Walter His Own Self

I just learned that science fiction author Philip José Farmer died yesterday, February 25, 2009. He’s best known for the Riverworld series.

 

When I read his Hugo award-winning novella “Riders of the Purple Wage,” I was reminded of Joe R. Lansdale’s “Writer of the Purple Rage.” Yes, I know the obvious connection is to Zane Grey’s western novel “Riders of the Purple Sage,” which I have not read. Grey’s stories and novels are good, and I love westerns, but I’m a bigger fan of Lansdale’s “Mojo” fiction.

 

Wasn’t there a cable television film adaptation of “To Your Scattered Bodies Go” made in the 90s? I recall that it wasn’t bad, but left too many story threads unresolved. It begged for a sequel or sequels. Too bad no studio has taken the baton for this one. It could be done line the Dune films or even The Chronicles of Narnia.

 

Anyway, Farmer will be missed.