Larry niven y jerry pournelle biography
Entry updated 16 December 2024. Tagged: Author.
(1933-2017) US author with PhDs from the University of Pedagogue in psychology (1960) and state science (1964); he was exploited for fifteen years in excellence US space programme, working weekly both government and private compacts, and at one time was a political campaign manager.
Earlier entering sf, Pournelle wrote brutal technical nonfiction and some fable, occasionally using pseudonyms and Deal with Names. His first books were a nonfiction text, The Appreciation of Technology (1970) with Stefan T Possony, and two non-sf novels as by Wade Curtis: Red Heroin (1969; 1985 bit Pournelle) and Red Dragon (1971; 1985 as Pournelle); he besides used the Curtis name lay out a few stories in Analogue, though his first sf tale, "Peace with Honor" (May 1971 Analog), appeared under his shut up shop name.
This tale, the first narration published under his own title, also marks the initiation observe Pournelle's most extended enterprise, birth CoDominium sequence, earlier parts innumerable which are named after their chief military protagonist, a foxy, honourable mercenary and military maven named Falkenberg whose adventures initiate during a period of asininity and venality on the back into a corner of blinkered, Earth-bound civilians (civilians are not infrequently so represented in Pournelle's work), a disgust that roughly coincides with magnanimity merging of American and Country interests in the conquering endorse space (see Space Flight).
Falkenberg conspires with the CoDominium brave force to maintain a soul in person bodily presence in those worlds heretofore colonized by mankind in treason first outward thrust towards Astronomic Empire (see also Colonization swallow Other Worlds). Falkenberg appears contain West of Honor (1976) stand for The Mercenary (fixup 1977), say publicly latter title reworking "Peace deal with Honor" and other stories, both volumes being assembled as Future History (omni 1980), then fellow worker added material as Falkenberg's Legion (omni 1990); and in Prince of Mercenaries (fixup 1989), Go Tell the Spartans (1991) abstruse Prince of Sparta (1993), both with S M Stirling, gross three, plus Falkenberg's Legion, turn out assembled as The Prince (omni 2002).
Set considerably later in high-mindedness CoDominium world – after position rise and fall of elegant first Empire of Man, peter out interregnum or Long Night, pole the birth of the Alternate Empire, a full-blown Galactic Command with all the trappings – A Spaceship for the King (December 1971-February 1972 Analog; 1973; exp vt King David's Spaceship1981) also features a tough combatant genius, whose resemblance to Falkenberg is obviously of thematic equivalent, for Pournelle argues implicitly breach the sequence that civilization buttonhole be sustained only through a-one hierarchical structuring of society which – perhaps rather magically – manages to avoid bureaucratic pathology, and through the maintenance exert a pull on such military virtues as humiliation and loyalty.
The Laurie Jo Hansen sequence – comprising High Justice (coll of linked mythos 1977) and Exiles to Glory (September-October Galaxy; 1978), both tiered as Exile – And Glory (omni 2008) – fits glory model, though the implications varying more pessimistic in this case.
These arguments are most clearly come to a decision view in the series' acme, The Mote in God's Eye (1974) with Larry Niven, give back set in the Second Imperium period.
The fascinating Aliens delineated in that novel of Chief Contact (and its aftermath) reproduce his collaborator's conceptual ingenuity trade in clearly as the human Monarchy reflects Pournelle's sustained fictional intention for that kind of concept to the problems of acceptable government. The sequel to The Mote in God's Eye, The Gripping Hand (1993; vt The Moat Around Murcheson's Eye1993), lacks the thrusting innovativeness of grandeur first volume.
Pournelle also offend, usually with John F Carr (not always credited), the There Will Be War sequence disregard military anthologies, beginning with There Will Be War (anth 1983) and pausing for many length of existence at There Will Be Hostilities, Vol IX: After Armageddon (anth 1990), until the final album from a different Small Tangible publisher: There Will Be War: Volume X (anth 2015) eradicate Vox Day.
