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Robert Anton Wilson, legendary discordian Sci-Fi author, RIP

boingboing.net — Robert Anton Wilson--philosopher, author, visionary, Discordian, Fortean, and bOING bOING patron saint--died early this morning.

Bury
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  • unicornhunter, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11dammit!!!!! He's my favorite author. He was on his last leg for a long time. Hail Eris!!!
    • UGM2099, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3One of my favorites too. He was a great guy.
    • behn1220, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16Fnord.
    • felchdonkey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16Pardon me for piggybacking on the first comment, but I just wanted to share a wonderful little exchange that RAW posted on his blog about a month ago:

      Wavy Gravy once asked a Zen Roshi, "What happens after death?"
      The Roshi replied, "I don't know."
      Wavy protested, "But you're a Zen Master!"
      "Yes," the Roshi admitted, "but I'm not a dead Zen Master."

      and the last line of his final entry:
      "Please pardon my levity, I don't see how to take death seriously. It seems absurd."



      Thank you for giving us laughter, love and comfort, even when it was all of us who should have needed to comfort you, RAW.
      You were the spiritual father to millions.
    • teeheehee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1All Hail Discordia!
  • optigon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4via his blog:
    http://robertantonwilson.blogspot.com/2007/01/raw-essence.html
  • qubemore, on 10/12/2007, -2/+282007-01-11
    20-7-1+11
    23
    • dooraque, on 10/12/2007, -19/+2you're dull as phuck
    • unicornhunter, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2great numerology there! ha. I see 23 everywhere!
    • wheremyarm, on 10/12/2007, -11/+2OMGz0rz do some astrology next plz!
    • spooky760, on 10/12/2007, -0/+410 pounds of flax to you sir for seeing that.
    • duck1123, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1There is no 23 anywhere
  • dooraque, on 10/12/2007, -11/+1Screaming 13-year-old boys on DIGG don't care about RAW
  • DrewBlood, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10He will be missed!
    • afghanwhiggle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3You got that right. Now I have to name my next baby Sigismundo.

      Thanks for the wild ride RAW, although I could probably blame you for a lot, (rampant acid abuse, dropping out of school, weird sex) I won't.

      RIP
  • bookishboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+20I found out about his money/housing dilemma via digg about 2 months ago, when it was breaking news. Donated $50 via Paypal and bought 2 tshirts, one for me, one for the girlfriend, and a copy of The Illuminati Trilogy.

    If not for digg, I'd never have found out about him being in need, and I'm honored to have been able to contribute towards his last days.

    Please realize that this story is not just about his death. He wasn't able to afford his next month's rent, and if not for the power of social media like digg/slashdot, he my have spent his last days crashing on someone else's livingroom couch or in a homeless shelter.

    Rest in Peace

    If you can read this, you are a Pope
  • meax, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Goddess bless him!
  • venicerocco, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Sad. I read his books while at University. They opened your mind so much that stuff started to fall out.
  • anachronaut, on 10/12/2007, -0/+20Marked as inaccurate: He's not dead -- they just recalled him back to Ashtar Galactic Command, as his work here was finished.

    Farewell, Bob, and have a safe journey. I'll have the Space Brothers drop me off at your place whenever they finally come to pick me up.
  • Drakeno, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10It is surprising that a man that changed the world gets so little recognition on Digg.

    • DrewBlood, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3It's the same everywhere I've posted about it. Is he more obscure than I thought? To me he's of similar stature to PK Dick!
  • ladyheather, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Schroedinger's Cat was one of my all time favorite books. May Pope Steven bless him. I guess he's with Hagbard now.
  • zephc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3As incomprehensible his stuff was to read it was as hard to put down. The world needs more guys like R.A.W.
  • jhaven, on 10/12/2007, -9/+2RIP.

    Rainn Wilson, who plays Dwight Schrute on the American version of "The Office", is Robert's son. OT, I know, but this thread made me think of it.
    • koonchu, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Rainn Wilson is not his son, you *****. Do a search before you OT, MF.
    • jhaven, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2^ My apologies. I read an article that said he was the son of "Robert Wilson", but no middle name was given, and I just assumed that "Robert Wilson" = "Robert Anton Wilson". But according to his Wikipedia, he's the son of Robert G. Wilson.

