I know that I’ve heard of John M. Ford’s name, but I’d never come across any of his book until I found a copy of Aspects for sale in October, 2026. Only after I had this book in my hands did I learn that this was his final book, published after his death, no less.

Published by Tor books in 2022, with an introduction by Neil Gaiman (prior to his cancelation for “bad actions”), Ford’s novel is somewhat incomplete. Ford (1957 – 2006) passed away aged 49, comparatively young. He dealt with kidney and diabetes issues all his life, yet produced many stories. I believe his first book was Web of Angels (1980), but I’d never come across any of his books until now, and as fate would have it, this was his last book, published many years after he died.

Aspects is a heft book, clocking in at nearly 500 pages. Kudos to Tor for publishing the book, nearly two decades after Ford died. Back in 2021 or so when Gaiman wrote the introduction (as a longtime friend of Ford’s), Gaiman was still a major name in the SF/Fantasy genre. Things have changed since then, with Gaiman accused of sexual assault and such, so it’s somewhat strange to read his introduction now. It doesn’t diminish anything, but still it’s strange to connect that introduction to the present version of Gaiman.

Still, wow, to read the first couple of sentences of Ford’s book, knowing that he’s long dead, is strange if not disturbing. Perhaps I’ll come across more of books now, as I’m more aware of his name, but with his death almost two decades hence, that iwll likely be via online sellers, or by chance if I see any books in various used bookstores. It’s so tragic when this happens, but the past is the past.