R.I.P. Phillip Jose Farmer

Alareth · 25th February 2009, 07:32 PM

Philip Jose Farmer, author of the "Riverworld" series has passed away at 91.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/book...mer/index.html

Gord_in_Toronto · 25th February 2009, 07:38 PM

Like I needed to read this before I headed off to bed.

One of the greats for sure.

"To their scattered bodies go." One can hope there is an afterlife -- or at least a Riverworld.

Brainster · 25th February 2009, 09:00 PM

Here's hoping he ended up on a nice section of the river!

Darth Rotor · 25th February 2009, 09:04 PM

A Feast Unknown

Iconoclastic? Sure. But a good read when drinking.

lionking · 26th February 2009, 01:01 AM

I didn't realise how relatively old he was when he wrote the Riverworld series.

And don't forget "Venus in the Half Shell" by Kilgore Trout.

fuelair · 26th February 2009, 08:06 AM

Too bad - too cool.

dudalb · 26th February 2009, 01:49 PM

I always liked his brilliant short novel, "Riders Of The Purple Wage".

dudalb · 26th February 2009, 01:53 PM

I also enjoyed his "Biographies" "Tarzan Alive:A Definitive Biography of Lord Graystroke" and "Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life". Nowdays "biographies" of famous ficitional characters are a dime a dozen but when Farmer did it it was new and unusual.
I admit that I think he took the joke a little too far with the whole "Wold Newton" theory.
I

Gord_in_Toronto · 26th February 2009, 03:00 PM

A good bibliography at:
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/philip-jose-farmer/

I enjoyed noting his books and stories that I have read and enjoyed. And happy to see there are a few more that I did not know about and will have to look for.

dudalb · 26th February 2009, 03:26 PM

And Farmer certainly had a role in the current popular revival of the 1930's Pulp Hero characters,Doc Savage in particular.
At a Sci Fi con, I once hear Farmer express his opinion of the disasterous 1974 Doc Savage film. If you think Harlan Ellison can be rough on a movie. you ain't heard Farmer.

Skeptic Guy · 26th February 2009, 03:43 PM

'Riders of the Purple Wage' was a great one and so was Mr. Farmer.

dudalb · 26th February 2009, 04:52 PM

BTW avoid the 2003 Sci Fi Channel movie that is based on Farmer's Riverworld.
It is a good example of why Sci Fi Channels movies have such a deservedly bad reputation.

Subduction Zone · 26th February 2009, 05:01 PM

I always thoroughly enjoyed his novels. My only complaint is that he could start a very engrossing series or novel, but I found his endings a bit wanting. Much better than I could ever do but there always seemed to be something lacking.

fuelair · 26th February 2009, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by dudalb

And Farmer certainly had a role in the current popular revival of the 1930's Pulp Hero characters,Doc Savage in particular.
At a Sci Fi con, I once hear Farmer express his opinion of the disasterous 1974 Doc Savage film. If you think Harlan Ellison can be rough on a movie. you ain't heard Farmer.

Well, in all fairness, it was unmitigated feces.

jj · 26th February 2009, 07:35 PM

***sigh***

There were things about his work that bugged me, but I'm sad to see him go anyhow.

Roadtoad · 26th February 2009, 07:49 PM

Gonna miss him.

Damn. The legends just keep leaving us.

Gord_in_Toronto · 26th February 2009, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by Roadtoad

Gonna miss him.

Damn. The legends just keep leaving us.

I guess I am showing my age. :sniff:

At one time I actually met and talked to a lot of those guys. I just checked and see that Jack Vance is still with us -- though he is 93!

dann · 27th February 2009, 02:03 AM

Image of the Beast, sci-fi horror porn!
The World of Tiers series, science fantasy.

fuelair · 27th February 2009, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by Gord_in_Toronto

I guess I am showing my age. :sniff:

At one time I actually met and talked to a lot of those guys. I just checked and see that Jack Vance is still with us -- though he is 93!

Of all of them, it would not surprise me if Jack made it to 100 +. And if he's ok with that, I certainly am!!

