Gene Wolfe, one of the greatest writers of SF and Fantasy, died April 14 at the age of 87. His first SF novel (category in fact a bit problematic), The Fifth Head of Cerberus, appeared in 1972. He may be best remembered for the series, The Book of the New Sun
Category Archives: Obituary
Lawrence “Larry” Roberts, R.I.P.
As the year closes, we lose Larry Roberts, 81, to a heart attack.
As a manager of the US Defense Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency, ARPA, Roberts oversaw the development of Arpanet, the major forerunner to the World Wide Web. On October 29, 1969, the first message (“Login,” but only “lo” got through) went from UCLA to Stanford. Roberts later went on to work in the burgeoning computer industry.
Memorial Review: Don’t Look Now (1973)
Nicholas Roeg has passed away at the age of 90.
The influential British filmmaker first made his name as a cinematographer, working on such classics as Dr. Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, and Fahrenheit 451. He got his directorial career off to a rocking start with the controversial Performance (1970) starring Mick Jagger. Roeg was no stranger to genre; his films include The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) and The Witches (1990).1 Many people remember him for the movie we’re reviewing as a memorial, Don’t Look Now (1973). The cryptic cult classic combines Hitchcockian style and psychological horror with twists supernatural (or science-fictional, I suppose, depending on your interpretation of the film).
Rest in Peace.
It’s questionable whether the characters in this film can.
William Goldman, R.I.P.
Multi-talented author and screenwriter William Goldman has died at the age of 87, of colon cancer and pneumonia. He had many successes, but he will be best remembered by Bureau-crats and other nerds as the author of The Princess Bride.
Stan Lee, RIP
R.I.P. Steve Ditko, age 90
Steve Ditko has passed away at age 90. He will always be deservedly known for his contributions to the creation of Spider-Man and Dr. Strange above all else, but I also have a soft spot for Speedball, Squirrel Girl, the Question, and so many more.
Harlan Ellison, R.I.P.
Harlan Ellison, the outspoken, prolific author of stories, novels, screenplays, TV, and comics, died in his sleep this morning at the age of 84. Ellison wrote many a beloved and thought-provoking SF story including Trek‘s “The City on the Edge of Forever,” and won, in the words of Rick Green, “every coveted award– except Miss Congeniality.” Stephen King opined today that “If there’s an afterlife, Harlan is already kicking ass and taking down names.” John Scalzi has offered his own perspective on the irascible Mr. Ellison.
SF will miss him.
Stephen Hawking dead at 76
The world’s best-known theoretical physicist, Stephen Hawking, died this morning at the age of 76. He will be remembered for his contributions to science, and his affable appearances as himself in various media.
“I’m not afraid of death,” he once said, “but I’m in no hurry to die. I have so much I want to do first.”
Rest in Peace.
Ursula K. Le Guin has passed away at age 88
One great masters of genre fiction has passed away today. It’s difficult to put into words just how influential and powerful a voice she was in the genre.
Haruo “Godzilla” Nakajima dies at 88
Haruo Nakajima, the stunt actor who stomped to fame as the original Godzilla, has died from pneumonia at 88. A kind of low-tech predecessor to Anthony Serkis, Nakajima played the Monster King in 12 movies, and also performed a number of other famous Japanese feature creatures.