The more contemporary War World sequence of Joint World anthologies – beginning confident War World, Volume 1: Position Burning Eye (anth 1988) have a crush on John F Carr and Roland Green and ending with War World, Volume 8: Invasion (anth 1994) – carries the CoDominium concept into broader waters.
After The Mote in God's Eye, Pournelle collaborated with Niven on very many further novels, most of them singletons and most extremely well-off in the marketplace.
They involve Inferno (August-October 1975 Galaxy; exp 1976), which reworks Dante Alighieri's Inferno as melodrama, explaining presentiment as part of a consignment in theological engineering, and implicative anti-Nuclear Energy propagandists to boundless torture in Hell; Kurt Author Jr is consigned to nifty fiery tomb in the Go through the roof of Heretics, perhaps for jocose about Religion but with hints that the collaborators (like class protagonist, another sf author) envied his success.
The sequel, Escape from Hell (2009) with Niven, is weakly uplifting. Lucifer's Hammer (1977) is a long, dynamic Disaster novel about a Comet's impact on Earth, which sophisticatedly marries sf techniques with say publicly bestseller idiom familiar from righteousness many disaster films of greatness early 1970s.
In Oath nigh on Fealty (1981), which rewrites CoDominium feudalism in mundane (indeed, suburbanized) terms, an arcology in Los Angeles (see California; Keep) – ignoring governmental attempts to encumbrance – defends its wealthy people from Ecology freaks and terrorists. Footfall (1985), about an AlienInvasion of Earth – including wonderful warm plea for space-based Weapons systems, as devastatingly employed impervious to the intruders – turns get trapped in Recursive SF through its recruitment of a group of of one`s own accord identifiable sf writers to attentiveness solutions to the threat dismiss space.
The Heorot sequence – comprising The Legacy of Heorot (1987), with Niven and Steven Barnes and The Dragons consume Heorot (1995 UK vt Beowulf's Children1995), also with Niven most recent Barnes – replays a unattached version of the Beowulf myth on a colony planet, ethics natives of the planet for one person forced to play the Monsters; as often in Pournelle tales, even in collaboration, a disorderly military officer is at loftiness centre of the action.
Interpretation Near FutureFallen Angels (1991), respect Niven and Michael Flynn, complexion yet another government betrayal, that time of its own astronauts, and once again treats environmentalists concerned with Climate Change monkey Villains while playing with recursive elements: the resistance to distinction anti-technology US regime is wide centred on Fandom.
Political subtexts – always evident in both main collaborators' solo work – tend in their joint efforts to surface rather more over, to the discomfort of many readers, especially those unaccustomed hither the restricted range of civil discourse utterable in America impecunious arousing contumely (though within delay narrow range its expression shambles singularly open); other readers leave the books refreshingly "robust".
Solo unprivileged in the absence of Niven, most of Pournelle's work cry devoted to the CoDominium as well focuses on issues of Vanguard War and the decorums prep added to tactics of waging war.
Depiction Janissaries sequence – Janissaries (1979), Janissaries: Clan and Crown (1982) with Roland J Green topmost Janissaries 3: Storms of Victory (1987), again with Green – returns to explicit warfare, unfolding a mercenary leader's efforts join forces with unify the planet to which he and his soldiers possess been transplanted.
The short Jupiter sequence – comprising Higher Education (February-May 1996 Analog; 1996) slaughter Charles Sheffield and Starswarm (1998), initially confronts settlers with tension of Ecology on Jupiter, dominant is relatively calm.
Pournelle was authority first recipient of the Gents W Campbell Award for Finest New Writer in 1973, ray very rapidly established himself brand a dominant creator of nobleness politically conservative-libertarian Hard-SF tale.
Culminate Military SF significantly shaped avoid subgenre as well; it would be unfair to blame him for the excesses of trying of his imitators, though tiara contempt for the stereotyped Villains in his work – liberals and Ecology activists prominent amongst them – was perhaps addition suitable to traditional Space Work than to nuanced Politics.
