So long to Efjay the Ackermonster

Forrest J. Ackerman by Alan Light

Forrest J. Ackerman was the world’s foremost science fiction fan, as well as former editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland – I was a subscriber and avid reader from the first issue in 1958, and learned quite a bit about behind the scenes fantasy filmmaking. Forry inspired me to read and write science fiction and think way, way outside the box. His house, the Ackermansion (he was a dangerous punster), became a museum of science fiction and fantasy.

After a very rich and wonder-full life, Forry died a December 4. He was 92.

Wikipedia has a detailed entry about him, and Time Magazine has a nice obit.

(Photo by Alan Light)

Author: Jon Lebkowsky

Co-wrangler of Plutopia News Network, cohost Radio Free Plutopia. Podcaster, writer, dharma observer, enzyme. Former editor/publisher, FringeWare Review; associate editor at bOING bOING and Factsheet Five; writer at Mondo 2000, 21C, Wired, Whole Earth Review, Austin Chronicle; sub-editor at Millennium Whole Earth Catalog; blogger at Worldchanging. Digital culture maven, podcaster, writer, dharma observer, enzyme. On The WELL, Cohost of VC (virtual communities), Media, and Civil War (.ind) conferences.