Jerry Pournelle
(August 7, 1933 – September 8, 2017)
Jerry Eugene Pournelle was an American fan and pro writer, His many collaborations with Larry Niven, including such books as The Mote in God's Eye and Footfall, may be his most enduring work.
He was a long-time member of LASFS, was a regular contributor to Amra, and co-authored the fannish novel Fallen Angels with Larry Niven and Michael F. Flynn.
He became active in fandom in the early 1960s and came to Chicon III "without any warning, without any money, but with lots of energy and expectation. He wanted to help the con committee put on ChiCon III. We let him sleep in the hotel room filled with the convention stuff, not meant for habitation but Jerry nevertheless lived in that mess throughout the con, helping considerably with lots of routine moving around stuff, things, working on the program."
He won the 1973 Campbell Award, the first time it was awarded, beating out such tough competitors as George Alec Effinger and George R. R. Martin. He was elected President of SFWA in 1973.
When Pournelle was MC at L.A.con II, the 1984 Worldcon, Larry Niven presented him with a chocolate Hugo rocket. Jerry had been known to note that "Money will get you through a time of no Hugos better than Hugos will get you through a time of no money." Niven said, "Jerry, this is the Hugo that will get you through times of no money..."
He was formerly a computer journalist and holds a Ph.D. in political science. In his early years, he worked in the aerospace industry before turning to writing SF and for the computer industry (he was a popular regular columnist for Byte).
Awards, Honors and GoHships:
- 1973 -- 1973 Campbell Award
- 1977 -- Loscon 4, Saltcon, Evans-Freehafer Trophy
- 1978 -- Westercone
- 1979 -- Forry Award
- 1981 -- Coastcon 4
- 1982 -- Ad Astra II,
- 1983 -- Constellation Con, Chattacon VIII, Omacon 3
- 1984 -- OKon 6, MC at L.A.Con II
- 1988 -- MidSouthCon 7, ConQuistador V
- 1992 -- Prometheus Award
- 1993 -- Conscience '93, Jack Williamson Lectureship
- 1994 -- Con-Dor 2
- 1997 -- Anaconism Jr., InConJunction XVII
- 1998 -- Seiun Award for Foreign Novel
- 1999 -- Conucopia
- 2000 -- Archon 24 (unable to attend)
- 2002 -- JerseyDevilCon 2
- 2004 -- LibertyCon 17
- 2005 -- Life, the Universe, & Everything 23, Robert A. Heinlein Award
- 2006 -- Baycon 2006
- 2007 -- Balticon 41
- 2010 -- DeepSouthCon 48, Phoenix Award
- 2012 -- LibertyCon 25, Boskone 49 (NESFA Press Guest)
- He was nominated for seven Hugos: the 1973 Best Novella Hugo, the 1974 Best Novelette Hugo, the 1975 Best Novelette Hugo, the 1975 Best Novel Hugo, the 1976 Best Novelette Hugo, the 1978 Best Novel Hugo, and the 1986 Best Novel Hugo.
| Person | 1933—2017 |
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