It is our sad duty to report that Dragonlance author Jean Rabe has passed away.
Jean Rabe was a fantasy and sci-fi author, game designer, and editor who has worked on the Dragonlance, Forgotten Realms, and BattleTech series, as well as many others. Early in her career she worked for the Quincy Herald-Whig in Quincy, Illinois, and then for the Evansville Courier & Press in Evansville, Indiana. She went on to work for TSR, Inc., for the RPGA, writing magazine articles, writing and editing Dungeons & Dragons and Gamma World gaming modules and eventually novels. Some of her more notable works includes her collaboration with Mercedes Lackey in the Halfblood Chronicles, as well as the Piper Blackwell series of mystery novels.
She’s best known to Dragonlance fans as the author of the Dragons of a New Age, Dhamon Saga, and Stonetellers trilogies, along with several contributions to anthologies, other novels, and beyond.
From all of us here at the Dragonlance Nexus, we want to offer our thoughts and prayers to Jean’s family, friends, and fans. Feel free to post your memories of Jean and her works in the comments section below.
Back in 2002, I was invited to be a speaker at the funeral for Bertrem the Aesthetic. I was the only non-author invited to do so. I gave my speech in character as a Knight of Solamnia. I went back to my seat, right next to Jean. She told me that it was good.
To me, that was a high honor having an established author and editor such as Jean to compliment my speech. Her kind words gave me a sense of validation. I hold that memory dear to this day.
Jean was wonderful in so many ways. Her work in AD&D and writing was always more than someone who was working. She had a passion for writing whether it was in the world of Dragonlance or in her own Piper Blackwell series she was a treasure. Always someone who loved her dogs and was always good to hear about her fantasy football story. Such a caring and kind person and we will miss her.
The Dragon Overlords are some of my favorite characters in the Age of Mortals era and continue to inspire my own stories. Love to her family, friends, and fans.
I always enjoyed talking to Jean. She was familiar with my hometown from her days as a reporter. It even made an appearance in her Piper Blackwell series. I also remember her sitting next to me at an Eye of Argon reading at Gen Con. She got laughing so hard that she was crying on my shoulder. She will be missed.
I had not had the chance to delve into the Dragonlance series in a while, and oddly enough, just started to pick up again from the New Age series. Looking for the reading order, I stumbled across this bit of sad news. Wishing the family and community deepest condolences – the world of fantasy has been made lesser with the passing of one of it’s authors.
Jean was a dear friend and wonderful person. She was a wonderful writer who prided herself on details and getting them right. Her contributions to TTRPGs cannot be overstated. She loved to say how she was in charge of designing dragons for Second Edition of D&D and would say you could blame her if you’ve had a PC die to a dragon in any edition since then.
Her passions extended beyond just games and writing though, including her dogs, football and friends. I do not have her talent for writing, but suffice it to say, there are not words enough to describe how wonderful a person she was. I will miss her terribly.
Rest in peace Jean.
My best memories of Jean was when she regularly attended the Writer’s Symposium panel at Gencon. In a time where most people would be playing games, she would be taking her precious time to be on a panel talking about writing, and helping people write. Her advice is instrumental, basic, and always creative fun. She will be missed.
I’ve been enjoying her short stories during my reading/re-reading of the saga and reached out to her a few times on FB to let her know. And i really loved a lot of her ideas for the 5th Age which were inspiring and made for a great game and great storytelling. More importantly, she seemed like a kind and thoughtful person and the world seems in short supply of people like that. Thoughts and prayers to her family, friends and the entire Dragonlance community
Jean was the first Dragonlance author I ever met, at a seminar at GenCon. Her writing will live on. x
Dragons of a New Age was my point of return to Dragonlance after a decade, back in the late nineties. I liked them so much that they became the kind of books to go back from time to time just to enjoy the familiarity of it in front of the fire in a cold winter night. May her memory be a blessing for their loved ones, and all those of us she touched with her words
.
Jean and I chatted on messenger about various things, travel, animals her love for books and she gave me advice for my husband who wanted to write childrens stories. And offered to help with them once they were ready. Her grandparents were Irish and she really wanted a cup of real Irish tea! So a few years ago, I bought a box of teabags while I was in Ireland and sent to her. It made her day.
Loved her books, have many of them, and little things she used to send in the post. A lovely woman and will be greatly missed.
I was lucky enough to be in Jean and Bruce’s Fantasy Football League a few years back. It was a huge honor. I am also a huge fan of her writing, especially the Dhamon books. She was very kind. The world is losing way too many kind and brilliant people these days. RIP Jean.
Her contributions have brought so much happiness. Personally, I can thank her for helping me and my friends get through our deployment to Iraq back in ’06 easier. She will be missed but will not be forgotten!
So sorry for the loss in game Gene signs me up for the TSR role-playing game Association got awesome polyhedron Magazine with it it was at rockcon at the wagon wheel she will be missed I used to bump into her at Conn’s had books signed by her
I’m so very sorry to hear of her passing. There have been so many people involved in the world of Dragonlance; it really does feel like one big family.
I’m forever grateful to all of the creators, authors, contributors, and evangelists for Dragonlance. It made my childhood magical and my adulthood just as magical. I cherish all of my adventures in Krynn and look forward to many more!
The love that we have for our shared adventure in Krynn and each other is very special.
Jean was a long-time friend dating back to the days of AD&D, Winter Fantasy, and the RPGA. We had many a conversations about gaming, life, and our mutual respect for the writings of Andre Norton, with whom Jean had collaborated. Dance with the dragons Jean!
Damn, I’m just seeing this news. Sad Sad day. R.I.P. Jean