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
While I havn’t exactly rushed here to leave my thoughts, I was very sad to hear the news.
I well remember, as a youth, pouring over copied of BYTE magazine – one could say it was formative?
Still, a life well lived – we should all aspire to match, but few will be that lucky.
My thoughts to Jerries family and loved ones.
My condolences to all the family.
I lost my father last year – in fact they shared the same birthday. I would discuss tech and politics with my father all the time and I have read Jerry’s tech columns since the byte days in the early 80s and have continued to read his blog postings in recent years.
Very sad to hear this news but like my father he will continue to inspire me.
Mote in God’s Eye is one of the greatest Science Fiction novels of all time. The world has lost a truly talented author.
The world has lost a great mind, a great writer, and a great human being. I’ll miss his columns. My prayers are with Jerry’s family.
My condolences to his family and friends.
May his writings will live on.
Mass intention today: repose of Jerry’s soul. Read his fiction, followed Chaos Manor with interest. His is an irreplaceable loss.
Requiescat in pace and ora pro nobis, we sure enough need it.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
May he rest in peace
He helped get me hooked on computers with his Chaos Manor column in Byte. Also I enjoyed many of his books, including Lucifer’s Hammer, the Mote books, and Oath of Fealty. My sincere condolences.
I first stumbled on Mr. Pournelle’s writing in the early 80’s and was surprised to find an author who stood out from the pack…he wrote in a very approachable style and, like his often co-author Larry Niven, had injected some new life into a genre that had over the years become a bit staid and lost in “wonder”, without any connection back to the origins of sci-fi in technological awe…
I will miss him…
He gave me many hours of wide-eyed and immersive enjoyment. His like are too few. He will be missed.
God be with you on your new journey and maybe many of your fans, colleagues and associates will meet you at the Pearly Gates.
I have been reading Jerry’s stuff for over 40-years. His books followed me from Montana to Spain to California to Germany to Idaho to Spain, again, to Qatar and back to California, all during my USAF and DoD career.
He will be missed and a big part of many lives will feel your loss. RIP
Let light perpetual shine upon him. A life’s work well done and the world is wiser and more graceful because of his presence.
Such a great loss. After beating brain cancer and stroke, I think subconsciously I believed Jerry invincible. I grew up on his sci fi writing, then his Byte columns, and years later found his blog at chaos manor – and read it ever since. We so need a man such as him at this time.
My condolences to the family, I am so sorry for your loss. And it’s a loss to all of us as well.
Sorry for the bad news. Jerry will be missed by many. I am missing him. My condolences.
Yes, he will be missed, and by people who never even knew how much they owe him. From conventions to COMDEX, he was always interesting to be around and just listen to. He would also listen BACK, if you weren’t afraid of taking the risk that he would then explain in detail why you were wrong (and have you agreeing with him).
It means a lot to read that he didn’t suffer.
Dr. Pournelle’s wit and wisdom will be missed. But for the brightness he added, from work and life, his death would be a greater darkening. My condolences to his family, friends, and all those who loved him.
Rest in peace. Your work was, and is, greatly appreciated.
You will be missed.
My sincere condolences to Roberta and the Pournelle family. May God strengthen and comfort you in this difficult time.
Even though I only discovered Jerry in the past ten years or so (probably through Glenn Reynolds at Instapundit), I came to appreciate him as a unique voice in politics, science, and life. I would look forward expectantly for each blog post. In the past few years, when Jerry faced some serious health issues, if an update didn’t come for a few days, I would worry that something might have happened. Thankfully Jerry would always pop back up with tales of his days being consumed by locusts, his attitude often more positive than the situation justified.
Now there won’t be any more updates providing his unique insights and perspective on the news and technology of the day. With that I feel we have all lost something. What we still have is his vast collection of work from more than 40 years, so I will continue to read, learn, and be entertained. Thank you Dr. Pournelle. You will be missed.
Thank you so much Mr.Pournelle for the lifetime spent creating the worlds I have lived in. Peace
Mr. Pournelle gave me many hours of elevated life (and I’ll be 67 tomorrow)… You did well Jerry, very well !!