Sigh. Another giant, gone.
If you are a science fiction fan — and I mean a con-going, filk-singing, dress-up-in-costume fan — then you know about Forry. He was one of the last great holdouts from the Golden Age of the field, a guy who simply loved monsters and movies and rocket ships.
I think sometime very soon I’ll pop in a copy of "Five Million Years to Earth", and raise a virtual toast to the man who delighted in the story, and in the society, of science fiction.
If you went to BadAstronomy.com and found yourself here, never fear: the BA Blog has moved to its new home at Discover Blogs. The original BA site (with the Moon Hoax debunking and all that) is still online, too.
Phil Plait, the creator of Bad Astronomy, is an astronomer, lecturer, and author. After ten years working on Hubble Space Telescope and six more working on astronomy education, he struck out on his own as a writer. He has written two books, dozens of magazine articles, and 12 bazillion blog articles. He is a skeptic, and fights misuses of science as well as praising the wonder of real science.
Contact me: The Bad Astronomer "at" gmail "dot" com
|
| Bad Astronomy is a Wikio Top Blog! Clearly, Wikio has excellent taste. | |
 | ||
 | Bad Astronomy was chosen as one of Time.com's Best Blogs of 2009. |
 |
"Reading this book is like getting punched in the face by Carl Sagan. Frightening, but oddly exhilarating."
-- Daniel H. Wilson, author of How to Survive a Robot Uprising
DISCOVERmagazine.com: Latest Articles on Space DISCOVER Blogs: The Loom
December 6th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
I remember several appearances in movies he did, including one in an episode of MST3K (Season 10 #4: Future War). Favorite was in Amazon Women Of The Moon as the ‘President of Earth’.
One thing that concerns me is what the disposition of his fantastic collection of SF memorabilia.
J/P=?
December 6th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I had the pleasure of interviewing Forry for the Science Fiction Muesum and Hall of Fame, in which we used some of his memorabilia for several exhibits on the SF community.
He was an eccentric guy, but a friendlier, more generous and hospitable man you were not likely to meet. So many generations of writers, filmmakers, artists, and just general fans grew up with Uncle Forry.
He had to sell off most of his collection in recent years, but there were still treasures in his modest “Grandson of Ackermansion.” I hope they are cared for.
Ad astra, FJA.
December 6th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Dang, just saw this news on Wil’s blog. Met FJA some years ago at a convention and was immediately impressed! One of the all-time nice guys.
Raising a toast — here’s to ye, lad!
December 6th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
I had the opportunity to meet Forry twice, once in his original Ackermansion in 1991 and back in May of this year in the mini-mansion. His collection was incredible, but his personality even more so. He was a sweet, charming man who was obviously excited about what he did and about all the people who visited him. Even in May, when he was obviously in physical decline (he was unable to walk unassisted) he was still incredibly vital, and loved talking to the people who passed through his home to look at this collection which, sadly, was a mere shadow of its former glory.
There are very few celebrities whose death affect me, but with Forry, I feel like I’ve lost a dear friend. He was a truly great man and will be sorely missed. But he lived a good life and did good things. I can’t think of anything better to say about anybody.
December 6th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
I prefer science fact to science fiction. The only science fiction I like is mathematics like Newton and Einstein.
December 6th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Such a touching tribute to the deceased. Thanks for sharing, Oil. Now go away.
December 6th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I’ve been fortunate to have met him as well when I was a kid. I didn’t realize who he was until I blurted out “Hey that’s Famous Monsters guy!” The parents didn’t know who I was referring to but they knew the magazine I was talking about. I didn’t have anything for him to sign except a book on “Black Holes and Warped Space-Time” (I was an odd 10yr old). So, somewhere in a box is book with his signature.
Until now I never knew he knew Ray Bradbury and Ray Harryhausen–another two great people I’ve met on several occaisions. If you haven’t met them,but get a chance to, you’11 find them as personable as Mr. Ackerman was.
December 6th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
@ Joe:
The trio of Ray, Ray and FJA were my heroes as a kid, encompassing the things I loved best: writing, stop motion animation, and the sheer joy of the imagination. I, too, am pleased to have met them all. I only wish they could stick around another 100 years or so to inspire yet another round of wide-eyed kids.
December 6th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Phil, don’t you mean ‘20 Million Miles to Earth’ ? The one with the spaceship that comes back from Venus?
December 6th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
@ Francis:
“Five Million Years to Earth” – best of the Quatermass series of movies produced in England round about 1967. Also known as “Quatermass and the Pit.” One of the best science fiction movies ever made.
December 6th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
He was a wonderful gentleman and a very good, gentle guy.
We had him in KC for a film festival and his ride (a rented, ancient hearse) blew a gasket before the driver even got to his hotel. As the driver (a local fan) was on the phone with me, the person in the house that drove the most respectable car to and from work, came home from work.
His hotel was only a few minutes from my home in mid-town. I Got him to the theater in Independence well on time and with good stories being told all the way.
We all knew it was only a matter of time, especially with this last illness. But he will be greatly missed.
