SH Comments
Reged: Feb 16 2004
Posts: 1056
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This thread is for comments about Who Killed Thomas M. Disch? by Sam J. Miller.
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steveberman
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Reged: Mar 03 2008
Posts: 3
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A fascinating article.
In regards to the chance that homophobia within and without of the spec fic community could have been a 'suspect' - I have to say that, for the most part, it is the gay literary community that is far more intolerant of speculative fiction than the reverse. I know many gay men that are closeted that they read fantasy or science fiction novels. At gay booksellers the shelves that are devoted to spec fic (if there are any) are the smallest compared to any other genre. The gay media is open to only stories told on the large screen or on the television these days -- books have become passe. And the quality of speculative fiction that is showcased by the gay media is nearly always paranormal romance rather than something provocative and challenging.
So, if Disch wanted to be embraced by a larger gay readership, he was faced with the impossible: the man was simply too clever, too talented to dumb down his work for them.
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Ellen Datlow
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Reged: Mar 14 2005
Posts: 2
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Not to defend Tom's landlord for trying to evict an elderly invalid long term tenant but Tom made a major error.
The landlord was trying to evict Tom on the basis of the Union Square apartment not being a primary residence. Tom paid taxes on the upstate home for at least two years, which provided the landlord with evidence of non-residence for that period.
The landlord however, was heartless, presumably knowing that Tom did this in error and had nowhere else to go once the country home was ruined. And yes, I believe it would have been more difficult to initiate such proceedings if Tom and Charlie were married.
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Robert E. Porter
Regular poster
Reged: Jan 18 2007
Posts: 27
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"I have to say that, for the most part, it is the gay literary community that is far more intolerant of speculative fiction than the reverse."
Can't the situation you describe be said of the "straight" community too? SF has a tiny slice of the market compared to romance or crime.
I'd find it paradoxical if SF were not more tolerant and progressive and cosmopolitan than other genres, if it were not ahead of the curve, if it were not involved in the civil and women's and gay rights movements, if it failed to appeal to enough women and minorities to stay relevant and viable in the future. I'd find it paradoxical if a list of the biggest names in SF included many conservatives, Christian fundamentalists, bigots, the kind of people that hated gays, that sexually harassed women, that bullied immigrants, that founded cults, etc.
If space opera, sword and sorcery, and supernatural horror had never interested me, I may never have discovered any "provocative and challenging" SF -- _Camp Concentration_, for ex.
Edited by Robert E. Porter (Tue Sep 23 2008 09:08 AM)
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steveberman
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Reged: Mar 03 2008
Posts: 3
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While yes, the straight community does have an aversion to anything 'geeky' the gay community has been far more brainwashed over the years into believing the tenents of the Cult of Youth and Beauty. With the straight community, a man can be overweight, unhip, and still land a beautiful wife -- at least, according to network television. But the gay media presents that the only people of worth are those that spend the majority of their time at the gym, at the salon, at the dance club. In the past, gay individuals were some of the leading advocates of culture and the arts - because that was the only strata of society that they could be open about their sexuality. I think that this is no longer the case.
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rick bowes
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Reged: Sep 25 2008
Posts: 1
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A really interesting take on a complicated and difficult person who could be a fascinating writer.
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2write
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Reged: Oct 01 2008
Posts: 2
Loc: Bomb-aye, India.
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This was a great article.
It is good that people will talk about him even though he wasn't as commercially successful as the others in the genre.
It is sad though for what he had to go through.
Hopefully I will be able to grab some of his books before they become out of print due to "the Publishing Business".
:(
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"Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge." - Paul Gauguin
http://freedomfriends.in/
http://www.ujjwaldey.com/
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Robert E. Porter
Regular poster
Reged: Jan 18 2007
Posts: 27
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I'm disappointed that this article -- and Disch -- have not generated more discussion of the issues. I'd think that Miller and Disch would rather we fought for gay rights, depression and public health, etc., than BS about the role of _Camp Concentration_ in the SF canon.
Grape shot has always done more than BS.
Edited by Robert E. Porter (Tue Oct 07 2008 01:56 PM)
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