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 condolences to Jerry’s family and fiends. I always enjoyed reading the ‘Chaos Manner’ columns in Byte magazine, as well as his SF stories involving the CoDominium. The Anthology ‘Black Holes’ edited by him was one of my treasured books.
To Jerry, a marvelous individual who not only wrote brilliantly about society & technology, but also wrote upliftingly about me! And who made one of the most significant introductions in my life so far: Me & Sir Arthur C. Clarke–with whom I enjoyed two great collaborations & a life-long friendship, too. (#FrancisJeffreyFusion & more fond reminiscences of Jerry & Arthur on Twitter @FrancisJeffrey7).
Always present in Space/Time, and linked in some “sub-space” way we may be better able to articulate in the #Quantum_Neurophysiology of the near (Planet Time) Future.
A hearty Thank-You and warmest of Goodbye’s to Jerry Pournelle. Your insightful Byte articles were inspirational for me as a poor farm boy – fascinated with technology and the future. I’ve followed your “chaos” musing and writings with interest since. You made the world a better place – You will be missed.
May your family find reflective peace and comfort in memories of you as time passes.
Goodby old friend – fair winds on a endlessly smooth sea.
My sincerest condolences to the family.
I too miss Dr. Pournelle’s insights in so many things. There is so much valuable information in this site that I hope as others have that if this site is taken down they choose to compile it into a book. Even a chronological history of all his posts would be invaluable.
I still think of Jerry every time I find an article I would have forwarded to him, and probably will for the rest of my life.
You are missed, old friend.
He helped me make sense of things. Many things. Thank you.
Good Bye, Jerry!
You have never knew me. But you always were with me through the decades of my American life.
You helped me when I arrived to American Shores, struggled with software issues, and have read your articles in Byte magazine.
You introduced me to new friends, the heroes of your novels, and series.
You taught me always go forward, and not be afraid of temporary disabilities. Always be aware of everything in the World. And be curious of new things.
I will miss you, but would meet with your ideas, and thoughts rereading your books and posts thousand times.
Thank you. We will certainly meet again.
My deepest condolences. I subscribed and read every column in Byte Magazine and always looked forward to each delivery. The good old days of computing. Jerry will be sadly missed.
Having read Jerry’s books since the early 70’s, at least, and remembering our interactions on GENIE (although I admit I didn’t follow him online again until about 6 years ago) I miss his wisdom and insights more than I can say. I still return to the site to reread his last post and get a sinking feeling in my heart each time. He will be missed by many and I cannot imagine anyone filling his spot. RIP, Mister Pournelle.
Chuck Stuart’s idea is excellent.
It would be hard to continue Jerry’s Chaos Manor as it was an essential part of his day to day ruminations. He was the essential ingredient in the mix of essays and hands-on technology. Very hard to replace.
I think that the continuance of Chaos Manor Reviews would be a better choice. A proper name for a remembrance of his “I do silly things so you don’t have to.”
Again, it has been an incredible journey from the pages of Byte to daily visits to this site.
John Small, I have also kept coming back – visiting Chaos Manor for a few minutes has been part of my routine for a long time. The older posts are still a font of wisdom and information, and I expect to keep coming back for a long while yet.
If the family chooses to take down this web site at some point, I hope they compile the content into a book. Heinlein’s “Grumbles from the Grave” is still interesting reading, and Dr. Pournelle’s weblog thoughts would sit next to that book comfortably.
My suggested title would be “Relentless Application of Logic”.
Since 9/8, I keep staring at Dr. Pournelle’s last entry, expecting his next post. Reading his daughter’s heart felt eulogy that well illuminates his personality, interests, sense of family and community, I feel his departure.
Now a month later his presence is missed all the more. There will be no more reports, nor more essays and no more correspondence reviews. If all we look learned was the Iron Law that would have been a lot. He taught us so very much more.
Not everyone is replaceable. No one knows this more than his family, his friends and those that shared his interests. We all share a sadness that will not go away. And we are better that we were here with him for a little while.
Sad to hear of Jerry’s passing, he and Larry have been a major influence on my reading these many years, I am currently reading Bowl of Heaven by Niven and Benford and since learning of Jerry’s passing Janissaries may be next! Thanks Jerry!
To Alex and the family: I had an on-and-off relationship with Jerry, first as a fan and later as part of the Space Policy group on BIX and – briefly as a collaborator at BYTE. One very fond memory was a hotel room at one of the last Comdex shows where Jerry, Paul Schindler, Daniel Dern and I swapped leads and rewrite each other’s copy together. Jerry was talented and a class act. My late wife used to say that when a tree dies it leaves a hole in the sky. There’s a big one where Jerry used to be. –John Ruley
Today I was looking for some inspiration and went to the Chaos Manor web site only to find this sad sad news.
I enjoyed Jerry Pournell’s column in Byte so much I would not look at it until I was on my monthly commute to the far east from the US. He made the time awake on a that long flight something to actually look forward to, even when flying coach.
His writing style makes me feel like I am having a conversation with an old friend over a beer.
RIP Dr. Pournelle, I will miss our little talks…
Thanks sir for the absorbing hours of entertainment I enjoyed during the Janissaries Series. You will always be a Master Writer of stories blending Politics, War, Sociology, and etc. Rick, Tylara, and his Janissaries will carry your greatness on forever.
I really appreciated Mr. Pournelle’s colums on Byte Magazine, his clear writing and briliant intelligence.
Many people will feel a sense of vacuum. as I do.
Sincere condolences to the family.
In fond memory of Jerry (and of Walt Kelly)
” Look out! Friday the thirteenth comes on FRIDAY this month!”
Loved THE MOTE IN GOD’S EYE, THE GRIPPING HAND, THE LEGACY OF HEROT. Thanks.
My sincerest condolences to the family
I will greatly miss the breath of fresh air from his postings on Chaos Manor as we try to live through the “crazy years”!
Thank you Sir for sharing your insights!