Autbor Thomas M. Disch has died by his own hand at age 68, according to Joseph Bottum at First Things.
Endlessly talented, Tom was always a difficult character, with strange edges and an awkward, unbalanced and finally unbearably sad life.
Update: For some reason, the link at First Things has disappeared, along with several of the most recent posts. Perhaps it’ll be back later. The report from Locus is here.
Suicide, in stories at least, always affects me deeply. It’s terrible that a gifted man like this would not see his own inate value. He had what it takes. I wish I could do anything I wanted with words.
There is a reverse connection between competence and self-perception. People who think that are great usually don’t try to get better. People who think they are barely adequate usually try very hard. Effort is often rewarded more than the lack thereof.
I’ll go with that, Ori, but there’s also a total disconnect for some of us between competence and self-perception. Our skill level and our accomplishments may not matter one bit b/c we deeply believe that we don’t have what it takes. We aren’t good enough, no matter who is praising us.
The truth is that we are good enough to do the only thing that counts, that is to worship the Lord who made us, regardless our accomplishments. That’s hard to take sometimes.
I read his Wings of Song. I found it repulsive and confusing… but oddly hard to forget.
Well, I don’t know him or his work, but I was reacting to the things Mr. Bottum said on First Things. Now, I see that Dana Gioia has called him a genius.
Disch was a very nasty individual. (Famous for revealing sexual secrets of other writers, etc. Accusing a fellow sf writer of having written a racist tract, etc.)
– you can find a lot of this in his book on Sf – if anyone would want to do such a thing.
I can’t imagine why First Things would vaunt such a person. Here’s a little example of Disch they put up on their website.
Ballade of the new god
“I have decided I’m divine.
Caligula and Nero knew
A godliness akin to mine,
But they are strictly hitherto.
They’re dead, and what can dead gods do?
I’m here and now. I’m dynamite.
I’d worship me if I were you.
A new religion starts tonight!”
– real cute isn’t it.
They spoke of him as a friend. There must be a story there I don’t know.