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
Dr. Pournelle’s Chaos Manor columns in Byte were an invaluable help for using computers practically. I think the mechanical keyboard I’m typing this on is from one of his recommended companies. I only later discovered his fiction, which I read with pleasure. I will miss reading him. My condolences to his family.
Jerry was a giant. In terms of intellect, in terms of his writing. I will miss him greatly. My condolences to Roberta and Jennifer.
In Requiscat Pace.
The first time I read Jerry’s columns in Byte, I was hooked. Thanks to Jerry, I learned about computers from the standpoint of a layman, and not that of a computer scientist. His opinions about the latest computer technology of the day, side-stories, and tales of goings-on at Chaos Manor, always held my interest.
He will be missed.
My thoughts & condolences go to his family. I read “Mote in God’s Eye” and others with so much enthusiasm and joy. I am deeply sorry that he has passed, and they shall be no more.
The end of an era.
I can’t describe my feelings of loss. I’ve been reading Jerry for over 40 years. I will greatly miss his wisdom and common sense.
I’m afraid we’re losing all the remaining adults.
Good Bye.
And thank you very much for all that great reading.
The novels, Byte, and chaosmanor.com.
Dr. Pournelle will be missed. He was a man of honesty and original ideas.
Jerry was one of the few people I liked to refer to regularly, along with Douglas Adams, Bill Watterson or Albert Einstein. In his case, I always had to tell entire stories, not one-sentence catch phrases, because such was Chaos Manor.
Jerry made the world a better place, and that’s how I will remember him.
I never met Dr Pournelle, though I read his scifi starting in the 1970’s. The world is a smaller place for his passing.
I first started reading Jerry when I was 13 or 14 and I’m now 54. No other author has influenced my life as much as he did. I became involved in local politics due to Jerry, when I was in Rome and went to visit the Pantheon it was because I had learned about it in one of Jerry’s books. Even when email was new he was kind enough to directly answer my correspondence several times. I always looked forward to his writing and will miss his intellect and insight terribly.
Sincere condolences to the family, in my mind he was the greatest of men.
Very sad. I still remember his jousting with Isaac Asimov over their respective world views. His work with Niven was fantastic. He will be missed.
I only met Jerry Pournelle a few times, at Writers of the Future events, but they were memorable. In his capacity as a long-time judge for the contest, Jerry took it upon himself to ensure that no one got too big a head (Jerry was heard to shout: “Remember Caesar—thou art mortal!” throughout the ceremony) and to prank the grand prize winner each year–a fact I only learned after he’d pranked me.
Just before the dinner that precedes the award ceremony (10 years ago now), Jerry and Dr. Yoji Kondo walked over to talk to me and struck up a conversation about my story. Jerry had some nice things to say about it, but explained how all the science was wrong, and how I really ought to just teach myself calculus since it wasn’t that hard.
“Who did win the Grand Prize?” Kondo asked Pournelle, as if I wasn’t standing there. And then Pournelle named the winner (not me).
“Sorry to be the one to tell you,” said Pournelle.
While disappointing, it had the effect of calming me down–nothing was on the line anymore, so I could just enjoy the evening.
But then a couple of hours later I did win, and their little subterfuge only added to the shock. Much of what happened immediately after that is–as a result–a blur, but I do recall that as people lined up for pictures after the ceremony Jerry sat down in a chair next to me.
“You tricked me!” I said. With a mischievous glint in his eye he said, in his Louisiana drawl, “Yeah, I did do that didn’t I?”
Farewell, Jerry. Thanks for the memories.
– Stephen Kotowych (Writers of the Future 23)
Wow. I am in some shock. RIP. I will miss him. And we all owe him. RIP.
“Lucifer’s Hammer” and “Inferno” are among my favorite science fiction books and I credit Jerry and Chaos Manor as one of the catalysts for my pursuing a computer science degree and vocation. I’m sad at his passing but grateful for his work over the years. Thank you Jerry.
Life changing, thought-provoking writing. My heart is breaking. Goodbye, Jerry.
RIP Dr. Pournelle. We will miss your insight, intellect and wit!
There are a few of my books that I will not loan out to friends & family. My dog-eared copy of “A Step Farther Out” is first among these. Jerry, thank you for all you taught me and all the thinking you made me do.
Requiescat in pace.
Jerry Pournelle was an important person in my life from my teen years, though I didn’t really know him at all until about 10 years ago, when I enjoyed a correspondance with him. Jerry’s books and wisdom played a key role in my decision to enlist in the US Navy. Much of any success I’ve enjoyed in life comes through insights into my capability and character shaped by the Navy and Jerry’s characters. I suspect there are many like me who at 56 still feel like members of the crew of INSS MacArthur.
Sorry to hear of his passing. Condolences to the family. His Chaos Manor columns in Byte Magazine were a must-read for me until the sad demise of the publication, and I’ve read regularly his continued web publications since then. Though some political differences, his insight into all aspects of life, not just IT, was of great respectful interest.
Jerry’s “There Will Be War” Volumes and his commentary in them were a part of my education as a high school student. I learned a lot. I had the honor of meeting him at several conventions. He will be missed.