Skeptic Guy · 27th February 2009, 08:39 AM

I'm going to be really depressed when Harlan Ellison leaves us.

fuelair · 27th February 2009, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by Skeptic Guy

I'm going to be really depressed when Harlan Ellison leaves us.

Harlan will write back to us from Hell - where he will have put down Satan and had all the lesser demons writhing from the power of his words!

Skeptic Guy · 27th February 2009, 09:06 AM

Agreed!!!!

Gord_in_Toronto · 27th February 2009, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by Skeptic Guy

I'm going to be really depressed when Harlan Ellison leaves us.

Any idea how he is doing?

I can't find anything current on the WWW.

Skeptic Guy · 27th February 2009, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by Gord_in_Toronto

Any idea how he is doing?

I can't find anything current on the WWW.

I don't know. Every few months a check into the 'Ellison Webderland' site, but it hasn't been updated since 2007.

However, I did see video of him from last year's WGA strike. He was on the picket lines bitching about the studios, as you would expect.

I think he's doing well but I don't see anything new from him. For quite some time, he or his publisher, has been repackaging his stuff in new books.

ETA: I forgot, last year a documentary came out on him called, "DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH".

Miss_Kitt · 27th February 2009, 02:16 PM

RIP Philip Farmer. A writer of amazing imagination and sometimes fabulous humor.

One by one, the heroes of my youth are shuffling into the dark. If only we had some writers of that caliber to replace them!

Sad now, Miss Kitt

Gord_in_Toronto · 27th February 2009, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by Skeptic Guy

I don't know. Every few months a check into the 'Ellison Webderland' site, but it hasn't been updated since 2007.

However, I did see video of him from last year's WGA strike. He was on the picket lines bitching about the studios, as you would expect.

I think he's doing well but I don't see anything new from him. For quite some time, he or his publisher, has been repackaging his stuff in new books.

ETA: I forgot, last year a documentary came out on him called, "DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH".

After a bit of effort -- all the dates on the site are a few years old -- I eventually ended up in the "Visitor Forums" of his web site.

Harlan himself posts there. His most recent post having been made yesterday.

blobru · 27th February 2009, 03:12 PM

"Riders of the Purple Wage": best story in the most famous sf anthology ever.
"The Lovers": (Ladybug, ladybug...) + The Wind Whales of Ishmael; "The Sliced-Crosswise-Only-on-a-Tuesday World", "Sail on! Sail on!" -- many good memories [of things that never happened] there.

Thank you, Mr. Farmer.

I Ratant · 27th February 2009, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by dudalb

BTW avoid the 2003 Sci Fi Channel movie that is based on Farmer's Riverworld.
It is a good example of why Sci Fi Channels movies have such a deservedly bad reputation.

.
That was (is) kinda both awful and silly.
The books, I loved those!
All the characters that ever lived for the cast!
A lot like Silverberg's "Gilgamesh in Hell" stories.

Alareth · 27th February 2009, 11:22 PM

11 Grand Masters remaining.

Jack Vance
Frederik Pohl
Ray Bradbury
Brian Aldiss
James Gunn
Harry Harrison
Anne McCaffrey
Ursula K. Le Guin
Harlan Ellison
Robert Silverberg
Michael Moorcock

Skeptic Guy · 28th February 2009, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by Gord_in_Toronto

After a bit of effort -- all the dates on the site are a few years old -- I eventually ended up in the "Visitor Forums" of his web site.

Harlan himself posts there. His most recent post having been made yesterday.

I never went to the forum. I'll have to do so.

Originally Posted by Alareth

11 Grand Masters remaining.

Jack Vance
Frederik Pohl
Ray Bradbury
Brian Aldiss
James Gunn
Harry Harrison
Anne McCaffrey
Ursula K. Le Guin
Harlan Ellison
Robert Silverberg
Michael Moorcock

That's about right.

Seanette · 4th March 2009, 10:31 PM

I like the Dayworld series myself. Riverworld was OK (I thought it got kinda draggy).

