Dayton's Blog: A pimple on the ass of the Internet.

As several others have reported (most notably Keith DeCandido and David Mack), senior Star Trek editor Marco Palmieri along with 34 other employees was let go from Pocket Books earlier this week. As is usually the case in these situations, the decision was driven by economics, not personalities, which of course doesn't make it any easier. Obviously, he and his family are in our thoughts, and we're hoping he finds another job for which he can bring the same enthusiasm he held during his time at Pocket. On a purely selfish note, I hope he quickly finds work at another publishing house, because I'd give my left arm for the opportunity to work with him again.

With that in mind, and as I started writing this, I looked over my backlist of Trek work. I was surprised to realize that only four pieces (two novels, two short stories), were written with him as editor. I found that interesting, considering how much a part of my Trek writing life has involved him.

Unlike several of my friends who've also written their own testimonials, Marco wasn't my first editor at Pocket. I owe whatever it is that's laughably called my "writing career" to John Ordover, who left the company a few years ago, and Dean Wesley Smith, who edited the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds anthologies and who selected the first stories for which I was paid. By the time John left, I (either working solo or with friend Kevin Dilmore) had racked up a handful of Trek credits under his stewardship, along with a few more under the guidance of the aforementioned kradical. Given the state of the Trek fiction lines at that time, Kevin and I wondered if we might be coming to the end of our wild ride. However, Marco took us under his wing and quickly put us to work on what eventually would become the second Star Trek: Vanguard novel, Summon the Thunder.

Since then, he's moved beyond just being my editor, becoming also a patient mentor and a good friend. I've told anyone who will listen that the thing I most enjoy about writing Star Trek is the collaborative nature of the process, the brainstorming sessions which take place in venues ranging from e-Mail to conference calls to the bar at the annual Shore Leave convention. Marco was always a huge part of that, bringing a passion to his work that is contagious, and always finding ways for us to dig a little deeper and step up our game. Despite the demands on his time and energy, he made himself available at night, on weekends, or whenever, in order to hammer out any problems or issues I might raise with respect to a project. Though the piles of work in his office would be enough to break the back of any healthy elephant, he always had time to listen -- even when this writer came to him with yet another goofy proposal for a book he might have to edit.

I'm fortunate in that I've enjoyed good relationships with each of the editors at Pocket for whom I've worked. I don't expect that to change (well, unless I just do something stupid...keep watching the skies!), nor do I believe that the work he's leaving behind hasn't landed in capable hands, but I will miss working on Star Trek with Marco. As Keith pointed out in his journal, Marco's influence on the fiction will be felt for quite a while, as projects he was overseeing remain in various stages of development. Indeed, the story I'm writing right now is for a project he commissioned, due out late next summer. Now more than ever, I'm committed to completing this project as though he were still around, shepherding us and making sure we're bringing our best work to the table. It'll be satisfying to do that, but a little sad, as well.

Thanks for everything, my friend. I know you'll land on your feet.