About a hundred admirers including Galaxy magazine staffers joined for a Memorial Service on Friday, February 23, 1996, to acknowledge the passing of H.L. Gold.
Gold was eulogized by Iven Lourie, editor at Sirius Science Fiction, publishers of limited edition fine art science fiction books. Lourie recalled that, without H.L.’s tenacious telephone skills many great science fiction stories would never have been born. He shared many memorable meetings with Horace.
Linda Corriveau, biographer for E.J. Gold, Horace Gold’s only son, offered “The Critics’ Choice” — a sweeping overview of H.L.’s dynamic impact upon the hearts, minds and nerves of the most renowned writers in the science fiction field. He was their mentor; the writers’ writer, the critics’ critic.
Morgan Fox presented “Horace Remembered,” a more in- depth reflection of both his impact on science fiction history and his character. Friends contributed their remembrances of H.L. often starting with “The last time I talked to Horace . . . ” Peals of laughter accompanied the odes of tribute which hung like verbal paintings in the softness of the room.
The last time I talked to Horace he said “Did you know that I am a Greek scholar? . . . My father was a tailor. One day a man came into the shop and handed my father a pair of torn pants. My father looked up at the man and he said, ‘Euripides?’ The man looked back at him and said, ‘Eumenides?’”
Galaxy Managing Editor, Tabatha Jones presented delightful readings from “The Trouble With Water” and “What Will TheyThink of Last?”
Part way through the service a delicate spring-like rain began to fall which was infinitely more reminiscent of April showers in New York than the usual California downpours. Inside, the room was warm with candlelight which flick- ered over photographs of H.L. taken throughout the span of his life. Friends, family members, and fans lit candles in honor of the man who had touched their lives and all joined in singing the hymn, “I Shall Remain” written by son, E.J. Gold.
The prayer, “Confronting the Clear Light” from The American Book of the Dead, was recited in unison by those attending the service.
The momentary solemnity was soon broken by the highlight of the Memorial Service. All present tuned their ears to a special audio recording; “X-Minus-One presents ‘At the Post’ by H.L. Gold.” After listening to this exceptional story the service was concluded. A spirit of gratitude rippled through the gathering that the work of this outstanding crafter of words and ideas had been written down and recorded. As people stepped out into the night they reflected on the wisdoms of Horace, one of which was . . . “The great secret of the universe is that there is no great secret of the universe.”