25th February 2009, 07:32 PM	#1
Alareth Expert Expertologist Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 6,671	R.I.P. Phillip Jose Farmer Philip Jose Farmer, author of the "Riverworld" series has passed away at 91. http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/book...mer/index.html

25th February 2009, 07:38 PM	#2
Gord_in_Toronto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 13,409	Like I needed to read this before I headed off to bed. One of the greats for sure. "To their scattered bodies go." One can hope there is an afterlife -- or at least a Riverworld.
	__________________ "Reality is what's left when you cease to believe." Philip K. Dick

25th February 2009, 09:00 PM	#3
Brainster Penultimate Amazing Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 10,409	Here's hoping he ended up on a nice section of the river!
	__________________ My new blog: Recent Reads. 1960s Comic Book Nostalgia Visit the Screw Loose Change blog.

25th February 2009, 09:04 PM	#4
Darth Rotor Salted Sith Cynic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rat cheer Posts: 34,247	A Feast Unknown Iconoclastic? Sure. But a good read when drinking.
	__________________ Helicopters don't so much fly as beat the air into submission. "Jesus wept, but did He laugh?"--F.H. Buckley____"There is one thing that was too great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth ... His mirth." --Chesterton__"If the barbarian in us is excised, so is our humanity."--D'rok__ "I only use my gun whenever kindness fails."-- Robert Earl Keen__"Sturgeon spares none.". -- The Marquis

26th February 2009, 01:01 AM	#5
lionking In the Peanut Gallery Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 29,649	I didn't realise how relatively old he was when he wrote the Riverworld series. And don't forget "Venus in the Half Shell" by Kilgore Trout.
	__________________ A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject. Sir Winston Churchill

26th February 2009, 08:06 AM	#6
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,881	Too bad - too cool.
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,881	__________________ There is no problem so great that it cannot be fixed by small explosives carefully placed. Wash this space! We fight for the Lady Babylon!!!

26th February 2009, 01:49 PM	#7
dudalb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 22,782	I always liked his brilliant short novel, "Riders Of The Purple Wage".

26th February 2009, 01:53 PM	#8
dudalb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 22,782	I also enjoyed his "Biographies" "Tarzan Alive:A Definitive Biography of Lord Graystroke" and "Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life". Nowdays "biographies" of famous ficitional characters are a dime a dozen but when Farmer did it it was new and unusual. I admit that I think he took the joke a little too far with the whole "Wold Newton" theory. I
	Last edited by dudalb; 26th February 2009 at 01:59 PM.

26th February 2009, 03:00 PM	#9
Gord_in_Toronto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 13,409	A good bibliography at: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/philip-jose-farmer/ I enjoyed noting his books and stories that I have read and enjoyed. And happy to see there are a few more that I did not know about and will have to look for.
	__________________ "Reality is what's left when you cease to believe." Philip K. Dick

26th February 2009, 03:26 PM	#10
dudalb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 22,782	And Farmer certainly had a role in the current popular revival of the 1930's Pulp Hero characters,Doc Savage in particular. At a Sci Fi con, I once hear Farmer express his opinion of the disasterous 1974 Doc Savage film. If you think Harlan Ellison can be rough on a movie. you ain't heard Farmer.

26th February 2009, 03:43 PM	#11
Skeptic Guy Raccoon Death Squad Leader Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Southeast of Disorder Posts: 6,996	'Riders of the Purple Wage' was a great one and so was Mr. Farmer.
	__________________ "Our history is in part a battle to the death of inadequate myths" - Carl Sagan Even Mother Teresa^WP doubted.

26th February 2009, 04:52 PM	#12
dudalb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 22,782	BTW avoid the 2003 Sci Fi Channel movie that is based on Farmer's Riverworld. It is a good example of why Sci Fi Channels movies have such a deservedly bad reputation.

26th February 2009, 05:01 PM	#13
Subduction Zone Muse Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 960	I always thoroughly enjoyed his novels. My only complaint is that he could start a very engrossing series or novel, but I found his endings a bit wanting. Much better than I could ever do but there always seemed to be something lacking.
Subduction Zone Muse Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 960

26th February 2009, 06:51 PM	#14
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,881	Originally Posted by dudalb And Farmer certainly had a role in the current popular revival of the 1930's Pulp Hero characters,Doc Savage in particular. At a Sci Fi con, I once hear Farmer express his opinion of the disasterous 1974 Doc Savage film. If you think Harlan Ellison can be rough on a movie. you ain't heard Farmer. Well, in all fairness, it was unmitigated feces.
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,881	__________________ There is no problem so great that it cannot be fixed by small explosives carefully placed. Wash this space! We fight for the Lady Babylon!!!