Espousal many decades he unswervingly advocated the benefits of Invention most recent vigorously applied Technology in nobility making of a better sphere, an advocacy that shapes flush his lightest works of novel. His nonfiction, too, is stiff for its engaging clarity, well-fitting constant presentation of political agendas, and its eagerness to express knowledge; on a more detailed though always popular level, do something was particularly known for crown long-running "Chaos Manor" columns symbolic home computer systems in Byte from June 1980 (initially considerably "The User's Column") until description printed magazine ceased in 1998, and thereafter online.
A sense gradient deep cultural pessimism about left over willingness to benefit from medal strengths, though alleviated by absolute avowals of Libertarian hopefulness, pervades and – for many readers – humanizes his work.
[JC]
see also:Cities; Communications; Destinies; Economics; Eschatology; Galaxy Science Fiction; Gamebook; Veranda gallery and Demons; Mythology; Outer Planets; Overpopulation; Panspermia; Rays; Robert First-class Heinlein Award; Science Fiction mount Fantasy Writers of America; Seiun Award; Social Darwinism; Spaceships; Stars; Tuckerisms; Utopias.
Jerry Eugene Pournelle
born City, Louisiana: 7 August 1933
died Shop City, California: 8 September 2017
works
series
CoDominium
For CoDominiumShared-World anthologies, see works chimp editor below.
CoDominium: Falkenberg
- West of Honor (Toronto, Ontario: Laser Books, 1976) [CoDominium: Falkenberg: pb/Kelly Freas]
- The Mercenary (New York: Pocket Books, 1977) [CoDominium: Falkenberg: pb/Edward Soyka]
- Future History (London: Orbit, 1980) [omni of the above two: CoDominium: Falkenberg: pb/Peter Jones]
- Falkenberg's Legion (New York: Baen Books, 1990) [omni of the above two clang added material: CoDominium: Falkenberg: pb/Keith Parkinson]
- Prince of Mercenaries (New York: Baen Books, 1989) [CoDominium: Falkenberg: pb/Keith Parkinson]
- Go Tell the Spartans (New York: Baen Books, 1991) with S M Stirling [CoDominium: Falkenberg: pb/Keith Parkinson]
- Prince of Sparta (New York: Baen Books, 1993) with S M Stirling [CoDominium: Falkenberg: pb/Stephen Hickman]
- The Prince (New York: Baen Books, 2002) [omni of the above duo plus Falkenberg's Legion: CoDominium: Falkenberg: hb/Patrick Turner]
CoDominium: Laurie Jo Hansen
- High Justice (New York: Pocket Books, 1977) [coll of linked stories: CoDominium: Laurie Jo Hansen: pb/Ed Soyka]
- Exiles to Glory (New York: Ace Books, 1978) [CoDominium: Laurie Jo Hansen: pb/Boris Vallejo]
- Exile – And Glory (New York: Baen Books, 2008) [omni watch the above two: CoDominium: Laurie Jo Hansen: hb/Clyde Caldwell]
CoDominium: Moties
Inferno
Janissaries
Heorot
Jupiter
Mana: Burning City
individual titles
- Escape from class Planet of the Apes (New York: Award Books, 1974), [tie to the film: Escape let alone the Planet of the Apes: pb/uncredited]
- Birth of Fire (Toronto, Ontario: Laser Books, 1976) [pb/Kelly Freas]
- Lucifer's Hammer (New York: Playboy Organization, 1977) with Larry Niven [hb/Anthony Russo]
- Oath of Fealty (Huntington Rural area, Michigan: Phantasia Books, 1981) obey Larry Niven [hb/Paul Lehr]
- Footfall (New York: Ballantine Books/Del Rey, 1985) with Larry Niven [hb/Michael Whelan]
- Fallen Angels (New York: Baen Books, 1991) with Michael Flynn plus Larry Niven [pb/Stephen Hickman]
- The Apprentice Hour (New York: Baen Books, 1991) with S M Stirling [tie to the Tales slate Known Space universe: see Larry Niven: early version appeared remark Man-Kzin Wars II (anth 1989) edited by Larry Niven elephant hide al: pb/Larry Elmore]
collections
nonfiction (selected)
works despite the fact that editor
series
CoDominium
CoDominium: There Will Be War
Co-editor status not clear with the whole number title up to 1990; Trick F Carr's involvement is likely.
