Pournelle passed away after a short illness, on September 8. He was 84.

The news didn’t make headlines, but it’s spreading quietly in the second tier of specialized web sites and science fiction fan sites. I admit I have somewhat mixed feelings about Pournelle for his relentless injection of militarism into science fiction. I remember enjoying him most when he teamed with another writer, like Larry Niven, who could balance his action-filled writing with some ideas. I think the last Pournelle solo novel I liked was his early “A Spaceship for the King”.

The Science Fiction Writers of America have a Memoriam page up.