26th February 2009, 07:35 PM	#15
jj grumpy old skeptic Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Deep in the rain Posts: 18,480	*sigh* There were things about his work that bugged me, but I'm sad to see him go anyhow.
	__________________ The Power to Quit

26th February 2009, 07:49 PM	#16
Roadtoad Bufo Caminus Inedibilis Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Gone. Posts: 15,738	Gonna miss him. Damn. The legends just keep leaving us.

26th February 2009, 08:00 PM	#17
Gord_in_Toronto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 13,409	Originally Posted by Roadtoad Gonna miss him. Damn. The legends just keep leaving us. I guess I am showing my age. :sniff: At one time I actually met and talked to a lot of those guys. I just checked and see that Jack Vance is still with us -- though he is 93!
	__________________ "Reality is what's left when you cease to believe." Philip K. Dick

27th February 2009, 02:03 AM	#18
dann Master Poster Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Frederiksberg (Copenhagen) Posts: 2,921	Image of the Beast, sci-fi horror porn! The World of Tiers series, science fantasy.
	__________________ /dann "Stupidity renders itself invisible by assuming very large proportions. Completely unreasonable claims are irrefutable. Ni-en-leh pointed out that a philosopher might get into trouble by claiming that two times two makes five, but he does not risk much by claiming that two times two makes shoe polish." B. Brecht "The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for their real happiness. The demand to give up the illusion about its condition is the demand to give up a condition which needs illusions." K. Marx

27th February 2009, 08:00 AM	#19
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,881	Originally Posted by Gord_in_Toronto I guess I am showing my age. :sniff: At one time I actually met and talked to a lot of those guys. I just checked and see that Jack Vance is still with us -- though he is 93! Of all of them, it would not surprise me if Jack made it to 100 +. And if he's ok with that, I certainly am!!
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,881	__________________ There is no problem so great that it cannot be fixed by small explosives carefully placed. Wash this space! We fight for the Lady Babylon!!!

27th February 2009, 08:39 AM	#20
Skeptic Guy Raccoon Death Squad Leader Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Southeast of Disorder Posts: 6,996	I'm going to be really depressed when Harlan Ellison leaves us.
	__________________ "Our history is in part a battle to the death of inadequate myths" - Carl Sagan Even Mother Teresa^WP doubted.

27th February 2009, 08:56 AM	#21
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,881	Originally Posted by Skeptic Guy I'm going to be really depressed when Harlan Ellison leaves us. Harlan will write back to us from Hell - where he will have put down Satan and had all the lesser demons writhing from the power of his words!
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,881	__________________ There is no problem so great that it cannot be fixed by small explosives carefully placed. Wash this space! We fight for the Lady Babylon!!!

27th February 2009, 09:06 AM	#22
Skeptic Guy Raccoon Death Squad Leader Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Southeast of Disorder Posts: 6,996	Agreed!!!!
	__________________ "Our history is in part a battle to the death of inadequate myths" - Carl Sagan Even Mother Teresa^WP doubted.

27th February 2009, 09:38 AM	#23
Gord_in_Toronto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 13,409	Originally Posted by Skeptic Guy I'm going to be really depressed when Harlan Ellison leaves us. Any idea how he is doing? I can't find anything current on the WWW.
	__________________ "Reality is what's left when you cease to believe." Philip K. Dick

27th February 2009, 01:43 PM	#24
Skeptic Guy Raccoon Death Squad Leader Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Southeast of Disorder Posts: 6,996	Originally Posted by Gord_in_Toronto Any idea how he is doing? I can't find anything current on the WWW. I don't know. Every few months a check into the 'Ellison Webderland' site, but it hasn't been updated since 2007. However, I did see video of him from last year's WGA strike. He was on the picket lines bitching about the studios, as you would expect. I think he's doing well but I don't see anything new from him. For quite some time, he or his publisher, has been repackaging his stuff in new books. ETA: I forgot, last year a documentary came out on him called, "DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH".
	__________________ "Our history is in part a battle to the death of inadequate myths" - Carl Sagan Even Mother Teresa^WP doubted. Last edited by Skeptic Guy; 27th February 2009 at 01:47 PM.

