Redshirts Always Die is saddened to report the death of fantasy and science fiction author Peter Morwood. According to Diane Duane, his wife, fellow author, and occasional co-writer, Morwood passed away unexpectedly on May 9 in Ireland, where the couple lived, after a brief illness from which he had apparently turned a corner toward recovery. He was 68 years old.
Morwood wrote the Star Trek: The Original Series novel Rules of Engagement, released in 1990 by Pocket Books. The story found Kirk and his Enterprise crew engaged in a battle with the Klingons. Decades after the book’s publication, it made a cameo appearance in the show Young Sheldon, as the title character was glimpsed reading a copy of it. Morwood’s second contribution to the Star Trek universe was The Romulan Way, which he co-wrote with Duane and was published in 1987. The novel was the second in Duane’s popular Rihannsu series, which encompassed five Original Series-based novels released between 1984 and 2006. Morwood was far better known for his own book series, including the House Lords and Tales of Old Russia sagas.
Duane, of course, has been associated with the Star Trek franchise for several decades. A New York Times bestselling author, her Star Trek work has included novels, computer games, television (the Next Generation episode “Where No Has Gone Before, based loosely on her novel The Wounded Sky), audiobooks, comic books, and manga. Her non-Star Trek output includes the Young Wizards and Middle Kingdoms book series.
Duane posted a statement about Morwood’s death the same day he passed. She noted that they’d been together for nearly 40 years. In addition, she wrote, “My love will wait for me, I know, however long it takes. He’s never minded waiting. (the saddest smile) My job now is to make sure he’s not forgotten while I go on. Meanwhile, can I just say to all of you: I thank you all ahead of time for all the support and fondness for Peter that I know so many of you will express. He’d blush over it, I know. (He always did.) Please forgive me for being unable to do much in the way of answering messages, just now, in the wake of having to get to grips with this sudden and awful change in my world.
“But also let me say, so urgently: Hug your loved ones now, while you can,” she added. “Eventually a day will come when, expected or not, your opportunities end.