I recently learned from a post on his blog by his daughter that Michael F. Flynn, perhaps better known in the blogosphere as TOF, has passed away. Her post includes a tribute to him which is worth reading if you ever encountered him or his writing.

I must confess that when it comes to his fiction I only read a few of his short stories, which were extremely well written. The thing he wrote which I think everyone should read, though, is his fantastic history of the Copernican revolution called The Great Ptolemaic Smackdown. It is absolutely excellent history, very well written, engaging, and enlightening about the scientific revolution of going from the Ptolemaic model to the Copernican model of the solar system. It’s not a short read but it is absolutely, unquestionably worth the time.

Having said that, join me, if you would, in praying for Michael Flynn, with this prayer I remember from many funerals I attended in my youth:

Lord God, have mercy on your servant Michael. Forgive him his sins and grant him eternal life. This we ask through Christ, our Lord. Amen.