Gabe Hudson, author of the story collection Dear Mr. President and the novel Gork, the Teenage Dragon, has died at 52.

Publisher Knopf confirmed Hudson’s death in an email to its sales force obtained by Kirkus, which said that the cause and date of death are currently undetermined.

Hudson was educated at the University of Texas and Brown University and served as a rifleman in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He burst onto the literary scene in 2002 with Dear Mr. President, which featured stories of soldiers in the Gulf War.

A critic for Kirkus called the book, which was a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award, “an important contribution to war literature” by “a talent to watch.”

Hudson followed that book up with his first novel, Gork, the Teenage Dragon, in 2017. The book followed a young, nerdy dragon who is a student at a military academy and is determined to win the affections of a girl he likes. A Kirkus critic called it “the hyperkinetic teen-dragon comedy-romance you never knew you wanted.”

Hudson hosted a podcast, Kurt Vonnegut Radio, and taught at Columbia University. He also maintained a popular social media presence, and on X (formerly Twitter), his friends and admirers paid tribute.

Author Lincoln Michel wrote, “Gutted to hear about the passing of Gabe Hudson. He was so big hearted and generous and always buzzing with ideas and energy. We’d chatted for hours for his podcast just recently and could have talked for many hours more. I can’t believe it. RIP. You’ll be sorely missed.”

And writer Amber Sparks posted, “Deeply saddened to hear about Gabe Hudson, a wonderful writer who I feel like I’ve known forever. Such a kind, funny, brilliant soul—I’m shocked and devastated that our literary community has lost him, and my heart goes out to his family and friends.”

Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.