Gharlane of Eddore (pen-name)

:"This article discusses a writer's pen name. For other uses of the term, see Gharlane of Eddore (disambiguation).

David G. Potter (1947-2001) was a computer technician at California State University at 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 as a Usenet pseudonym [Citations of his identity [http://www.heinleinsociety.org/rah/numberbeast.html] [http://www.theregister.com/2001/06/25/reader_poll_the_gharlane_results/] [http://www.geocities.com/evilsnack/gharlane.htm] ] 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. [Usenet posts. [http://groups.google.com/groups?q=author%3Agharlane%40ccshp1.ccs.csus.edu&start=0&scoring=d&] ] He "passed into the next plane of existence", as E. E. Smith wrote of many of his characters, on June 10, 2001 [ [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/06/20/gharlane_of_eddore_is_dead/ Obituary] and [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/06/25/reader_poll_the_gharlane_results/ followup] in The Register.] following a heart attack. [ [http://www.geocities.com/evilsnack/gharlane.htm The Gharlane of Eddore RIP Page ] ]

Reputation

He was well known for being a curmudgeon and pedant in Usenet science fiction newsgroups(rec.arts.sf.*), frequently pointing out scientific inaccuracies. [Personal reactions [http://www.geocities.com/naran500/gharlane.html] ]

David Potter's knowledge of "SF writing, movies and television, as well as writing in general, general science and engineering, computers and USENET history and culture", has been described as impressive and his writing on Usenet news groups described as "incredibly prolific."

He is described by the net.legends FAQ as a semi-master flamer. [ [http://www.killfile.org/~tskirvin/faqs/legends/legends3.html#gharlane Net.Legends FAQ 3/4 ] ]
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, travelled and caring man. In short, a good human being." [http://www.theregister.com/2001/06/25/reader_poll_the_gharlane_results/]

He is known to have posted as Gharlane from [e-mail] and [e-mail]. Up until 1992 he often posted as "[e-mail] (Carl Kolchak)". Gharlane made his first appearance Sep 25 1992 in a posting to rec.arts.sf.written about the movie Sneakers (see below). On May 7 1993 he announced his [http://www.chronology.org/noframes/lens/ Lensman FAQ] in rec.arts.sf.written.

Pseudonyms he claimed he used in print publications include E. K. Grant and Gordon Schumway, although there is no evidence for these claims.

Personal life

Employed by California State University in Sacramento for many years prior to his death.

Education: Immaculate Heart College, Los Angeles, BA in EnglishLiterature and Mathematics; New York, SUNY, Buffalo, New York(Linguistics); California State University Sacramento (Graduated witha degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering). David continued to take graduate courses until his death. Upon his death he was stilldriving the 1966 Volkswagen he got for his graduation from High School. [His personal life, tersely written by his friend [http://www.mailarchive.ca/lists/rec.arts.startrek.current/2001-06/1226.html] ]

Print Publications

story "The Man Who Hated Cadillacs" in The Mammoth Book of Comic Fantasy II

story "The Swords and the Stones" in the first The Mammoth Book of Awesome Comic Fantasy

Notable Usenet Postings

* First posting as potter@csusac: [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.sf-lovers/msg/908f40fae8676479 “HOGAN/Inherit The Stars”] . May 23 1990.
* First posting as Carl Kolchak [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.sf-lovers/msg/541861c13ad6d915 “Bradbury/Dark Star”] . Nov 22 1990.
* First posting as Gharlane of Eddore: “Sneakers: [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.sf.written/msg/a4a366d750861b89: Moral Confusion? (SPOILERS)] .” Sep 25 1992.
* Lensman FAQ: [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.sf.written/msg/122468bdfefc1dc1] May 7 1993.
* On the [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.sf.written/msg/59129aa183783b05 correct spelling] of "Gray Lensman" (see footnote). Mar 23 1996.

References

* Gharlane of Eddore 1998. Lensman FAQ http://www.outel.org/decomposed/goe/lensfaq.html.
* [http://www.csus.edu/uccs/synergy/2001/2001_fall.pdf Obituary] in the California State University, Sacramento [http://www.csus.edu/uccs/ Computing Services Department] * [http://www.csus.edu/uccs/synergy/ newsletter] , Fall 2001.
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.sf.tv/browse_thread/thread/8384f5d4d895eff8?hl=en&safe=off&start=0&ic=1 Death announcement on Usenet with eulogies]
* [http://www.geocities.com/evilsnack/gharlane.htm The Gharlane of Eddore RIP File]
* [http://www.geocities.com/naran500/gharlane.html In Memoriam page]

Footnotes