As the solstice neared, I and some friends gathered to remember those who died in 2008. As we age, more of our friends, co-workers and heroes bite the dust. Two died too recently for us to light candles for them:

Julius Fast, Writer, 89. Julie Fast, who died a few days ago at 89, was a wonderful writer. He could have been caught among three storms: he was the younger brother of Howard Fast, leftist novelist, and he wrote a pop psychology book – Body Language – which became a runaway best seller, and he wrote so quickly, fluidly and gracefully that pot-boilers bubbled-out from him as easily as his greatest work.

He, nonetheless, escaped, wrote great murder mysteries which won prizes. His masterpiece, in my view, is a semi-autobiographical, coming of age novel which he published late in his career “What Should We Do About Davey?.” The New York Times obit is here . "Davey", I am sad to say, is not in the Public Library circulating collection – but used copies are available. His classic science-fiction novel is the League of Grey-Eyed Women. His trail-blazing, first-ever-Edgar-winning murder mystery Watchful At Night is not available at all. Perhaps, post death, we’ll be able to re-evaluate Julie. In my view, he was a giant.

James Bevel A charismatic, brilliant, erratic civil rights leader  read more »