This page is for site visitors to post remembrances and thoughts at the time of Dr. Pournelle’s passing (8 Sep 2017). Your thoughts can be added using the form at the bottom of this page. Comments that are not related to words of encouragement or condolences will be removed.
Dr. Pournelle’s family appreciates those that have taken the time to send condolences and well wishes.
For those that are interested in Dr. Pournelle’s books, please see the e-books page or the Amazon page . Here’s a list of all of Jerry’s books: All The Books.
Jerry’s last post is here. The text of the eulogy given at the memorial is here. Site news is here. – Editor
The world is a poorer place today. His many books in my library will be an on-going source of pleasure and education for me.
My condolences to his family.
RIP Mr Pournelle. Loved your fiction and non-fiction.
My first Worldcon, 1993 in San Francisco. We were watching footage of the Delta Clipper test flights, many of us in delighted tears, and Dr. Pournelle proclaimed “THIS is spaceflight the way God and Robert Heinlein intended it to be!”
Ave atque vale, sir.
Godspeed, Dr. Pournelle, and say hi to Robert Heinlein for us. Blessing to Dr. Pournelle’s family.
Rest In Peace Jerry, you have entertained me and opened my mind for decades.
RIP Jerry. You will be missed.
Thank you for letting me know that I wasn’t isolated in my intelligence, or even really on the far edge for smarts and thinking. (This was a radical change from everyone who didn’t already love me telling me to stop “overthinking” and treating me like a freak. He didn’t know me, he didn’t love me, so there was no reason to NOT trust his writing.)
Dr. Pournelle let me feel really normal for the first time in my life… may God bless and keep him close, comfort his loved ones, and try the tears that his fans are shedding.
Been a fan of his writing (fiction and non-fiction) since I discovered Lucifer’s Hammer. I’m so sorry for your loss.
I got to see him at DRAGONCON this year. I am definitely glad I went to see his panels. Fair winds and following seas Dr Pournelle
Fair winds and calm seas sir, RIP.
His books meant a lot to me, but in particular was: A Step Farther Out. I personally give the credit for the renaissance from America’s mini-dark ages of the 70’s/Carter Administration to Jerry and that book. I used to buy every copy I could, and give them to my friends.
Later, when he created the web site I would check in every day to see what was going on. Not a day went by that I didn’t learn something from Jerry and the people he attracted to the place.
From my family to the Pournelle family and all his friends: our deepest condolences.
I have know Jerry personally since 2004 . Of course, I was a fan long before – both SciFi and Byte. I consider him a true friend and shall miss very much. To the Pournelle family, you have my deepest condolences.
Jerry Pournelle was instrumental in my career path and he will be missed
Rest in Peace!
I have know Jerry personally since 2004 when I met him at the Space Access Conference. Of course, I was a fan long before both SciFi and Byte. I consider him a true friend and shall miss very much. To the Pournelle family, you have my deepest condolences.
So sorry. Condolences to the family. They will miss the family man, the rest of the world mourns a great writer and thinker.
I’ve enjoyed Jerry since the Byte days. At this moment I feel like the world is smaller. He will be missed.
His books and writings here brought light and rational views to so many things. My sincere condolences to his family.
I will miss him. Way back, his Byte column was the first thing I read in every issue. As an Operations Research guy, I wish I could have met him in person.
My condolences to his family.
I discovered Jerry in InfoWorld, or perhaps in Galaxy. Then I read his fiction–all of it. He entertained and educated me.
Thank you.
So very sorry to hear of Mr. Pournelle passing, may his family take comfort in knowing he lived a life worth living and that he indeed did make a difference.