December 6th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
When I was a kid, the magazine to read was “Famous Monsters of Filmland”. I had every issue I could get my hands on, and use to order back issues too. They were glorious. And what made them great was Forrest J. Ackerman. He knew what kids of the 60s and 70s loved. And we got it in spades in that magazine! It was a viewers guide to Horror and Science Fiction movies, and when I got older, and video tapes came out, I would go find all the classics I had read about, and thanks F.J.A for making it possible. His humor and true love for the medium made SciFi so much fun back then.
I am saddened to hear of his passing, but appreciate what he gave us. He gave us a chill, a thrill, and a laugh, and made our childhood magical.
Fare thee well on your new voyage Forrest!
December 7th, 2008 at 1:15 am
Yes – Forrest J. Ackerman has past away – - -or – - – has he? For few knew then, at the moment of his passing, on a distant world on the far side of the Milky Way, an alien machine was activated and……….
December 7th, 2008 at 1:45 am
I was lucky enough to have spent a little time with Forry over the last few years–lunch a few times, driving him home, hanging with him in his house (the ‘minimansion’ he had moved into)–I felt special and priveleged to have been his ‘audience of one’ on those occasions…his stories, his impish sense of humor, the twinkle in his eye. Beyond his immeasurable influence on so many people, he was a true gentleman and generous soul. Good-bye Forry, thank you for giving me memories to cherish.
December 7th, 2008 at 5:28 am
Since we are on the topic of science fiction, I’m wondering who’s going to watch the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still?
December 7th, 2008 at 5:28 am
Met him once many years ago at a sci-fi con. I have a copy of a piece of his work in my files. Think I’ll pass it on to the world, although most of the folks here have probably already seen it.
R.I.P.
December 7th, 2008 at 5:29 am
Well, somehow the link got lost. I must not know how to paste ‘em here.
http://blog.plaitsolutions.com/2008/12/07/a-scifitm-icon-has-passed.aspx
You’ll have to do your own C&P. Sorry!
December 7th, 2008 at 5:30 am
Oh. It’s much easier than I thought!
December 7th, 2008 at 6:15 am
Darn! Never met him, but Forrest was a man amongst fen!
Happy voyaging!
December 7th, 2008 at 8:16 am
Phil – thanks! Movie was known here in UK as Quatermass and the Pit – same as the TV series on which it was based. (The 3rd in a trilogy).
Dunno why it was called 5 million miles to Earth as the aliens were from Mars !
December 7th, 2008 at 8:27 am
That’s sad.
I’ll never forgive him for promoting the term Sci-Fi though. *shiver*
December 7th, 2008 at 8:31 am
@ Francis:
“Five Million Years to Earth” — the title refers to the fact that the Martian spacecraft had landed on Earth in the distant path, carrying the psychic bad vibes of all those Martians…hopping! hopping! hopping!
December 7th, 2008 at 10:26 am
I recall back in 1979 or so that Starlog magazine published an article about Forry and the Ackermansion, and it basically said it was an open invitation. On my next motorcycle visit to L.A., a buddy and I rode to the address, rang the bell, and even though it was not actually open at the time (although it was midday), he invited us in and let us browse while he continued typing and working in the corner. I so wish I’d had my camera at the time.
December 7th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
What is the preferred form of the contraction of Science Fiction: Sci-Fi, sci-fi, SciFi, Sci Fi, scifi, other? Its ironic that I started to wonder about this a few days before the man who is supposed to have coined the phrase passes away. When I see SF I usually think Special Forces, not Science Fiction.
December 7th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
If you even the slightest interest in sci-fi and the work of Forry get to your video store or Amazon and procure a copy of The Sci-Fi Boys.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800191/
It is about the movie makers inspired by Forrest Ackerman. Includes extended interviews with Forrest. Coincidently only watched this for the first time a couple of weeks ago myself.
December 7th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
“sf” or “SF” is preferred.
“sci-fi” is is the drek you see on made-for-TV movies.
Woof
December 8th, 2008 at 12:53 am
kuhnigget Says: “@ Francis:’Five Million Years to Earth’ – best of the Quatermass series of movies produced in England round about 1967. Also known as ‘Quatermass and the Pit.’ One of the best science fiction movies ever made.”
Careful, them might be fightn’ words…
You might as well also take a gander at “This Island Earth.” FJA was author Raymond Jones’ agent, and the one who encouraged him to turn his short story “The Alien Machine” into a novella, and then take it (and its two sequels) and combine them into TIE.
It’s interesting that I dedicated “The Saucer Fleet” to Jonathan Harris, Robert Wise, Les Tremayne, Al Nozaki and Bebe Barron, all of whom were significantly involved in the productions covered in the book, and all of whom died while the book was being written. Now it’s already out of date and it’s not back from the printer yet.
- Jack
December 8th, 2008 at 5:15 am
@ Jack…
Careful who you write about next, eh?
(And TIE over FMYTE???? Harumph! Twonks disease upon your house!)
December 8th, 2008 at 11:43 am
I met Forry a few times at Westercons and ConDors. He was a real class act, funny, polite, a real gentleman. The world is poorer for his leaving it.
December 8th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Somehow this reminded me of the game Nine Billion Miles from Earth. Well worth playing for the cheese factor alone!