Forrest J. Ackerman, 1916 - 2008

[Forkboy]

Forrest J. Ackerman, known to many fans of science-fiction and horror, died Thursday night of heart failure. He was 92.

Ackerman, who knew Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr, Vincent Price and Bela Lugosi, was the former editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland and was the one who coined the term, "sci-fi." He was also a literary agent and he discovered his lifelong friend, Ray Bradbury.

He is considered to be the "Godfather" of science-fiction and horror fandom. Although slowed due to the effects of a stroke, Ackerman was still sharp and just as enthusiastic over the sci-fi and horror genres as a twelve-year-old. It was simply a case of a willing mind betrayed by a aging body.

"Uncle Forry" may be gone, but whenever you watch a science-fiction or horror movie, he will be there.

Whenever you attend a sci-fi or horror convention, he will be there.

Whenever you read a science-fiction or horror novel, he will be there.

http://robojapan.blogspot.com/2008/12/forrest-j-ackerman-1916-2008.html

Universal sadness. :(

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

1. Another one of the people

in whose company I felt unworthy. I remember meeting him at Comic-Con or some place, but all I could say was that as a kid I had stashed my copies of Famous Monsters under the floorboards, and as far as I knew they were still there today, ready to scare the living daylights out of the next curious person with a prybar.