Chaotek Thoughts

The recent deaths of Robert Jordan, Gary Gygax and Sir Arthur C. Clarke have got me thinking about the difference between the fans of modern celebrity and the cultish following of these influential creators. Each has a legacy of the worlds that they created, weaving words into masterful tapestries. Sadly enough, I can’t really claim much experience with any of them directly, though this is something I would like to rectify as soon as possible. But their impact to me is still profound, as their talent allowed them to transcend their works and impact the future works that I am more familiar with.

Unlike modern celebrities who gain their fame from beauty and wild antics, these legends are famous for their intellect and creativity. And you can tell by differences between the fans. The untalented celebrities that we see everyday don’t have fans, they have voyeurs. These fans are just as satisfied by watching the celebrity fail just as much as they enjoy their work. With Clarke, Jordan, and Gygax there are legions of fans who truly love the creations of these men even if they wouldn’t know it if they passed by them on the street. There are many other talented people out there who will never have the fame or renown of a movie star, but who will impact the world in much larger ways.