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
Greetings from South Africa. We met once, when Byte was my learning, you explained Assembler and Compiler to us. I distributed Byte in RSA for a while out the back of my trunk. What a legacy and inspiration. Willem J. van der Zel
Looking back today, I am only beginning to see the affect this fine man had on my life. The Byte column pushed me to learn more about computing and many things. Of fond memory was when the house was (nearly) struck by lightning and Jerry’s technical dissection of the effects on the household electronics.
The War series made me examine my place in society, as did the last half of Lucifers Hammer. Even to his last post, his concern for justice in society shows the true measure of the man.
My heart is breaking for his family and his fans but I look forward to introducing his work to my children.
Thank you Jerry.
My condolences to Dr Pournelle’s family – a sad loss. I have had such pleasure reading his work, and inspiration from his ideas. A sad loss of a man who was such a gift to us.
I first ran across Dr. Pournelle’s work in Byte in the original “Computing at Chaos Manor”. Then I realized he had collaborated with a guy named Larry, and discovered another facet of his work. Over the years of reading the computer advice, Science Fiction, and his journal it is clear there were a plethora of sides to his interests, imagination and his integration of a well grounded education along with a wide variety of life experiences. We were blessed that he distilled this down and shared it with us. I will miss him immensely, but despair is a sin. Rest In Peace.
I spent a lot of time reading BYTE magazine way back when.
Dr. Pournelle affected my life in many ways from an early age. I remember reading his stories in my mother’s Analog magazine. Later as my computer hobby became my passion, Chaos Manor in Byte was essential reading. When I joined an 80’s start up, Dr. Pournelle was often in attendance at our Comdex events.
My sympathies to his family and friends.
Condolences to his family. He was perhaps my greatest inspiration in my young years and I will miss his great writing.
I never met Jerry face to face, but I have read many of his fine books, and have exchanged views with him from time-to-time over many years, dating back to the Byte Infomation Exchange (BIX) prior to the advent of the World Wide Web. Jerry had a great mind, and appeared to consider an issue from many angles before expressing his opinion on it. He was witty, and compassionate as well. He will be missed. I would like to extend my very best wishes to Robarta and Alex and the rest of Jerry’s family.
I dearly regret the loss of Jerry to his family, friends, and to the rest of the world.
Sign me, a very Long Time fan…
A sad day.
His books gave me great joy
A great heart as stopped, but Dr Pournelle’s words and wisdom survives and will permanently enrich the world and his country. We are saddened beyond belief.
I read his articles in BYTE as a kid in the 80s in Italy! They inspired me to become a computer scientist and set me on my current career path. I am sure he touched thousands of people in the same way.
RIP Jerry
I’ll miss Jerry very much. Thanks for Chaos Manor and the sci-fi.
Best wishes to Dr Pournelle’s family. He was by all accounts smart, interesting, and above all, a good man.
I was shocked when learning of Jerry’s passing. He had survived both cancer and a stroke; I was beginning to believe he would outlast us all….
Jerry and I worked together for over 20 years and put out some 20+ anthologies. I’ve always valued our time together and getting to know the Pournelle family. Jerry always treated me as a friend and valued colleague and I learned so much working with him. He was directly responsible for my exploration of his friend H. Beam Piper’s life and work.
My condolences to Pournelles: Roberta, Alex, Frank, Phillip, Richard and Jennifer.
A hero of mine. He gave me so much thoughtful pleasure for so many years. Resquiescat in pace.
Just heard via The Contact List
My Condolences to the family and especially Alex.
I was part of the Byte Information Exchange (Bix) in the MID 1980s. I got to know Jerry and the gang quite well when they visited the SF bay area computer and then Science Fiction conventions.
Ii grew up reading Pournell. His words helped make me who I am today. A sad day indeed.
Dr Pournelle introduced me to SF with Mote. I became insatiable after reading that book. SF kept me basically sane during my adolescence. Thank you Dr Pournelle and Vale.
Jerry will be greatly missed as an author, a scientist, a futurist, and a blogger. I never had the opportunity to meet him in person, and now I never will. I hope there is peace and rest where he has gone, and perhaps the opportunity to watch the rest of us eventually take that step farther out.