Author: Mark Ellis
Date:   02-25-09 13:19

I just learned that award winning author Philip Jose Farmer passed away this morning.

He was the creator of such classics as The World of Tiers series, the Riverworld series and many, many stand-alone novels.

He pioneered the "fictional biography" sub-genre with his book Tarzan Alive and the follow-up Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life.

Phil also wrote the immortal Venus On The Half-Shell, under the pseudonym of Kurt Vonnegut's character, Kilgore Trout.

He was also the only writer who wrote a pair of "G"-rated sequels to an extremely adult (i.e., pornographic) novel.

Phil was a brilliant creator and a very good man.

He also sounded exactly like Gary Cooper.

Author: Beautiful Loser
Date:   02-25-09 13:30

RIP.

http://www.pjfarmer.com/sindex.htm

Author: dan z
Date:   02-25-09 15:09

Truly a sad day, may he RIP.

Author: Gravity Fades
Date:   02-25-09 17:39

Rats. Brilliant guy. He'll be missed.

Author: Glen T. Brock
Date:   02-25-09 17:45

Hello folks,

Although I never met him I did read some of his work, including RIDERS OF THE PURPLE WAGE, which is in Asimov's anthology THE HUGO WINNERS. Rather than to mourn his death I celebrate his life. Farmer broke some of the strongest totems in science fiction when his novel THE LOVERS was published. His 'pornographic' novels about Doc Savage and Tarzan are very rare collector's items. I remember a conversation I had with Joe Green, who mentioned him as a mentor, as he discussed his latest wip about the difference between sex and love in a science fiction setting. Sex is a chance encounter of pheromes but love is a sharing of points of view. Or something like that. It was at Knoxville and a pool had yet to turn red. Or something like that too.

Glen T. Brock

Author: Mark Ellis
Date:   02-25-09 18:25

He actually only wrote one pornographic about thinly disguised versions of Doc Savage and Tarzan...A Feast Unknown.

His other pornographic novel, Mark of The Beast, featured the late Forry Ackerman in a heroic role.