      Again, my apologies. Another perfect example of what happens when you assume...
    • fubarsnafu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3No worries. I mean, really, what are the chances that there'd be more than one Robert Wilson in the world? It's hardly a generic name.
    • Walker2323, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2From Robert's daughter:

      # Christina Pearson Says:
      11/22/06 at 8:09 pm

      Dear Friends, just want to set the record straight as the October 10th post was just brought to my attention. Robert Anton Wilson is NOT the father of Rainn Wilson, thus Rainn Wilson has no reason to assist him. RAW is my dad, though, and my brother Graham and I are incredibly grateful for the tremendous loving support that our family has received from Bob’s fans. It is allowing us to care for him in the way he should be cared for, at home, surrounded with love and excellent care. Without your help, we could not do this. Blessings to all, love always, Christina
  • Philonius, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8A very, very important man who will be sorely missed.

    We donated to help pay his rent in his final months, too. Sad that someone so influencial, so important to counterculture, modern philosophy, alternate religions, (not to mention the internet) would have to live his last years in illness and poverty. Nothing new, of course, but still sad.

    RIP RAW
  • archiesteel, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Okay, I was certain he was already dead, and had been for a couple of years.

    I guess I saw a fake report of his death and believed it. How fitting.

    My fondest memory of RAW will always be FNORD FNORD FNORD. Hail Eris!
    • DrewBlood, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'm told there was a widely reported rumor of his death back in the 90s circulated on newsgroups and picked up by at least one major news outlet.
  • amoirae, on 10/12/2007, -6/+6King Kong died for his sins.
    • sathias, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3Dugg for the Principia Discordia reference.
    • drboggs, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2@ sathias

      Dugg down for needing to establish that you get the reference.
  • SinisterDexter, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Without RAW infiltrating my young brain, I never would have learned about Goddess and what to do with her when I found her. 'Tis a sad day indeed. But it shall be a joyous one as we celebrate his life and legacy. So go forth and joyously partake of a hot dog (sans bun) today for one of the greatest free men ever in existence.

    Mr. Momoto, Famous Japanese, can swallow his nose.

    SinisterDexter High Priest and founder of the Beethoven's Nose Hair Cabal. KSC. POEE. FNORD.
  • felchdonkey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I'm just so glad that his last days were spent with loved ones, and knowing that so many people in the world loved him and cared for him - and glad that we were all able to show it by helping with donations and messages of our respect and awe for this great, great man.

    I shouldn't be crying, I know, but I am. I know there's a time for everything, but I can't stop feeling sad.

    His final post was so prefectly RAW:
    "Please pardon my levity, I don't see how to take death seriously. It seems absurd."


  • brandonhoth, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9I won't wax too sentimental, but my best friend and I came across the Iluminati Trilogy when we were fifteen in his parents books. They were something of leftist-hipsters turned yuppies, and their bookcase always yielded some very mind blowing stuff for angst filled scavengers of knowledge such as ourselves. We passed it back and forth for close to a year, like some sort of clandestine bible that blew a hole into all of the suburban ***** we were experiencing.

    Like some other posters, I donated to his campaign a couple of months ago. As cheesy as it sounds, it was a small price to pay for all he gave me.

    Hail Eris...
  • behn1220, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Robert Anton Wilson's Cosmic Trigger series changed my life...nothing else has positively altered my reality tunnel more effectively than this series fnord. These books allowed me to discover some of the thinkers I cherish most...James Joyce, Alfred Korzybski, Carl Jung and Buckminster Fuller to name a few. RAW will most certainly be missed.
  • Empyrean, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"And behold, thusly was the Law formulated:
    Imposition of Order = Escalation of Chaos!"

