attracted me.
So I’m declaring a push on my own personal Buy a Gun Day. But I’m also declaring this an open thread for anyone who wants to brag about their acquisitions.
P.S. Since I’m making the rules for this thread: yes, layaways do count. Also, if you need some inspiration, you-know-who is still selling M&P Shields for $250.