I attended my first Monster Bash last summer, and, as I was attending alone and didn't know anyone, I figured I'd take in the con and then return to my room at night to review the purchases I intended to make.

Instead, Richard and Tom went out of their way to invite me to events, drink with me in the bar, and make me feel like part of a "club." All I had to to do garner this attention was introduce myself.

While elements of these boards (CHFB, SS, Latarnia) evoke nostalgia and thus often appeal to the child in all of us, we are, I believe, all adults, and the world of adults poses challenges that are rarely resolved in 67 minutes by a cast "worth repeating." This is one of those cases in which a darker side of reality has reared its head. So I respect Richard and Tom's decision to stop regular publication, but I'm also taking a "wait-and-see" attitude, as decisions made during a time of crisis sometimes change.

The bottom line, though, is that I wish Richard an unusually speedy and complete recovery, with the least possible mental and physical discomfort. I like the guy, and I don't think his work is yet done.