Gharlane of Eddore

David G. Potter (April 3, 1947 – June 13, 2001) was a computer technician at California State University, Sacramento who was widely known for acerbic, scathingly humorous and knowledgeable postings to Usenet science fiction newsgroups. He assumed the name of Gharlane of Eddore, a character from the Lensman series, as a Usenet pseudonym[1][2] for Usenet postings and carefully guarded his true identity for many years before his death. He is best known for authoring the Lensman FAQ and voluminous Usenet postings.[3] He died on June 13, 2001[2][4] following a heart attack.[5][6]

Reputation

The Register said "no one will doubt that he was not backward in coming forward, the fact remains that he was a witty, well-read, traveled and caring man. In short, a good human being."[2] David Langford wrote in Ansible that he was a "knowledgeable and opinionated... fan who posted copiously on Usenet as Gharlane of Eddore."[7]

He posted as Gharlane from gharlane@nextnet.csus.edu and gharlane@ccshp1.ccs.csus.edu. Up until 1992 he often posted as "potter@csusac.ecs.csus.edu (Carl Kolchak)". Gharlane made his first appearance Sep 25 1992 in a posting to rec.arts.sf.written about the movie Sneakers.[8] On May 7, 1993, he announced his Lensman FAQ[9] in rec.arts.sf.written.

His pseudonyms in print publications included E. K. Grant and Gordon F. Shumway (the real name of the TV series character ALF).

Fantasy author Tom Holt has dedicated two books to him. Alexander at the World's End (1999) is dedicated to "Gharlane My Imaginary Friend." Falling Sideways (2002) is dedicated "In memory of David Grant Potter (1947-2001) --And thanks for all the fish."

In 2001, after Gharlane's death, Holt wrote: "A request for information usually produced an immediate and definitive answer. As for his opinions, he fired them like cannon-shells; they were incendiary, capable of piercing the toughest armor, and they scattered their shrapnel right across the group, often starting flames that would flicker on for weeks after the original salvo. A point-blank broadside from the Eddorian was devastating. Return fire seemed to glance harmlessly off him, or else it overshot the mark and sailed harmlessly into the distance. [...] he lives on in the minds he opened, the people who came to fight and stayed to debate, listen and learn. Correspondences that started with anger and outrage from some victim of Eddorian grapeshot mellowed into long, fruitful correspondence. Hundreds of people swapped mails with him, part of a network of friendship that reached right across the world. The centre of that network is silent now, we can no longer draw from it the information, wisdom and joy we've become accustomed to. But Gharlane survives in each member of that network as a perspective, a way of seeing things, an ability to notice things of value that previously were overlooked or not recognised for what they are. We are no longer one, but at least we're many."[10]

Personal life

Potter earned a B.A. in English Literature and Mathematics from Immaculate Heart College of Los Angeles; and another in Linguistics from the State University of New York at Buffalo, New York; and a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from California State University, Sacramento. Potter continued to take graduate courses until his death.

Potter was employed by CSU Sacramento as a computer technician for many years prior to his death. Upon his death he was reportedly still driving the 1966 Volkswagen he got for his high school graduation.[11]

Bibliography
  • "The Man Who Hated Cadillacs" (as by E.K. Grant) in Ashley, Michael (1999). The Mammoth Book of Awesome Comic Fantasy. Carroll & Graf. ISBN 978-0-7867-0694-5. OCLC 42886978.
  • "The Swords and the Stones" in Ashley, Michael (2001). The Mammoth Book of Comic Fantasy II. Carroll & Graf. ISBN 978-0-7867-0867-3. OCLC 46954508.
  • "Phantom Helicopters and UFOs" (as by Gordon F. Shumway) in INFO Journal, issue 58, p. 20.

Notable Usenet postings

References
  1. "The number of the beast". The Heinlein Society. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  2. "Reader Poll: the Gharlane results". The Register. June 25, 2001. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  3. "Google Groups search results for :- author:gharlane@ccshp1.ccs.csus.edu". Google Groups. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  4. "Gharlane of Eddore is dead. But who the hell was the Usenet hero?". The Register. June 20, 2001. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  5. Steven H. Silver. "In Memoriam: 2001". The SF Site. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  6. Porter, Andrew I. (October 2001). "Other obituaries", Science Fiction Chronicle 22 (10): 48.
  7. Dave Langford (July 2001). "Ansible 168". Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  8. Gharlane of Eddore (September 25, 1992). "Re: Sneakers: Moral Confusion? (SPOILERS)". Google Groups. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
  9. "Lensman FAQ". Science Fiction Timeline Site - Chronology.org. November 27, 1994. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  10. Tom Holt (July 9, 2001). "And Thanks For All The Fish". Google Groups. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
  11. The Fortunate (June 20, 2001). "Gharlane of Eddore - and a plea (Account of CSUS memorial service)". Usenet rec.arts.sf.tv. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
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