Comments on: Thomas Disch, RIP

By: Miggy

Miggy — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:54:40 +0000

Tom disliked all groups of people. Muslims, Boy Scouts, Daughters of the American Revolution, you name it. He only loved free thinking individuals.

By: Lex

Lex — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:43:49 +0000

Farah:

Can you point to the LJ entry you are referring to? I knew Disch back in NYC in the 70s. He was pretty cantankerous back then, too. But advocating genocide? Are you sure? The only mention on his LJ Endzone in recent posts that touches on genocide is a rant against people who create gigantic lies and complete ignore reality…his example was the Armenian genocide in Turkey. This has nothing even remotely connected to advocating genocide, nor, knowing Disch from 30 years ago, would he advocate the killing of any mass of people, regardless of how much he loathed them. Loathing yes, killing no. I really want to sort this out, because I think Disch’s memory for me will be scarred if what you say is true. It runs exactly against the fabric of the giant, wriggling amazing human that I knew–you could see the fire in his eyes, sure! But his entire life was the slow burn of smoldering commentary. Never did I see him advocate genocide. Sorry, I don’t believe it.

Lex

By: Jeff VanderMeer

Jeff VanderMeer — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:14:17 +0000

Farah:

I was unaware of that. In any event, you’ve offered your corrective here. Good on you! Keep fighting the good fight.

Jeff

By: Farah

Farah — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:19:26 +0000

somewhat appalled at the coverage in certain quarters
Yes, he could be a pain in the ass. Yes, he was paranoid at times. So what? Who among us hasn’t been either of those things at various times in our lives?

Somehow, I doubt many of us have used our LJs to advocate genocide.

I am very, very sad for many of my friends who are close friends of Tom, but complaining when people draw an accurate portrait of him, serves him ill.

By: R. Schuyler Devin

R. Schuyler Devin — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:11:26 +0000

I originally posted this comment on Matt Staggs’s blog (http://is.gd/NS1), but since my sentiment applies to *everyone* who is affected by this loss, I am sharing it here as well.

- – -
Matt,

I hope your grief passes as painlessly as possible; I hope this for everyone who knew him, or was touched by his words. After the worst of the mourning subsides, let it be replaced by sustaining memories of his achievements, and narrative genius, not of his mortal weakness.

By: Thomas M. Disch, 1940-2008

Thomas M. Disch, 1940-2008 — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:43:45 +0000

[...] own Jeff VanderMeer, before going into hibernation for a bit to focus on writing his next novel, wrote this on his own blog: This is really sad, sad news about a very talented individual–an icon of the [...]

By: Thomas M. Disch Found Dead : Edward Champion’s Reluctant Habits

Thomas M. Disch Found Dead : Edward Champion’s Reluctant Habits — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:35:20 +0000

[...] 3: Thoughts from William Gibson, Jeff VanderMeer, Quenchzine, Scott Edelman, Bruce Lewis, Tom Moody, Locus, Cory Doctorow, Wet Machine, Scott Woods, [...]

By: Janie Harrison

Janie Harrison — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 03:34:25 +0000

It always gives me a shiver to read news of a suicide. To comtemplate his suffering. We writers aka artists aka whatever are such an self-absorbed lot. Of course, that is what it means to be human, too. What sad news. We should all remember that writing is very lonely work.

By: Thomas M. Disch, dead, apparent suicide « Enter the Octopus

Thomas M. Disch, dead, apparent suicide « Enter the Octopus — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:01:42 +0000

[...] Jeff VanderMeer [...]

By: Matt Staggs

Matt Staggs — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:32:16 +0000

He had a very good sense of humor. When I first started corresponding with him about “The Word of God,” I was extremely intimidated by his professional achievements, and was unsure as to the best way to address this accomplished man. I asked him by email what he preferred to be called: Mr. Disch, or Tom?

His one line reply?

“Tom is fine, but call me ‘Dad’ when we’re in public.”

I’m still chuckling about that.

He will be missed.