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
What I posted elsewhere:
I met and got to know Jerry Pournelle — and his sweet wife Roberta — over 30 years ago, when I started writing for BYTE Magazine. I already knew of Jerry because of his SF novels (“Lucifer’s Hammer” by him and Larry Niven remains my favorite end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it book) and his writings in BYTE. What I didn’t know and appreciate until I started spending time with him was what a true polymath he was. Besides being an Army vet (Korean War) and having a BS/MS in psychology and an PhD in political science, he also had a significant influence in top US government circles during the 1980s. He read deeply and widely in a vast number of disciplines and put them together in ways that few people I knew did.
I also learned very quickly that if I was going to argue with Jerry, I better have my facts straight and my ducks in a row. He had a tremendous memory for facts and a deep understanding of history. He also didn’t suffer fools gladly, and it was very easy to end up looking like a fool (often with good reason) when trying to debate Jerry.
Jerry and Roberta were kind enough to welcome Sandra and me into their home on occasions when work or vacation would bring us to LA, and they returned the favor on a few occasions while we lived in San Diego.
(On one such visit over 20 years ago, he wanted to look at something in the night sky. He jumped up and went out our sliding glass door to our darkened back yard, eyes focused on the heavens, and walked straight into our pool. He took it with remarkably good humor as we rushed to find towels to dry himself off with. I kept thinking, “Great — I’m going to go down in history as the person who killed Jerry Pournelle with pneumonia.”)
Jerry’s most lasting impression on me — and the one behind my own writing efforts for the last several years — has been his sheer will power and work ethic. About a decade ago, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent radiation therapy. He kept blogging through all that, with frank admissions of the impact it was having on his ability to think and write, and then started working on novels and stories again. Then a few years ago, he suffered a stroke, but did exactly the same thing — blogged during his therapy and recovery and started writing again as soon as possible. Keep in mind he was 75 when he suffered the brain tumor and 81 when he had the stroke. His sheer tenacity was, for me, awe-inspiring. He was and is truly my real-life “Your argument is invalid” meme.
Ah, Jerry, the world is a less interesting place without you. But I now know to whom I will dedicate my first novel.
Condolences to Mr Pournelles family and friends.
I knew his science fiction but only recently discovered Chaos Manor. In spite of the brief time I had I will sorely miss him. Was also amazed to find him a Hawkeye. We must have been there at the same time.
My best to the family, cherish your fond memories, they are worth it.
As a fan of science fiction and fantasy and hope to be writer I have a couple of Jerry’s books!! Your talent was magnificent and you’ll be missed!!! Rest in peace….
He was a great man, as both a colleague and a friend. We’re not going to see his like again. Condolences to the family.
Jerry was always a source of intelligence, wit, and clarity in a community of complicated techno-speak. He made it understandable for all of us in an entertaining manner. He will be sorely missed.
Blessing on Jerry and his entire family.
My sincere condolences to Dr Pournelle’s family. I remember, with gratitude, his inimitable “Chaos Manor” column in “Byte” all those years ago. I learnt so much, and found out about many great hardware and software products, from those pages. Jerry’s recommendation was, for me, enough to decide whether or not to buy a product. Unfortunately, I wasn’t aware that he continued to write “Chaos Manor” as a blog, so I didn’t follow it online. May he rest in perfect peace.
My condolences to Dr. Pournelle’s family. I first started reading Chaos Manor in 1977 or, I was in 7th grade. I started reading Jerry’s books about the same time. Chaos Manner fueled my interest in computers and electronics.
Thank you Jerry.
Your “blog” has the joy of my morning reading… Rest In Well Deserved Peace….
His thinking and his stories strongly influenced my life- what higher approbation can be given? My son’s middle name is Horatius. There is a hole in my foundation now, and I can only imagine how this affects the family. I suppose there is comfort in knowing that no one really is gone forever, just temporarily somewhere where we cannot be. A place, for the rightous, much better where there is no pain and we are made anew. Still, this sixty four year old man is tearing up….Damn it.
My feelings. I still remember the joy of reading his awesome column on Byte magazine.
He will never be forgotten.
My sincere condolences to Dr Pournelle’s family.
I read this journal – that he didn’t want to call a “blog” – since the very beginning, after reading the BYTE columns as often I could.
It was very enlightening for this Frenchman, it made one think! And it was entertaining too ! He knew how to tell a story!
Thank you !
Thank you, Jerry. You, Bob Heinlein, and a very few others entertained and educated me. I joined the Airborne because of Starship Troopers. I started teaching because of Sparta.
Rest in Peace. We will carry on.
My sincere condolences to the Pournelle family. It has been my pleasure to follow Dr. Pournelle’s work since the very early BYTE years and so many of his fine SF stories. This is a loos we will never fully recover from. My prayers for the family.
First, my sincere condolences to Dr. Pournelle’s family and close friends. I am very sorry for your loss.
I’m struggling to accept that he’s gone. It happens to all, but surely not to him. Not yet.
I first came to know him through his work as a boy. I read voraciously, but he belonged to a small elect of authors that helped to build my inner world. His contribution to forming the better parts of me is a debt I can’t repay.
For many years, now, a daily check for additions to ‘Chaos Manor’ has been my routine. I didn’t always share his position on some issues, but always, always found him to be clear, rational and wise. where now will we go for wise counsel?
When he posted a short essay of mine I was undone: my childhood hero…practically walked on water, giving my thoughts ‘the nod’.
I have always wanted to meet him. I suppose now I’ll have to wait. Goodbye Dr. Pournelle. And thank you.
Rest In Peace Jerry
I’ll miss you and the unfinished stories. You and your family are in my prayers.
Steve Rudzinski, Montana
A writer to be enjoyed.
A voice worth listening to.
Insight always valuable.
He’ll be missed.
Barnett Lerner
He was one of the first authors I found that inspired me to read read everything they wrote or had a hand in. As I reflect I am surprised how much of my own technical writing has been inspired by his style. My condolences to your family.
My condolences to Dr. Pournelle’s family & friends.
His absence will be deeply felt.
I first met Jerry when I discovered LASFS, back in 1980, and over the last 37 years we’ve come to be friends. I loved his writing, both alone and with Larry Niven, and his website once I found it. I didn’t post here earlier, because it took me some time to decide what to say, and I wanted to get it right. Jerry was a great man, a gentleman (although flawed, like everybody) and a deep thinker. He will be missed.
There’s an article up about his death at Slashdot, and all of the narrow-minded leftists are throwing mud at his memory, hoping that some will stick, but that’s to be expected of their ilk. I have moderator points right now, and could use them to downvote the people doing this, but I won’t. Not only would it be a waste of time as most of them are posting anonymously, but more important, because I know that Jerry wouldn’t have wanted me to.