Martin Murie (1925-2012) retired early from his teaching position to go back to the land and write novels, poetry, and rants.

Murie grew up in Wyoming. He served in WWII with the 10th Mountain Infantry. With an undergraduate degree in literature/philosophy and a PhD in Zoology, he taught life sciences at the University of California, Berkeley, and Antioch University.

He was the author of several novels of ecological adventure -- Losing Solitude, Windswept, Burt's Way, Red Tree Mouse Chronicles, Seriously Insistent, and Breakout -- and regularly contributed to the excellent environmentalist bimonthly Canyon Country Zephyr.

He and his wife Alison, after many years in the backwoods at the edge of the Adirondacks in New York State, eventually moved to Xenia, Ohio. To learn more about his work, please visit his Web site, Packrat Nest. Sadly, Martin passed away on January 28, 2012. Please read the tribute written by Gilles d'Aymery (with many pictures).

He contributed 89 articles and essays to Swans between January 2006 and March 2010. His work can be accessed in the yearly archives, at: 2006 || 2007 || 2008 || 2009 || 2010

He will be missed by all humanity -- from the endangered animals to the victims of war -- on whose behalf he dedicated his life.