fiat_knox | Thomas M Disch RIP

Thomas M Disch Commits Suicide

Anne Lu - Celebrity News Service News Writer

New York, NY (CNS) - Sci-fi author Thomas M. Disch shot himself in the head. The 68-year-old writer was found dead in his apartment Friday.

Disch, who had been openly gay since 1968, was said to be suffering from depression after the death of partner poet Charles Naylor in 2004.

Born in 1940 in Des Moines, Iowa, the novelist transferred to New York intending to study architecture at New York University. However, a writing class in his junior year had persuaded him to changed career. He was able to sell an early work to Fantastic Stories for $112.50.

He soon became part of science fiction's New Wave. He worked for New Worlds and other avant-garde publications.

Disch won the Nonfiction Hugo for "The Dreams Our Stuff Is Made Of" in 1999. His "Camp Concentration" and "334" had been some of his critically acclaimed novels of the time.