Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Sci-Fi Screenwriter and Author George Clayton Johnson Dead At 86

Posted by timothy on from the lived-long-and-prospered dept.

George Clayton Johnson, writer of the first-aired episode of Star Trek, and co-author of Logan's Run, died on Christmas Day of cancer, at the age of 86. Johnson was a prolific television writer, penning several episodes of The Twilight Zone, and writing for several series as well; he was also a nominee for both the Nebula and Hugo awards. His first-published story, Oceans 11, was turned into a movie, and then revived as a the kernel for a film franchise. Johnson wrote comics as well as screenplays, short stories, and novels; he was originally slated to appear at the upcoming San Diego Comic Fest.

21 comments

  1. Well, he was 86 by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 3, Funny

    the Sandmen probably didn't have much trouble catching him.

    --
    #DeleteChrome
    1. Re:Well, he was 86 by tnk1 · · Score: 2

      Considering that they should have had him at 21 or 30, depending on your source, they seem to have had quite a time of it. :)

    2. Re: Well, he was 86 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Run runner....

    3. Re:Well, he was 86 by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

      Nah, up through age 85 he was just really lucky at Carousel.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    4. Re:Well, he was 86 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What do you say when you write with no words? Feeling. Feel a song that's never been heard? Sing it. How do know if you did it all? Answer. What do you do when you've done it all? Ball. Cannonball.

      It's not what you do, it's how you do it. Be anything you want to be. It's not what you got, it's how you use it. You be you and I'll be me. It's just a matter of style, you can fake it. Mile after mile, feeling free. If you got the soul, you can make it. Move 'em out, let 'em roll from sea to shining sea. Ball. Cannonball.

      What do you do if a mountain is there? Move It. How do you answer the challenge in today? Take it. When your back's against the wall? Fake it. What do you do when you've done it all? Ball.

      Cannonball!

  2. Re:Another victim of American police by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's their fault if they don't report to the Carousel to renew when their lifeclock expires.

  3. Re:Another victim of American police by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    BEANERS

  4. Re:Another victim of American police by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    RUNNERS

  5. RIP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I remember reading Logon's Run back in the 70s or 80s. Enjoyed the film & TV series, but preferred the novel. (Think I need to re-read it again though.)

    In those days my mom would bring 9 books back from the library every week. We all had to read quickly because they were going back 7 days later, no matter what. Logan's Run certainly stood out for me. In the company of Asimov in that respect, which is no mean feat.

    As a non-artist, I always am impressed with how artists contribution to the meaning of our society. No one is going to care about the code I write 10 years after I'm gone (heck, nor 10 years before I'm gone) - but the artists enrich us all, forever.

    Oh, and thanks for your contributions to the development of San Diego Comic Con too.

    1. Re:RIP by will_die · · Score: 1

      There are three books in the series. From what I remember the 2nd was good the 3rd was a waste.

    2. Re:RIP by Reziac · · Score: 1

      I read all three together, and it's really all one big book in three parts; I don't recall the 3rd as a waste, just didn't go where one might hope it would (I think it did a good job of that). Someone's complaint above (how did these people live after the Lifeclock died?) got addressed along the way, and it wasn't pretty. The TV series was more an extension of the 2nd book than of the film, tho I suppose that's appropriate.

      Should dig 'em out and reread in Johnson's honor. Talked with him a few times over the years, and he was a terrific person.

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
  6. Re:"Polack" here w/ some FYI... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Polacks are so smart that their entire country got DOMINATED in WWII. LOL!

  7. Logan's Run, the aftermath by khelms · · Score: 1

    You ever watch a movie that supposedly has a good ending and wonder then what happened? In Logan's Run the lifeclocks were destroyed so you'd think it was a happy ending where nobody had to die at 30 on Carousel any more. However, the computers controlling the city were also destroyed, so you have a city full of people that may not have a clue about such things as farming or how to feed themselves. They've been bottled up in that dome for decades or centuries, so do they know how to build shelters? Can they build power stations? Electrical systems? Can they produce heavier clothing for when winter arrives? Do they even know what winter is? They apparently reproduce by external means, so are they capable of doing it the normal way, or did the computers have them sterilized in order to control the population levels?

    Happy ending, or quick extinction by starvation, freezing, disease, and other factors?