Sad news for those of you who have read and fondly remember The Official Book of Ultima: the author thereof — Gerald Moore, who wrote under the pen name of Shay Addams — passed away suddenly last December:

Always full of surprises, Gerald Marshall Moore, 76, of Columbus, GA, tragically passed away in the fire that destroyed his childhood home on the afternoon of December 8th, 2023.

He was born in Manchester, Ga in 1946 to Sarah and Roland Moore. He enjoyed reading, writing, and traveling. He served in the US Navy. For decades he was a journalist for Stone Age and High times; One of CAMP’s (Coalition for the Abolition of Marijuana Prohibition) founding members who wrote many articles and contributed to High Times magazine. Throughout his life he lived in Atlanta, Ga, Florida, Pennsylvania, Arizona, New York, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. He even got to spend time visiting and exploring Egypt, one of his life-long dreams.

Gerald Marshall Moore was a well-known writer under the pen name ‘Shay Addams’. In the Eighties and Nineties, he wrote books such as the best seller ‘The Official Book of Ultima’ and ‘Microsoft Flight Simulator: The Authorized Pilot’s Guide’. He was one of the earliest and most prolific computer journalists, his Newsletter and Magazine ‘QuestBusters’ was published monthly from 1984 to 1996. Later he wrote over 20 non-fiction books, based on his experiences in Costa Rica from 1997-2006. In 2007 he moved to the Guatemalan highlands while studying and researching the Mayan Culture. He had an interest in the Mayan Civilization since the age of 16 and went on to publish multiple books about the Mayan astrology and mythology including ‘Mayan Calendar Users Guide: How to Apply Mayan Astrology to Your Daily Life.’

Gerald will always be remembered for his unique personality and interesting stories. He was extremely intelligent and creative. His memory will live on in the hearts and minds of all those who knew him.

The Moore family home was a complete loss after the fire, and the family have asked that — in lieu of flowers or other sentimental things — well-wishers contribute to a fund to help the family rebuild.