27th February 2009, 02:16 PM	#25
Miss_Kitt Zombie Horse of Homeopathy Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lesser Seattle Posts: 3,617	RIP Philip Farmer. A writer of amazing imagination and sometimes fabulous humor. One by one, the heroes of my youth are shuffling into the dark. If only we had some writers of that caliber to replace them! Sad now, Miss Kitt
	__________________ It's much better to live an honest life than a delusional one -- desertgal Magic thinking is a lead personal floatation device. It looks really reassuring, but it will drag you down--whatthebutlersaw

27th February 2009, 02:29 PM	#26
Gord_in_Toronto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 13,409	Originally Posted by Skeptic Guy I don't know. Every few months a check into the 'Ellison Webderland' site, but it hasn't been updated since 2007. However, I did see video of him from last year's WGA strike. He was on the picket lines bitching about the studios, as you would expect. I think he's doing well but I don't see anything new from him. For quite some time, he or his publisher, has been repackaging his stuff in new books. ETA: I forgot, last year a documentary came out on him called, "DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH". After a bit of effort -- all the dates on the site are a few years old -- I eventually ended up in the "Visitor Forums" of his web site. Harlan himself posts there. His most recent post having been made yesterday.
	__________________ "Reality is what's left when you cease to believe." Philip K. Dick

27th February 2009, 03:12 PM	#27
blobru Philosopher Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 6,587	"Riders of the Purple Wage": best story in the most famous sf anthology ever. "The Lovers": (Ladybug, ladybug...) + The Wind Whales of Ishmael; "The Sliced-Crosswise-Only-on-a-Tuesday World", "Sail on! Sail on!" -- many good memories [of things that never happened] there. Thank you, Mr. Farmer.
blobru Philosopher Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 6,587	__________________ "Say to them, 'I am Nobody!'" -- Ulysses to the Cyclops "Never mind. I can't read." -- Hokulele to the Easter Bunny

27th February 2009, 05:17 PM	#28
I Ratant Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 15,305	Originally Posted by dudalb BTW avoid the 2003 Sci Fi Channel movie that is based on Farmer's Riverworld. It is a good example of why Sci Fi Channels movies have such a deservedly bad reputation. . That was (is) kinda both awful and silly. The books, I loved those! All the characters that ever lived for the cast! A lot like Silverberg's "Gilgamesh in Hell" stories.

27th February 2009, 11:22 PM	#29
Alareth Expert Expertologist Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 6,671	11 Grand Masters remaining. Jack Vance Frederik Pohl Ray Bradbury Brian Aldiss James Gunn Harry Harrison Anne McCaffrey Ursula K. Le Guin Harlan Ellison Robert Silverberg Michael Moorcock
	__________________ Pixelated Reality \| Alareth Does Art! Light travels faster than sound, which is why some people appear bright, until you hear them speak

28th February 2009, 07:52 AM	#30
Skeptic Guy Raccoon Death Squad Leader Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Southeast of Disorder Posts: 6,996	Originally Posted by Gord_in_Toronto After a bit of effort -- all the dates on the site are a few years old -- I eventually ended up in the "Visitor Forums" of his web site. Harlan himself posts there. His most recent post having been made yesterday. I never went to the forum. I'll have to do so. Originally Posted by Alareth 11 Grand Masters remaining. Jack Vance Frederik Pohl Ray Bradbury Brian Aldiss James Gunn Harry Harrison Anne McCaffrey Ursula K. Le Guin Harlan Ellison Robert Silverberg Michael Moorcock That's about right.
	__________________ "Our history is in part a battle to the death of inadequate myths" - Carl Sagan Even Mother Teresa^WP doubted.

4th March 2009, 10:31 PM	#31
Seanette Muse Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 567	I like the Dayworld series myself. Riverworld was OK (I thought it got kinda draggy).