Dammit.
Forrest J. Ackerman dies at 92.
Popular culture, geeky and otherwise, would not be what it is without the Ackermonster's gentle hand. If not for his groundbreaking fan clubs, his musem, his endless convention appearances, and most of all his magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland, the world might lack Star Wars, Close Encounters, White Zombie, Fahrenheit 451, "'Repent, Harlequin,' Said the Ticktock Man," and many other mainstays of geek and popular culture.
A generous, enthusiastic fan of weird and science-fiction media, Ackerman discovered (and sponsored) young Ray Bradbury, coined the term "sci-fi," made Boris Karloff, King Kong and Vincent Price into household names for thousands of readers (including George Lucas, Stephen Spielberg, Rob Zombie, Tim Burton and Yours Truly), and introduced those readers to everything from Kikaider to Harlan Ellison to A Clockwork Orange to Plan 9 From Outer Space. Much to Ellison's disgust, the term "sci-fi" has become the shorthand term for the most influential form of fiction in the last century. And throughout the near-century of his life, Ackerman not only witnessed the future he both feared and adored come to pass, he himself became an agent of its fruition.
Rest well, Ackermonster, and thank you for all you have inspired, created and shared with us.
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