One of my favourite science fiction authors and political commentators. He will be remembered not least for his Iron Law of bureaucracy:

...in any bureaucratic organization there will be two kinds of people: those who work to further the actual goals of the organization, and those who work for the organization itself. Examples in education would be teachers who work and sacrifice to teach children, vs. union representatives who work to protect any teacher including the most incompetent. The Iron Law states that in all cases, the second type of person will always gain control of the organization, and will always write the rules under which the organization functions.

Great collaborations with Larry Niven, and the first author to write a novel on a computer!

https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/9/1...iction-author-writing-computers-obituary

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Pournelle

Jerry's website:

https://www.jerrypournelle.com/chaosmanor/

Last edited by RedToo; 09/11/17 09:20 AM. Reason: typo.

My 'Waiting for Clod' thread: http://tinyurl.com/bqxc9ee

Always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.
Elie Wiesel. Romanian born Jewish writer, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate, Holocaust survivor. 1928 - 2016.

Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts. C.S. Lewis, 1898 - 1963.