Monday, July 07, 2008

Thomas Disch Commits Suicide


On July 4th the writer Thomas Disch committed suicide. Best known for his work in the science fiction community. He was a writer of novels, but I remember him best for his shorter work. His short story "Descending" is a story of his that has remained with me long after I read it as a youth. I've always thought he was one of the better writers in science fiction. Evidently he had been depressed for the last few years after the death of his partner and lately he's been fighting eviction from his New York City apartment. Perhaps his best known work was the story "The Brave Little Toaster" which later was adapted as an animated feature.

To many readers of this blog his name is going to be unfamiliar but to me he was always on a short list of favorite writers. If you have a chance to read any of his work do it. I'm not sure how much of his work is still in print, but if you can find anything pick up his collection "The Essential Disch."

From his livejournal:

What is so tragic as the lethal blast
Of thunderbolt or .38
That turns what had been present
Into past? There he stood
And here he lies at last.
Will you not shed a single tear
For any such? Is that too much to ask?


Not much more to say except that it's a damn shame.

2 comments:

Travis Cody said...

I didn't know his work. I'm sorry for his death.

Cinnamon Girl said...

Oh wow, Toaster was a favorite of my daughters and mine. But ya know there was a hint of melancholy even to the animated movie version. It's always a bummer when artist decide to end it.


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