Author Leo Frankowski was found dead on 25 December 2008 in Lake Elsinore, California, when he failed to arrive for a Christmas dinner at which he was expected. Born 13 February 1943 in Detroit, Michigan, he had recently returned to the US after living in Russia for four years.
Frankowski is best known for his “Adventures of Conrad Stargard” series (which Wikipedia describes as “a series in which a twentieth-century engineer travels back in time to thirteenth-century Poland.” The seven novels in the series (which have been translated into Italian, Spanish, and Polish), were originally published by Del Rey, and currently under contract to Baen for republication (the books, which he discusses on this page, include: Copernick’s Rebellion, The Cross Time Engineer, The High Tech Knight, The Radiant Warrior, The Flying Warlord, Lord Conrad’s Lady, and The Quest for Rubber).
His eight most recent novels had been published, and were still available, from Baen Books at this link. They include: Conrad’s Lady (published in hardcover in December 2005), Conrad Stargard: The Radiant Warrior (March 2004), Kren of the Mitchegai (March 2004, co-written with Dave Grossman), The Two-Space War (February 2004, co-written with Dave Grossman), The War With Earth (July 2003, co-written with Dave Grossman), Conrad’s Time Machine (September 2002), The Fata Morgana (August 1999), and A Boy and His Tank (March 1999).
Frankowski was nominated for the 1987 John W. Campbell Award for Best New SF Writer. Outside of his writing, he was a scientist and engineeer, and held several patents in chemical and optical instrumentation. His web site has a lot of information about him, both as a writer and a person.
I just learned that my cousin, Leo Frankowski, died on Christmas Day in 2008. If anyone has any information on what happened to Leo, please let me know. I would like to inform the rest of his Michigan family.
Hello Linda,
I am so sorry for your loss and I hope that you have found more information about Mr. Frankowski’s death.
I have no wish to be tactless, but I have been trying for several months to determine who is in charge of Mr. Frankowski’s estate. My company is interested in acquiring the film and TV rights to some of his books and have thus far been unable to discover who holds these rights. Again, I apologize for making this inquiry even as you are dealing with the loss of your cousin, but I have run into dead ends everywhere else. Any help is much appreciated.
Thank you,
Catherine
Linda: I am very sorry for your loss. I loved that man!
Catherine: Contact Rodger Olsen with Online authors. He can help you. rodger.olsen@greatauthorsonline.com
This man was original and unique. His books inspired me and influenced me in ways I will never really comprehend!
Oh, he was opinionated! Oh yes! Thank God for Leo Frankowski! His honesty and forthrightness was so fresh for these young eyes at a time when I was so confused! I will miss his new stuff, and I hope that Dave Grossman or Rodger Olsen, will finish his last novel. As a tribute to this man’s great work!
I will lift a glass to you Leo!
Cheers,
Dan
Please accept my sincerest condolences. Mr. Frankowski was one of my favorite authors.
I loved Leo’s books. I tried to contact him and then found out he’s passed a year earlier.