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Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft and world’s richest science fiction fan, dies.

Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft and one of the world’s richest science fiction fans (worth $20 billion), has sadly died of cancer aged only 65.

He was the founder and primary backer of the Seattle Science Fiction Museum (now The Museum of Pop Culture, or MoPOP) and tributes to Paul have already flooded in from those SFF fans that knew him.

SF author Gregory Benford said on Facebook, “I served on his Board when he created and funded the Seattle Science Fiction Museum, saving precious pieces of fictional history for all to enjoy. At dinner he quizzed me about what I read (first sf: Rocket Ship Galileo, same as he), wrote (his fave of mine was Timescape) and what I thought climate change would lead to (geoengineering). Early funder of Tri Alpha Energy, a company spun out of my plasma group at UCI. Fine guy.”

Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft and world's richest science fiction fan, dies.
Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft and world’s richest science fiction fan, dies.

Oddly, or perhaps not, none of the big news channels running this story picked up on Paul’s love of SF – come on, he called the company he set-up after Microsoft to make his investments & charity disbursements, ‘Vulcan inc.’ … in honour of his favourite TV show, Star Trek.

On the BBC News, his obit just wittered on about the American sports clubs he’d purchased (NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle’s Sounders).

Much like Bill Gates, in his post-Microsoft existence, Paul devoted much of his fortune to charities and tech he thought could save the world.

Bill Gates said of Paul’s passing on Twitter, “Paul wasn’t content with starting one company. He channelled his intellect and compassion into a second act focused on improving people’s lives and strengthening communities in Seattle and around the world. He was fond of saying, “If it has the potential to do good, then we should do it.” That’s the kind of person he was.”

See you beyond the Rainbow Gate, Paul. We salute you.

ColonelFrog

Colonel Frog is a long time science fiction and fantasy fan. He loves reading novels in the field, and he also enjoys watching movies (as well as reading lots of other genre books).

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