This is why I always recommend new beekeepers start out with at least two hives. If the author had another healthy hive, he could have moved a frame of young brood to his queenless hive and they would have raised a new queen on their own.
Another thing that might have happened - the queen might have swarmed. It's not uncommon in the spring. Sometimes they don't like where they are living, sometimes there is a queen power struggle, sometimes it just happens for no reason.
I have heard that some beekeepers use a trick where they keep a spare empty box somewhere else on their property. If the queen wants to swarm, she'll often decide to move into the empty box. Then the beekeeper gets to keep a hive that would otherwise be gone.
One year a swarm of bees moved into the chimney in our house. My bed was right next to the boarded up fireplace, it was great to wake up to the sound of bees at work every morning in the summer.
Is there a book/resource you'd recommend to people who know absolutely nothing about beekeeping but think it sounds terribly awesome and would like to know what it takes to get started?
I've learned the most from lurking around the forums at http://www.beesource.com/forums/. Some kind of beginners beekeeping book that covers the basics would probably be good too, but I don't really have any good recommendations.
There is likely a beekeepers' association in your state/county area (see what comes up on a Google search).
They usually have meetings and education/demo days, or at least would be happy to answer any questions that you have about keeping bees.
I think this is better than reading a book, because there are often special rules or challenges depending on where you live, and these are things that the local beekeepers would know about.
