David Foster Wallace, arguably our generation's most talented writer, committed suicide on Friday, ending his life at the age of 46. In terms of quality, Wallace leaves behind a substantial body of work including Infinite Jest, a Ulysses style opus covering addiction, America's obsession with entertainment and wheelchair assassins. Whether fiction or non-fiction, Wallace's hyperliterate, uber-intellectual writing style always proved fascinating whether he's discoursing on the history of infinity, interpreting the Presidential campaign of John McCain, reporting on the Adult Video Network awards or considering the lobster.

On a personal note, hearing of Wallace's death over the weekend left me stunned. After reading Infinite Jest, I could never wait for Wallace's books to come out in paperback and he is one of the few authors whose latest I had to have the moment it came out. Infinite Jest may be intimidating in its length and puzzling in its use of footnotes but its also one of the best books I've ever read. If Wallace's death reawakens interest in this amazing novel, then there may be something good to come out of this tragic loss.

This is truly a sad time for the Howling Fantods.