Philip Jose Farmer dead at 91

PJ Star ^ | 2/25/09 | TERRY BIBO

[Borges]

PEORIA — Science fiction author Philip Jose Farmer died this morning at his home. He was 91.

The Peoria-based writer had written more than 75 books and was awarded the top honors in his field. That includes the Grand Master Award for Science Fiction in 2001, an award also given to noted authors such as Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov and Robert A. Heinlein.

Farmer had a world-wide following, with fans travelling to Peoria once or twice a year.

He was once quoted as saying that, particular in his early career, he had more fans in France, Italy, Germany and Japan than in the United States. Even after he retired from writing, his fans continued to produce “Farmerphile,” a magazine devoted to his life and works.

[ClearCase_guy]

I never cared too much for his stuff, but he was a major figure in the field.

RIP

[Adder]

Aw man...not my FAVORITE but was pretty good.

RIP

[Darkwolf377]

I saw him nearly 30 years ago and found him very fun and intelligent. Some of his attitudes won’t be to many FReepers’ liking but some of his works opened my eyes to what SF writing COULD be, and inspired me to write.

My favorite is his novella RIDERS OF THE PURPLE WAGE, but he wrote so many marvelous stories and books.

[durasell]

HOLY CRAP, I THOUGHT HE DIED BACK IN THE 80S!

[Borges]

Frederick Pohl is still alive though.

[MeanWestTexan]

He was one of the greats. There was a mass-market book he wrote called "Dark is the Sun" about a post-post-post apocalyptical Earth --- as in, many civilizations had risen and fallen, several more advanced that today --- each leaving remnants and bits behind --- that was strangely formative in my youth.



His "Barnstormer in Oz" was also fun, largely because I was (am) a pilot.

[Billthedrill]

RIP for one of the originals.

[durasell]

He was mostly an editor, wasn’t he?

[MeanWestTexan]

Riverworld.

Which is actually how I became a Mark Twain fan -— and thus a conservative.

[Red Badger]

Excellent book. TV show sucked................

[dynachrome]

RIP Mr. Farmer.

Riverworld is probably my favorite. World of Tiers earlier.

[Darkwolf377]

I’ve been surprised by the number of people I’ve met who enjoy his Riverworld books. I didn’t know it had such a wide following.

Great, now I have to add yet another book to my To Read list... ;)

[Snake65]

I'm sorry to hear that. I enjoyed several of the Riverworld books very much. We always sat at different tables at the awards banquets because he was Random House/Del Rey and I'm Penguin/Roc so I can't say I knew him, but he seemed like a very nice man.

[DemforBush]

I loved World of Tiers as a kid, really fired my imagination up.

RIP, Mr. Farmer.

[shempy]

I loved PJF! Had a real impact on me in my formative years. Sad to see him gone, but he lived a full life. Right about now, I suspect he is waking up along the river banks, grail in hand! :)

He had an awesome imagination. That is what it was all about with him. His writing wasn't as good as his ideas sometimes, but he made it work.

[Professional Engineer]

Bummer. Riverworld was great.

[sionnsar]

ping

[GSWarrior]

What a great writer! The Shadow of Space is one of the most amazing stories I have ever read.

[EveningStar]

Miscellaneous Ping List

This is a general interest list. We cover everything from the sublime to the ridiculous.

If you want on or off this ping list, please FReepmail me.