I was perusing SOL too late in the evening when I noticed a name in the list of authors Up for Archival. That is the list where authors who have not signed on to SOL under that pen name for a full year have all their stories published on the site placed behind the paywall.
I hope everything is okay with Shrink42. His "Banner Year" is still one of my absolute favorite stories on this site.
I only noticed because, as an aging individual, like, I suspect, many others here, I have achieved that nasty habit of reading the obituary pages more often than I'd like to admit, just to see if I knew someone no longer here.
It's macabre, but then again, I keep finding more and more people of my age and up who have this same affliction. It's the same reason I periodically check the "Stories About to be Archived" list, you know, to see if I know someone on it. I just saw Shrink42's name and stories listed as getting ready to be placed behind the paywall.
I hope the absence is just because he wrote the stories he would write, and the itch was scratched. Here's to hoping that is why he hasn't logged on to the website and not for any other gruesome reason.
I suggest everyone read one of Shrink42's stories because they are great. The stories are so great. They help you skip over any typos and let you enjoy the story.
My personal favorite of Shrink42's is "Banner Year." But I also enjoyed its in-universe companion piece, "Redemption." It's not as good as Banner, but it is in the same universe, and you don't need to read either/or to be able to understand either/or.
"Corona Heights" was a nice read as well, but it hit a slight squick for me and knocked me off the story for a bit, but I soldiered on and enjoyed it for the experience.
I've rambled on enough. If you have a chance, read "Banner Year." You'll enjoy it.
--Shinerdrinker