Sad news to report.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

Last edited Sat Jul 2, 2022, 10:14 PM - Edit history (1)

James E. Gunn died two days ago at the age of 97. To say he was a giant in the field doesn't begin to cover it. I took his writing workshop back in the early 90s and to this day I remember the entire experience with awe.

My personal proudest moment was when, after not having seen him for a decade or so, I walked into a room that he was in, he looked up, saw me, came right over and gave me a hug! Wow.

Here are links to a couple of obits:

https://www2.ljworld.com/news/ku/2020/dec/24/gunn-dad-of-science-fiction/

https://locusmag.com/2020/12/james-gunn-1923-2020/

I am so glad I got to know him.

[AmyStrange]

1. He WILL be missed, and

-

thank you for sharing.
==========

[friendly_iconoclast]

2. Gunn wrote one of the best science fiction novels ever, IMO: "The Listeners"

One of the first novels to deal with SETI, the search for extraterrestial intelligence.
Well worth a look if you haven't read it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Listeners_(novel)

[ShazzieB]

6. That sounds fascinating!

I googled it, and it sounded so good I just ordered a copy from Amazon.

[First Speaker]

3. I remember reading *The Immortals* as a kid...

...still holds up well. They made a terrible TV series about it...and a couple of his short-story collections were some of my first SF reads, in 1966. And, of course, *The Listeners*--now *that's* the book they should have made a movie out of...instead of *Contact*. (Which is OK. "Listeners" would have been great.) Rest in peace, sir.

[friendly_iconoclast]

7. Society in "The Immortals" breaks down into technologically advanced serfdom

Doesn't seem far-fetched now, does it?

[lastlib]

4. That is sad news indeed!

A true giant of sci-Fi! I have a copy of his work The Road To Science Fiction, and recall reading The Immortals (but never connected it to the TV series--stupid of me!)

for Dr. Gunn. Requiescat In Pace, sir!

[murielm99]

5. Very sad.

RIP