JWC died on this day 37 years ago. He was only 63. He was an intelligent man. He graduated from Duke, my Dad’s Alma Mata. Unfortunately, 37 years ago, intelligent men were heavy smokers, lived sedentary lives, ate lot’s of red meat and drank their whiskey neat, so they died relatively young of heart attacks.

I think JWC’s influence in SF was pretty much over by the time he died. Heinlein wouldn’t submit to Analog Magazine and the better writers had moved to Galaxy, IF, and F&SF. Campbell had rejected two of Heinlein’s Hugo award winning stories (with long letters explaining what was wrong with them).

I wonder how SF would be different today if John had quite smoking, taken to long walks and started eating more fish?

In spite of all of the man’s personal failings, he is still a shining figure in the history of Science Fiction. He will always be a personal hero of mine.