Brian was lucky enough to count Doris Lessing as one of his friends. I asked him for comment on her passing and he had this to say:

She had a great sense of humour; I loved the woman…

We were good friends and I often went round to her place until she fell ill.

At one time, Doris and I were in Edinburgh for a literary week, I had written a sketch about Hitler retiring to a town on England’s south coast and a reporter comes to interview him. I played Hitler and Doris sportingly, played the interviewer.

You’ll recall that at one time in her life she wrote several SF novels [CANOPUS IN ARGOS] – Five titles. Among her novels I most enjoyed are ‘The Fifth Child’ and ‘The Good Terrorist’. Doris was a wonderful person and a joy to know.

Sad she has died. But she was 94 and had a good run for her money. R.I.P.