The Science-Fiction news organ, Locus, is reporting that "Mr. Sci-Fi," Forrest J Ackerman is in Kaiser Hospital following either a stroke or a heart attack. First, they said he was — quote: "Not expected to recover." Now, they're saying he's "doing quite well." Obviously, at age 86, there is ample reason for his friends and fans to be saddened by the news. Forry was the man behind Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine — an odd compendium of monster photos, articles and pain-inducing puns that inspired a lot of 10-year-old kids to become filmmakers, authors and artists.
He was also a literary agent, a founding member of science-fiction fandom, an authority on science-fiction and horror, an author and many other things, including being the creator of the character, Vampirella and the curator of a house full of books and monster memorabilia.
Years ago, cartoonist Scott Shaw! launched a campaign to raise money for what still seems like a good cause. The idea was that when Forry died, he'd be stuffed, put on rollers and delivered to every comic book and science-fiction convention. There, a tape recorder would endlessly replay the eleven anecdotes he told at such affairs. Scott, if you're reading this…I think you ought to get the crusade going again. I'm in for twenty bucks.