    Rest in peace RAW, and may the spirits of Chaos guide you through the afterlife.
    Hail Eris - All Hail Discordia - Kallisti
  • Torso, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3RIP

    And may Bob be with you.
  • BrettFromTibet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1On to a greater plane, o' pioneer, seer and kingpin of the late 20th century literati illuminati!

    Your words and philosophies changed my life in oh-so-many ways.

    You made your mark on the world like few have dared to.

    God bless you, and the planet will miss you dearly!
  • TripledL, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I feel kinda terrible digging this story but...reality is what you make of it.
    RAW will be greatly missed
    Hail Eris
  • farrellj, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4TANJ, I already miss him, even though I never met him. His works has such a huge influence on my life, I just wish I had been able to thank him in person.

    A Erisian Pope is Dead, Long Live the Pope!

    And somewhere, out near the star Sirius, a bearded gent is confusing and enlightening another species that is on it's way to SMI^2LE.

    Hail Eris!

  • ReverendRodger, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4RAWs books profoundly changed my view of reality when I was younger. There's no way to repay someone for the gift of opening one's mind.

    Hail Eris!
  • futureprimate, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Nothing too clever. Just respect..
    Much thanks Robert Anton Wilson.

    rock!
  • bherring, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1All hail Eris! A great prophet has departed, but the truth of the universal joke will be with us forever.

    Cthulhu fhtagn! (He and Eris had this fling a while back.. it all works out.)



  • sathias, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2A true original, and a truly brilliant mind. He has made more difference in my way of thinking and been more of an inspiring figure than any other figure in modern culture.

    RIP Robert Anton Wilson
  • gerryk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Don't be sad. Laugh in the face of death. All Hail Discordia.

    RIP Robert.
  • beanfeast, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1His tape "Religion for the Hell of It" changed the way I thought about a lot of things. After that I had to have everything. I laughed a lot. I learned a lot. Now there's one less interesting and unique person out there. Sucks. Don't rest in peace Robert. You give 'em hell. (does Javacrucian ritual in Bob's honor)
  • orientis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Wilby Sorly Mist
  • snafuhalitosis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1rip raw
  • Glandmaster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Good luck with the next 8 circuits Bob ;p
  • Ruiner, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Farewell BOB
  • iburl, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Don't start Cosmic Trigger late at night, or you may not be able to put it down. When I read that book, I was absolutely dazzled. RAW was one of the great thinkers of all time. Here is a link to an hour long mp3 interview on enlightenment.com from 4 years ago that can give you some idea of who he was: http://tinyurl.com/c48ax or http://preview.tinyurl.com/c48ax . Bob, you will be missed.
  • DiscordianFnord, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Like everyone else on here, it seems, R.A.W. touched and changed my life. I read his "Illuminatus Trillogy" a few years ago and it blew my mind wide open. The first 1/3 of the book was so hard to read that it took me several months- I would pick it up, read for a while, and then have to put it down and leave it for a few weeks because my brain hurt- but I kept going because it was clear the man had something great to say, and I have never been so greatly rewarded by a tough read. Since then I haven't been able to get enough of his work. The last line of his last blog is a view on death that I truly hope to have adopted into my reality tunnel by my time to go.

    I agree with beanfeast- Give Em Hell, Bob
  • TheFlamingCow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1In Santa Cruz, CA, where I live and he lived (approximately), not only was he first in line to receive medical marijuana from the hands of the Mayor on the steps of city hall, the Mayor dedicated July 23rd as "Robert Anton Wilson Day."

    I have to pipe in on the sentiment in these comments - he was an awesome human? being and his writing totally changed my perception of reality in a very positive and awesome way. If anyone hasn't read the Illuminatus, and Cosmic Trigger, it is highly recommended.

  • Ptyx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0RIP RAW
    He will be missed.
  • gwjc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Truly sad, a literary giant and one of the great minds of our time.
  • eschaton23, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Thanks for bringing magick back into my life. Thanks for helping me understand.

    nothing is real, everything is permissible.
  • holdyn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"If you believe in nothing, then everything is possible" - RAW

    Not sure what book this was from, but I use it often to get out of jams.
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