Forrest J. Ackerman Has Moved to Sto-Vo-Kor

December 13th, 2008 | by Sqotty |

Usually one of the groups I am in is pretty good about posting important events like this. Sadly, this one was missed. Forrest J. Ackerman passed away last week. This LA Times piece has a lot to say about the man who brought so much to the genres of science fiction, fantasy and horror, some of which I knew, some I didn’t.

Forry was 92. He lived a good long life, and will be greatly missed by Fandom. He was a legend in his own time, having brought so much to those who enjoy SF. Now it is time to remember him and his legacy.

Forry brought us many things. I had no idea he helped get Ray Bradbury started on his writing career. That is just one of the good things he did in his life.

The Ackermansion, until Forry was forced to downsize it to the Ackermini-mansion, which was an open house to people interested in seeing his massive collection of memoribalia; artifacts such as Lon Chaney’s cape from The Phantom of the Opera, and Bela Lugosi’s cape from Dracula.

Forry also brought us Vampirella and Famous Monsters of Filmland, which is what led me to my first science fiction convention in 1977.

A couple of years later I met Forry at another con. He was the one that suggested I string up some Vulcan ears as war trophies for my TOS Klingon outfit. I still sport a string of Vulcan ears on my belt when I do the Klingon schtick at cons.

He also introduced the U.S. to Perry Rhodan, the longest running Science Fiction series in print. Written and published in Germany, Forry, along with his wife Wendayne, worked with Ace to bring over a hundred issues to the U.S. before it was canceled by Ace. In Germany, the series is still in publication and approaching issue #2500.

Forry was the ultimate fanboy, and a heckuva guy. He’ll be missed, but he will never be forgotten by those who have encountered him or his works. He’ll always be remembered in Fandom, and he will no doubt inspire many more people to write, dream, and play.

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  1. One Response to “Forrest J. Ackerman Has Moved to Sto-Vo-Kor”

  2. By Walter H. Hunt on Dec 16, 2008 | Reply

    I met Forrest Ackerman once only, at a worldcon a few years ago. He was in a wheelchair, but was still pretty sharp. I shook his hand and thanked him for Perry Rhodan and for his years of service. He really appreciated it.

    He’ll be missed.

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