Rest In Peace, Errol Mysterio: UK Journalist Tim Guest Dies

I just got sad and surprising news via Catherine Linden and Justin RiversRunRed: the UK journalist once known in Second Life as Errol Mysterio, and Tim Guest in the real world, died last Friday, reportedly of a heart attack or stroke. Tragically, he was only in his early 30s. The author of Second Lives, he previously wrote My Life in Orange, an acclaimed memoir of growing up on a series of communes, where he was known as Yogesh. He was a fine writer, one of the first top-rank British journalists to try and understand Second Life and the virtual world experience from the inside. Above (also a clip courtesy Justin), here's a look at Tim's musings on Second Life in 2006, from an excellent Channel 4 documentary.

While I only met Tim a couple times very briefly, Justin (CEO of metaverse development company Rivers Run Red) was much closer, and sent me this tribute:

"I worked closely with Tim on his book, on numerous articles. We also appeared together on a number of TV shows. We also worked together professionally as consultants, creating some of the world's first commercial projects in virtual worlds...

"Tim was a real pioneer, his book Second Lives is viewed as one of the defining chronicles of the rise of virtual worlds; a computer generated 3D space, with You represented by an avatar.

"Tim managed to avoid the stereotyping of other writers, rather than concentrating on the technobabble and self promotion, instead he told the story of people. Each chapter encapsulating what it means to be human, in a time of isolated technology driven communication. Tim also touched on how virtual worlds are breaking down societies physical barriers, by allowing us see the person, not preconceived visual judgements.

"There is no coincidence of the rise of virtual worlds and Tim's idea and seminal book. He literally was part of the tipping point for broader adoption."

Comments

[Mal Burns]

He'll be missed. A sad and early demise.

[Extropia DaSilva]

I owe this man my life (kind of). It was his column in 'Edge' Magazine (focusing on virtual worlds with an emphasis on SL), that encouraged my primary to set up my account.

I never got to meet him, and now I never will. Yes, that is sad.

[Penny Patton]

I found out about this the morning of the 5th. The previous night I was thinking about his columns in Edge magazine and spent most of the night trying to find if he had a Twitter account or blog.

It felt so strange to find out he had passed away literally the previous day.

I'd always kinda hoped to run across him in SL. He was a great writer.