M.A.R. Barker has passed on

[calithena]

Our friend Victor reports:

Professor Muhammad Abd-al-Rahman (MAR) Barker, known to his friends as "Phil," died peacefully in home hospice on March 16, 2012 with his wife Ambereen Barker at his side. Professor Barker is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ambereen. Details on memorial services will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Tékumel Foundation are preferred, visit www.tekumelfoundation.org.

For more detail, please go to: www.tekumelfoundation.org/PressRelease-MARBARKER-1929-2012.pdf

I am very sorry to hear that Phil has passed. I corresponded with him by email and talked to him on the phone a few times and always came away feeling like I had learned something. RIP.

[rleduc]

Memory Eternal!

[Thorulfr]

I am deeply saddened.

I guess the "True Tékumel" has finally pinched itself off from our universe completely, never to return. The fates and futures of its many inhabitants, all the glorious array of the many different races and species, we may only speculate at.

Requiescat in Pace, Dr. Barker, you are already deeply missed.

[aldarron]

Sad news indeed.

[Finarvyn]

:-(

Must update the "News Fader" that flashes at the top of the boards.

EDIT: News Fader fixed.

[thorswulf]

The world is a sadder place for his loss.

[Deleted]

Mar 16, 2012 16:34:44 GMT -6 Thorulfr said:

I am deeply saddened.

I guess the "True Tékumel" has finally pinched itself off from our universe completely, never to return. The fates and futures of its many inhabitants, all the glorious array of the many different races and species, we may only speculate at.

Requiescat in Pace, Dr. Barker, you are already deeply missed.

If I may, I'd like to add a comment to this wonderful post. I'd like to apologize in advance if I sound snippy, as I don't mean to be; it's been a long day, as I got the call from the house at 11:15 this morning, and I'm just now back home from getting Phil ready and sending him on his last trip down the Sakbe road.

I worked with Phil for over a dozen years, both as a player in his games and as his archivist; over the past six months, I've been back doing the job I started in 1976. I'm now the same age he was when he introduced me to his creation, back when I was in my twenties, and I'm now introducing a new generation of 'twenty-somethings' to Tekumel. It's still an amazing place, and I'm happy to be there.

The "True Tekumel" that you speak of is still with us; in the coming months and years, you will still hear Firu ba Yeker's voice in the marketplace tell us of tales of wonder and mystery.

This past summer, the Professor turned *** all *** of his archives over to the Tekumel Foundation, and you will be able to hear his voice (in some cases, literally) telling all of us about Tekumel. It's been my responsibility over the past six months to simply start organizing the over 500 cubic feet of materials he's left us, and it's the responsibility of the Tekumel Foundation to publish them for you. We've found the drafts of his 1950's Tekumel novel, his never published sixth novel, his original campaign maps of Tekumel, and much more beyond that.

Every time I open another box of materials, I'm amazed and astonished; in due time, you will be as well. You will have his Tekumel, and you will be able to (as he said himself in the introduction to the TSR edition of "Empire of the Petal Throne") make it your Tekumel.

So he wished; so shall it be, and I can think of no better way to remember him and his legacy.

And thank you again for your post; it's really appreciated, right now!

yours, Chirine ba Kal

[Thorulfr]

500 cubic feet?
An Exalt for being willing to archive that, and you deserve many more.

I briefly wondered if I could manage to find a job out there so I could help on the weekends...but reality smacked sense back into me.

This evening I raised a glass of tea to the Professor's honor and sent the time re-reading the start of Lords of Tsamra. I wanted to have read Man of Gold, but to my mild annoyance, that book is in storage. I look forward to seeing what transpires.

[calithena]

Thanks for posting that here, Chirine. I was really happy when you all got the Tekumel Foundation going a few years back, and am glad again today to see that you've gotten what you need to gradually realize the vision. It's a bright spot in this sad time for sure.

[Deleted]

Grant him eternal rest, O Lord, and may light perpetual shine upon him.

Also, I'd like to echo what Chirine said: Phil wanted "his" Tekumel to be the INSPIRATION for YOUR Tekumel. Phil's world was a wonderous, complex place that could encompass anything from political skullduggery to Abbot and Costello-like slapstick -- and often did.

The best way you can honor his legacy is to be creative.

Korunme Mnashu hi Chaishyani

[kesher]

Safe journeys, Professor! Soak up the glory of the Worlds Beyond Worlds, and we'll see you next time around. Thank you for enriching my life and imagination, as well as the lives and imaginations of so many others.

Also, I'd like to echo what Chirine said: Phil wanted "his" Tekumel to be the INSPIRATION for YOUR Tekumel. Phil's world was a wonderous, complex place that could encompass anything from political skullduggery to Abbot and Costello-like slapstick -- and often did.

The best way you can honor his legacy is to be creative.

Amen.

[terje]

I first encountered Professor Barkers Tékumel thirteen years ago and quickly became very fascinated. The news of his death sadens me and I think of his family and friends, but the thought of his contributions to science and culture is inspiring and I'm glad that the Foundation takes care of his legacy so that we can enjoy his creation in the future.

[Deleted]

Mar 16, 2012 23:00:06 GMT -6 chirinebakal said:

Mar 16, 2012 16:34:44 GMT -6 Thorulfr said:

I am deeply saddened.

I guess the "True Tékumel" has finally pinched itself off from our universe completely, never to return. The fates and futures of its many inhabitants, all the glorious array of the many different races and species, we may only speculate at.

Requiescat in Pace, Dr. Barker, you are already deeply missed.

...

This past summer, the Professor turned *** all *** of his archives over to the Tekumel Foundation, and you will be able to hear his voice (in some cases, literally) telling all of us about Tekumel. It's been my responsibility over the past six months to simply start organizing the over 500 cubic feet of materials he's left us, and it's the responsibility of the Tekumel Foundation to publish them for you. We've found the drafts of his 1950's Tekumel novel, his never published sixth novel, his original campaign maps of Tekumel, and much more beyond that ...

By turning *** all *** of his archives over to the Tekumel Foundation where his fans will eventually see all of it, he has in this way IMO [YMMV] proved himself the greatest of the greats. I hope that you have ample help in organizing and publishing all 500 cubic feet of materials and as was said above I wish I was able to come help you. What a wonderful thing this is for his ongoing legacy!