Thomas M Disch

[iansales]

Thomas M Disch, best known for Camp Concentration and The Brave Little Toaster, died by suicide on the weekend. Clute's entry in The SF Encyclopedia described him best (and has already been quoted many times):

"Because of his intellectual audacity, the chillingly distant mannerism of his narrative art, the austerity of the pleasures he affords, and the fine cruelty of his wit, Thomas M. Disch has been perhaps the most respected, least trusted, most envied and least read of all modern first-rank SF writers."

[j. d. worthington]

Damn. Another fine talent -- in this case, quite an exceptional one -- gone.

[iansales]

What's even sadder is that no one on this forum posted the news until I did at 2 pm (GMT), although Locus had broken the news yesterday. And no one besides you and myself has commented on it...

[D_Davis]

That sucks.

I just bought my first Thomas M Disch book.

Why do all of my favorite SF die before I get a chance to really appreciate them?

I expect any day now to see a posting on Ballard's death.

Sad.

[Anatedhrai]

Terrible news.

I haven't read as much Disch as I ought to have - I have read Camp Concentration though. 334 is somewhere in the to-be-read pile. On Wings of Song would be if I had a copy of it.

On the other hand, I *have* read his parody Victorian gothic, Clare Reeve, which he wrote under the pseudonym Leonie Hargrave.

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by Anatedhrai

On the other hand, I *have* read his parody Victorian gothic, Clare Reeve, which he wrote under the pseudonym Leonie Hargrave.

That's one I keep meaning to pick up a copy of, having read the real Mrs. Reeve's early Gothic novel; but I haven't yet done so.

I hadn't heard about this, as I hadn't heard any news for the past 48 hours, so it came as quite a jolt....

[The Procrastinator]

I know I've read some of his stuff, but I can't remember what it was (years ago). Raising a glass to a classic. What a shame.

[Durandal]

What a shame. He was a really interesting character.

I liked the couple of novels of his that I read, but I just LOVED The Dreams Our Stuff is Made Of, one of his nonfiction books. It's arguably the best look at sci-fi and its place in our culture... ever.

RIP.

Locus Online News: Obituary: Thomas M. Disch

[Theo Hart]

I knew of him through The Prisoner.

RIP

[j. d. worthington]

Have merged the two Thomas M. Disch obituary threads....

[Durandal]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

Have merged the two Thomas M. Disch obituary threads....

Ah, sorry -- I didn't see the first one before I posted mine.

[j. d. worthington]

No apologies necessary; and I'm glad to see someone else responding to his death; I wish it were on a more pleasant topic, such as a new book of his, but I'm glad to at least see some recognition of the man and his work....

[Ross]

Not heard of him personally but it's always sad to see someone leave us.

RIP

[iansales]

Jeff Vandermeer has proposed an excellent idea: Ecstatic Days » Blog Archive » The Best Appreciation of Thomas Disch? Buy His Books and Pass Them On

[yngvi]

Sorry to hear about his death. I read 'Camp Concentration' aeons ago but my favourite was 'Echo Round his Bones', which was based on a fantastic idea spun off from matter transmission, which was then developed into a very good plot which worked on a literal planetary scale. Recommended.

Also, hats off to 'The Puppies of Terra'. Never read it but what a title!

RIP