Canadian SF writer Dr. Peter Watts just can’t seem to catch a break. We covered his arrest and conviction for getting out of his car when crossing the US/Canada border. Now, while in the hospital for a routine skin biopsy on his leg, he managed to contract necrotising fasciitis, otherwise known as “flesh-eating bacteria”.

After emergency surgery, he is now stuck in the hospital recovering, with no prospect of going home any time soon. To make matters worse, the hospital does not have Internet access. (I’m not making light here. When I was in the hospital for a week or so a couple of years ago with a broken leg, I would have gone bughouse nuts if I hadn’t had access to the ‘net via my iPod Touch and laptop. I don’t like to think about going netless for long enough to grow back about 20 square inches of missing skin.)

Watts has posted pictures of his new body cavity in this entry in his blog. I will warn you, they are not for the faint of heart, and if there is any possibility that your lunch might want to exit the wrong way, best not to look.

Best wishes to Dr. Watts for a speedy recovery.

1 COMMENT

  1. As a hard core sci-fi addict and admirer, I extend my best wishes and prayers for a speedy recovery to Peter Watts. I recall his egregious encounter with the American Border Gestapo – he was trying to cross back into Canada at Port Huron – not enter the U.S. illegally! Perhaps the Canadian government should issue a travel advisory about making unnecessary trips to, or through, the U.S. For those who think I jest, just ask Peter Watts and Maher Arar about their American experiences! Those are nightmares that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy! A nation which commits torture atrocities on detainees at Abu-Ghraib and now on one of its own soldiers, Bradley Manning, does not belong within the community of civilised nations!

The TeleRead community values your civil and thoughtful comments. We use a cache, so expect a delay. Problems? E-mail newteleread@gmail.com.