In Memoriam: A.C. Crispin, 1950-2013

First Fred Pohl, and now this.

Even if you didn't read Crispin's work itself, you should be aware of something quite important she did in the field of supporting other writers. Very important, in fact, as Charlie Jane Anders points out in io9:

You couldn't really be an aspiring writer of science fiction or fantasy and not be aware of the amazing work Ann Crispin was doing on your behalf. For years now, she and Victoria Strauss have been fighting the good fight against scammers, predatory operators and slimy agents who tried to violate the maxim that the money always flows to the writer.

And even if you weren't aware of their efforts, you benefited from them — even if you only read books and have no desire to write them, your reading material is better because authors were being treated fairly. Crispin also served as Vice President of SFWA, where she likewise went to bat for authors' rights on many occasions.