A Technical Writer's Alter Ego: Engaging Comic Book Novelist

Garcia and Askegren, whose literary heroes included John Collier, collaborated on a short story for an anthology of a comic book character. Although the deal ultimately fell through, it nevertheless demonstrated Askegren's talent as a writer and storyteller, Garcia said.

The strength of Askegren's writing, according to his friends, came from an encyclopedic knowledge of comic book heroes, super villains, old story lines, the history of the genre and key figures in the publishing industry.

"One of his skills was giving personality to obscure, oddball characters that hadn't been seen in the comic book world for years and making them into real people," said David Erskine, owner of Aftertime Comics in Alexandria.

Physically, Askegren bore some resemblance to the comic book character and Spider-Man nemesis Kingpin. Askegren stood 6-foot-3, with a large frame.

Working out of his apartment in Annandale, Askegren produced reams of manuscripts. One of his biggest writing projects was the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" novel "After Image," which came out last year. He spun a tale about the teenage heroine and her trusted friends tangling with a werewolf and a mysterious stranger at a newly restored drive-in theater in fictional Sunnydale, Calif.

Perhaps better known is his "Inconstant Moon" science fiction trilogy: "Human Resource" (2005), "Fall Girl" (2005) and "Exit Strategy" (2006). The character-driven series, about power and corruption in corporate colonies on the Moon, received favorable reviews in Analog Science Fiction and Fact magazine.

Askegren, 51, was found dead in his apartment Nov. 29 after suffering a heart attack. His last short story, "Try and Try Again," will appear posthumously in the anthology "Time Twisters" this month.

"He was a unique person," Erskine said. "Pierce had a great sense of humor. It went over people's heads sometimes, but he always got a kick out of it."