SFScope friend Andrew Porter writes to tell us that writer Ernest “Chick” Callenbach died of cancer on 16 April 2012. Born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on 3 April 1929, he is a simple-living adherent who is best known for his 1975 novel Ecotopia. The book inspired environmentalists and readers. Self-published, it was reprinted in paperback by Bantam, sold a million copies, and was widely translated. Ecotopia was envisioned as an environmental paradise consisting of Northern California, Oregon and Washington, where recycling and solar power were widespread, and only electric vehicles were allowed.
Callenbach graduated from the University of Chicago, and then joined the staff of the University of California Press, where he founded and edited the internationally known journal Film Quarterly. He occasionally taught film courses at the University of California, Berkeley, and at San Francisco State University. He also edited the UC Press’s film books as well as books in art and science, including the California Natural History Guides series.
He also wrote the novels Ecotopia Emerging and Publisher’s Lunch, and a half dozen nonfiction books on ecological issues. More information is available on his web site.
Callenbach is survived by his wife Christine Leefeldt, two children, two brothers and five grandchildren.