I miss this man constantly, I read/see/hear something and I immediately think, "I gotta tell Neil about this!"  I am surprised anew when I realize he is not there to tell.

I miss you my friend. 

This is strictly an email story, he and I back and forth.   Neil had already had his first stroke on the left side of his brain, and he was fighting to believe stem cell research would find a cure for his injury.    I shared that my grandfather had been born on July 2, 1919 and that my parents had been married on my grandfather's  47th birthday on July 2, 1966.   He immediately got some kind of a special thrill out of my story, and Cathy and he had also gotten married on July 2nd, which was a day of significant importance to him.

Ah, El Neil.

I, like many, miss your stories, your humor, and your ability to see a better world within the one we live in.

I wish we could go plinking again...

Maybe someday, someone will invent a probability broach and we will!

:-{)}

My first reading of "The Probability Broach" was a revelation to me. I had been looking for a depiction of how a libertarian society would function, and there it was! I became hopelessly addicted to Neil's work and breathlessly awaited each new story. 

Alas! Now there are no new stories. Beyond that, I spent a few days with Neil and his family in Arizona a few years ago, and still cherish every moment. Not only was Neil, with all his afflictions, gracious and informative, but hiswife, Cathy and daughter, Rylla were equally so. 

Thanks to both of you, and especially to Neil, for the pleasant time. Thanks to Neil for some entertaining and informative reading!

I had been reading Neil's books and articles for years, as well as listening to Ernie Hancock's show, where Neil was a guest from time to time. His consistent principles always impressed me.

A friend and I went to Sturgis that August (see photo in that section), and took a leisurely route back home - into Montana and down through Wyoming, which was going to take us through Fort Collins. Not really expecting a response, much less an acceptance, I emailed Neil asking if he would join us for lunch when we came through. To my surprise and delight, he replied that he would enjoy that. Even more surprising, he gave me his home address, and said to come to his home.

We ended up going to a nearby barbecue place (which was another surprise, as Texans are renowned for their near snobbishness when it comes to barbecue, and that place was pretty good). Rylla joined us, as Neil was not driving, and declined riding behind one of us, so she drove him to the restaurant. I'm not sure how long we sat there discussing his books, our various views on the world and such, but it had to have been several hours. During that time, I learned a few little personal tidbits about him, such as what his actual first name was, and got to experience his wit and sense of humor up close ("the evil of two Lesters" - I've always thought that was hilarious). When we were leaving, Rylla took the photo in the parking lot, and I gave him a Texas Independence cap I was wearing.  He accepted it graciously, even though it was certainly not new, and said that, if Texas ever actually did secede, he'd give serious consideration to moving back there. Unfortunately, he didn't have it on for the photo, but I've see several photos of since then in which he was wearing it, which always made me a little proud.

Neil and I carried on occasional email correspondence from that point on, disagreeing only on evolution, a discussion that we never got to finish - if a discussion on such a topic can ever really be finished. I'll miss those infrequent communications with him.

Neil helped me learn the fun of sharing music (and words!) with his guitar playing, and what he taught me about libertarian thought and individual choice has helped me live a much fuller and happier life than I otherwise would have. 

The saying goes “Never meet your heroes, they are sure to disappoint”.

For me, this does not apply to my meeting with Neil.

I read The Probability Broach in 1981 or 82 when I was in high school. That book has been one of the biggest personal philosophy shaping influences in my life.

Many years later, in June of 2003, a few of the guys from work and I took a trip to Denver to hike some “14ers”. Very ambitious for guys in Florida. I took the chance and sent an email to Neil asking about the possibility of meeting. Turns out, Neil was going to be in Denver at that time as Cathy and Rylla were taking part in an ice-skating event. Neil and I met for lunch then he invited me back to the hotel to continue the conversation. This was an amazingly enjoyable time. We talked about so many things. Neil was everything I had hoped he would be. Thankfully, I had made a list of questions before the meeting to help keep myself on track.

Neil was kind enough to autograph the books I had brought. I still berate myself for not getting a picture of us together. Neil did the book signing at the back of our group’s loaner vehicle, within arm’s reach of several cameras Getting a picture did not enter my mind till we had said our goodbyes and my group was driving off. 

I read and enjoyed several of Neil's novels prior to coming to Fort Collins in 1986, where I had the pleasure of meeting him at his 'hostility suite'.

Over the years, we shot in local competitions; Neil was definitely competent with the pistol. He did have an interesting way of paying a 'compliment'; once, after I had enjoyed a good run of luck at a match, he told me, "If I ever have to fight you, I must remember to back-shoot you with a shotgun." - a classic 'Neil-ism'.

We often met at Neil and Cathy's place for lively discussions with (mostly) fellow libertarian types. While, naturally, we did not always agree, Neil usually defended his perspective eloquently.

I will miss his intellectual depth and quick wit. I was happy to call him a friend.

While I never met El Neil personally, we began corresponding around

Christmas of 2006. He was in hospital with a broken foot and I wrote him

a get well note and wished him Happy Holidays. We engaged in discussions

mostly about politics but occasionally exchanged private comments, well

wishes, jokes, etc. I had been a fan of his work for several years and I was and am

proud that we became friends, even if it was just the modern version of pen pals.

Albert Perez

Neil will be missed by me for the rest of my life.     Wish he had written more.  I remember our first email exchange, I signed my name L. Christopher Nold, he replied back with "Another person whose name parts on the left!!!"    His sense of humor and his sense of honor knew no end.   The biggest life lesson he taught me was "never believe everything you read, even if it is in a school textbook."   That has served me very well over the years.  I wish I had been even more in contact with him.