According to Phil Nichols on facebook, Professor William F. Touponce has passed away.

Bill Touponce was one of the giants of Bradbury scholarship, and I'm saddened at his passing, even though I never met him. Still, I have a lasting memorial of his work on my bookshelf.

http://liberalarts.iupui.edu/directory/bio/wtouponc

Such a sad and terrible loss!

Here is Jon Eller's tribute to Professor Touponce, who passed away suddenly due to a heart attack on June 15, 2017.

https://www.facebook.com/bradb...169103674985/?type=3

My name is Talky Tina, and you better be nice to me.

The Wichita Lineman is off the line.

quote:

Originally posted by Doug Spaulding:
The Wichita Lineman is off the line.

Terribly sad. Watched his show as a child, loved his work, always wished him the best!

I loved Jon Eller's Tribute to Professor Touponce. He was very, very kind and talked with me on the phone several times answering question about his book, research, and opinions. I'm know I'm a bit late to the game, but I've been gone awhile. Sometimes people we barely know touch out lives in substantive ways. Professor Touponce was like that to me. I never met him, but we corresponded and he talked with me on the phone several times. May he rest in peace and Live Forever -- all at the same time.

Forgot to note Elvis' 40th anniversary yesterday.

Famed U.K. writer and Science Fiction Grandmaster Brian Aldiss passed away on August 19, 2017, one day after his 92nd birthday. He wrote such classic novels as NON-STOP and HOTHOUSE, as well as the short story "Supertoys Last All Summer Long", which became the basis for the Stephen Spielberg film, AI. I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Aldiss at the annual John Campbell Conference at the University of Kansas in 2004, and found him to be a kind, delightful gentleman. Further information about his career and passing can be found by clicking on the link below:

http://www.locusmag.com/News/2...an-aldiss-1925-2017/

So many great ones leaving! Of all the recent passings, I was perhaps most affected by that of actor Blake Herron, who played young Marty in the movie Shiloh. My mom and I watched this together and when she read the book she declared that the movie was better! (I have to concur that Shiloh, like Sounder, was a case of the movie greatly outdoing the book.) Mom raved about the precious doggie and called young Blake "angelic." Strange to say (as all things are indeed connected to Ray Bradbury) that Ray's friend Rod Steiger was in Shiloh. Also strange to say, I had pictured him when reading the book, but as the bad guy from whom Marty is determined to rescue Shiloh. In the movie Steiger actually played the kindly old doctor. RIP Blake!

Thanks Doug Spaulding for the link. I knew that Doc Pournelle had been ailing, but was startled and saddened to learn that he has left us. Am thankful though, to know he passed peacefully in his sleep. Have often read his blog and marvelled at the continued strength and clarity of his writing.

Met him at a conference in Seoul, Korea, in the '80s. He spoke about the importance of missile defense. He spoke with appreciation about the development he could see that had taken place in Korea since his war-time service with the U.S. Army there in the early '50s. He had with him a small hand-held personal computer that fascinated me in my pre-email, pre-websurfing days.

Asked him if he knew our friend Ray Bradbury and was glad to hear him say that he did. May they both RIP.

Walt

quote:

Originally posted by Doug Spaulding:
Blake Heron.

Are you sure that's spelled right? I saw it as "Blake Herron" and spelled it so in my posting above.

quote:

Originally posted by dandelion:
Are you sure that's spelled right? I saw it as "Blake Herron" and spelled it so in my posting above.

I just know what they tells me.