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
My first experience with Jerry Pournelle was through the Chaos Manor columns in Byte. Always my favorite part of every magazine. I was overjoyed when Footfall was finally released for Kindle (my paperback copy was worn out and losing pages).
My heart is heavy today.
My world is such a larger and more vibrant place for his having been in it. I cannot imagine how impoverished my life would have been without the pleasure and intellectual stimulation I found in his many novels. I miss his presence even though I only ever met him through his writings.
During my University years in France (1986-1992), receiving in the mail my monthly subscription Byte Magazine was always a treat – and looking for Jerry’s column in the thick volume was always the very first thing I did. Reading Jerry’s strong and detailed opinions on what hardware and software should be, always from the end-users’ perspective, was part of my education in tech product design, development and sales, I’m certain of it.
Reference to his books with Larry Niven in the Chaos Manor column also led me to reading the Mote’s Eye novels, Lucifer’s Hammer, Footfall, … I still have them all.
Thank you for everything Jerry.
Sincere condolences to the Pournelle family.
Dr Jerry Pournelle’s writings — fiction and non fiction — made a lasting impression: I chose to start my career as an intern at Bell Labs (I’m that old). I still am in the technology world; still enjoy hard-science SF.
I especially resonated with his final diary entry. But we all will miss Dr Pournelle, one of the last greats of the second golden wave of SF optimists.
Very sad to here of Jerry’s passing. I loved his work and Chaos Manor in Byte Mag was always the first article I would read.
So Long Jerry
I first came across JP’s writing through his collaborations with Larry Niven. This was back in the 1980’s. I loved everything I read of his. Jerry, you will be missed. Thank you for decades of fun and adventure.
Jerry’s blog was on my must-read list every day for years. A voice of reason in an otherwise confusing world.
I’ll bet Jerry never thought he would live to actually see Heinlein’s “Crazy Years”.
His like will not come again. He, and his words, will be sorely missed.
Oh, so sad to hear this, he was a great mind and excellent communicator. I loved his pieces, an Chaos was always my first stop in the mag
One of my fondest memories was picking up a heavily dog eared copy of – The mote in Gods Eye – when i was 14 (81) at my local second hand bookshop for 10p. It was amazing. It led me to reading as many of his books as possible – and a general obsession with SF from that point on.
I had that copy until a few years ago when we were flooded and it was one of the things i missed most.
Jerry Pournelle wrote the books that changed the world. Ad Astra Jerry. We will definitely miss your books, your wit and your keen perspective on the world.
Jerry’s Sci-Fi writing has been a long time go-to for me. I have many of his books, and Mote in God’s Eye and Oath of Fealty are probably the most read. I am 64, and have been a fan and reader for decades.
My son took Jerry at his word when he wrote “If you want my job” and pumped out 2 million words of fiction that he posted free on-line before writing his first book.
He is currently editing the seventh book (all 130-170K words) and is going strong.
Thank you, Jerry, you will not be forgotten
A follower of chaos Manor since the beginnins on BYTE and for many years since. Loved his approach to all things computing and life. He expressed his opinions in a forthright manner and was never afraid to enter a discussion with those of other views and was always courteous in dialogue. For me ‘Real Soon Now’ was then and continues to be a defining theme in the IT industry. R.I.P.
I will miss him.
I met Dr Pournelle at wold con in Anaheim many years ago. My brief conversation with him had a lasting effect on me. There are few people i can say i truly admire, this man was one of them.
So long Pal … condolences to your kids and grandkids ,,, and to Roberta … .. All those years ago when these little machines were a mess you and Byte saved us all…god bless you all
Jerry, your column in Byte was MUST NOT miss, thank you.
My condolences to his family.
One of the SF greats. Not afraid to write the politically incorrect things that really need to be said.
I only hope the janissaries 4 book will be published as I have been waiting for this for a long time.
I loved his writing over the years in Byte especially. It really brought computing into the ‘normal world’ for me as a kid and turned out to be quite formative.
‘T was great sharing time on this planet with you.
My deepest condolences to his family and friends. Rest easy, we’ll take it from here.
Requiem æternam dona ei, Domine
Et lux perpetua luceat ei:
Requiescat in pace.