John Michell Rest in Peace

John Michell, born 6 February 1933, of whom there is a retrospecitve of his work in the latest issue of Fortean Times, passed away this morning at 12:30 am from cancer. John died at the home of his son in Poole, Dorset, 24th April, 2009. He was 76.

John wrote over 40 books on subjects such as ley lines and sacred geometry bringing the modern earth mysteries movement to public attention. His subject matter was known as Forteana. The best description on Forteana comes from the International Forteana Organization:

For 27 years, the American writer Charles Hoy Fort worked full-time researching scientific journals and old periodicals to gather material on phenomena on the borderland between fact and fantasy – the wide range of mysteries that orthodox science either ignored or improperly explained away. His pioneering researches appeared in four books: The Book of the Damned (1919), New Lands (1923), Lo! (1931), and Wild Talents (1932).

In these volumes, Fort gathered, organized, and commented on a wild host of phenomena: UFOs, falls of living animals; poltergeists, ghosts and psychic phenomena; earthquakes and volcanoes; astronomical and archaeological mysteries; stigmata; mass hysteria and panics; spontaneous human combustion; disappearing people; and much more. The Original Fortean Society founders included many leading literary lights of the day including Theodore Dreiser, Booth Tarkington, Ben Hecht, H. L. Mencken, Alexander Woolcott, and Oliver Wendell Holmes. Fort’s work also influenced science fiction and horror writers through the introduction of Fortean themes which is often evident in the work of contemporary luminaries such as Stephen King. Science fiction great Robert Heinlein was also a long-time member of the International Fortean Organization (INFO) until his death.

I am incredibly fortunate to say that John Michell was a very dear friend of mine. Several times I was a guest in his home in London. I cooked dinner for him, we drank wine, and he introduced me to fascinating people. We enjoyed many wonderful walks during which I asked questions and he patiently explained the way he saw the universe. I can hardly believe that I won’t be seeing him again.

Here is John, doing what he did so well, entertaining and educating an audience. The camera work and the sound is a bit difficult but it’s the best I could find on short notice.

John Michell: FortFest 1998

For more information on Forteana and the FortFest, contact The International Fortean Organization (INFO). At least once or twice a year there is a weekend of speakers and great conversation, and there have also been Fortean cruises. It’s where I first met John and so many other wonderful, interesting, smart and really fun people. Video courtesy INFO.