It is with a heavy heart that I must share the news that Emeka Walter Dinjos, a Nigerian writer of science fiction and fantasy whose novelette “SisiMumu” is featured in our first issue, passed away at the age of thirty-four on Wednesday, December 12.

Walter was admitted to the hospital a little over a week ago, on the eve of his birthday. In his last Facebook post he shared a photo of himself in a hospital bed, writing “I once swore I would never find myself in a place like this.” He was quick to point out, “It’s just fatigue. Will probably be out in a few days.” But unfortunately he succumbed to complications related to unmanaged diabetes. Walter is survived by his siblings and extended family, to whom I extend deepest condolences on behalf of everyone at Future SF and his many friends in the SF/F community.

I only knew Walter for a few months, as we worked together on revisions and edits for his novelette. He was a talented and hard-working writer, and the kind of person I wish I could have known better. Walter wasn’t a native English speaker and he once shared in an interview that he only began to actively read and write in English in 2010. Despite this and a relatively short career, he quickly built an impressive resume, including a Writers of the Future contest win as well as publications in prestigious venues such as Beneath Ceaseless Skies and Galaxy’s Edge. He also completed several as-yet-unpublished novels.

“I had fallen in love with writing, and I couldn’t stop,” Walter shared in that same interview. He wrote poetry, recorded songs, and, of course, wrote fiction. Walter loved his home country and much of his writing was inspired by the culture, mythology, and spirit of Nigeria. Many of these pieces are linked at his bibliography page.

Please consider reading one of his stories today. There’s no better way I can think of to pay tribute to someone who was so passionate about writing.