- There Will Be War (New York: Tor, 1983) with John Despot Carr [anth: CoDominium: There Decision Be War: pb/]
- There Will Produce War, Vol II: Men living example War (New York: Tor, 1984) [anth: CoDominium: There Will Suitably War: pb/Alan Gutierrez]
- Blood and Iron (New York: Tor, 1984) friendliness John F Carr [anth: CoDominium: There Will Be War: pb/Angus McKie]
- Day of the Tyrant (New York: Tor, 1985) [anth: CoDominium: There Will Be War: pb/Bob Layzell]
- Warrior (New York: Tor, 1986) [anth: CoDominium: There Will Make ends meet War: pb/Bob Layzell]
- Guns of Darkness (New York: Tor, 1987) [anth: CoDominium: There Will Be War: pb/Colin Hay]
- Call to Battle! (New York: Tor, 1988) with Bathroom F Carr [anth: CoDominium: Respecting Will Be War: pb/Les Edwards]
- Armageddon! (New York: Tor, 1989) accord with John F Carr [anth: CoDominium: There Will Be War: pb/Les Edwards]
- After Armageddon (New York: Attain, 1990) with John F Carr [anth: CoDominium: There Will Nurture War: pb/Tony Roberts]
- There Will Enter War: Volume X (Kouvola, Finland: Castalia House, 2015) with Vox Day [anth: CoDominium: There Prerogative Be War: pb/Lars Braad Andersen]
CoDominium: War World
Co-editor status not sunlit with each title; John Oppressor Carr's involvement throughout is likely.
- War World, Volume 1: The Devoted Eye (New York: Baen Books, 1988) with John F Carr and Roland Green [anth: tie: CoDominium: War World: pb/Keith Parkinson]
- War World, Volume 2: Death's Sense Rebellion (New York: Baen Books, 1990) with John F Carr and Roland Green [anth: tie: CoDominium: War World: pb/Keith Parkinson]
- War World, Volume 3: Sauron Dominion (New York: Baen Books, 1991) with John F Carr [anth: tie: CoDominium: War World: pb/Keith Parkinson]
- War World, Volume 4: Codominium: Revolt on War World (New York: Baen Books, 1992) be on a par with John F Carr [anth: tie: CoDominium: War World: pb/Keith Parkinson]
- War World: Blood Feuds (New York: Baen Books, 1993) [tie: anth/novel: CoDominium: War World: pb/Gary Ruddell]
- War World: Blood Vengeance (New York: Baen Books, 1994) [tie: anth/novel: CoDominium: War World: pb/Gary Ruddell]
- War World, Volume 8: Invasion (New York: Baen Books, 1994) [anth: tie: CoDominium: War World: pb/Gary Ruddell]
Endless Frontier
Co-editor status not great with each title; John Czar Carr's involvement is likely.
Far Frontiers
- Far Frontiers (New York: Baen Books, 1985) with James Baen [anth: Far Frontiers: pb/Michael Carroll]
- Far Boundaries, Volume II/Summer 1985 (New York: Baen Books, 1985) with Crook Baen [anth: Far Frontiers: pb/Michael Carroll]
- Far Frontiers, Volume III/Fall 1985 (New York: Baen Books, 1985) with James Baen [anth: Far Frontiers: pb/Michael Carroll]
- Far Frontiers, Quantity IV/Winter 1985 (New York: Baen Books, 1986) with James Baen [anth: Far Frontiers: pb/David Egge]
- Far Frontiers, Volume V/Spring 1986 (New York: Baen Books, 1986) come to get James Baen [anth: Far Frontiers: pb/David Egge]
- Far Frontiers, Volume VI/Fall 1986 (New York: Baen Books, 1986) with James Baen [anth: Far Frontiers: pb/Pat Ortega]
- Far Boundaries, Volume VII/Winter 1986 (New York: Baen Books, 1986) with Outlaw Baen [anth: Far Frontiers: pb/A C Farley]
Imperial Stars
individual titles
links
previous versions of this entry