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johnnyfu

johnnyfu

Hartford, CT
March 2003

JAN 12, 2007 08:58 AM

When I read that cult author Robert Anton Wilson had died, I wasn’t sure if it was true or a prank.

Here’s the case for his death being legitimate and real: Wilson, called RAW by fans and friends, was aged and infirmed at the time of his alleged passing; the former associate editor of Playboy was 74-years-old and had allegedly spent the last week in hospice care.

On his own blog, Wilson said doctors had told him his death was eminent. According to his lifelong friend Paul Krassner, former editor for underground publication The Realist and current contributor to the Huffington Post, told me Wilson had been suffering from post-polio syndrome.

Here’s the case for the whole thing being a scam: Wilson, the author of rambling, conspiracy-theory masterpiece The Illuminatus Trilogy, had been proclaimed dead before. The man himself once wrote, “according to reliable sources, I died on February 22, 1994.” His published works are more or less the Bible for conspiracy theorists. It would be fitting if he faked his death to hang out with John Dillinger and John Lennon in a UFO or something.

So far, his death has only been reported on blogs and other online sources. Wilson, while a cult author with an admittedly narrow-casted appeal, still is a fairly important cultural figure, and it’s somewhat surprising major media wouldn’t report his death.

But apparently, it’s true. After apologizing for a line of inquiry that might have been in questionable taste, I asked Krassner via email if Wilson was really dead.

“I think the question is in good taste, but yes, it's true,” Krassner responded.

Krassner said he was working on an article for the Huffington Post about Wilson’s death.

“I assume mainstream media will begin to pick up the story as obituaries appear. So far a magazine, Paranoia, is publishing one,” Krassner wrote.

Wilson’s really dead, it seems. The Illuminati no doubt lives on.

PointBlank

PointBlank

New York, NY
November 2004

JAN 12, 2007 11:05 AM


On his own blog, Wilson said doctors had told him his death was eminent.


I know this is a mistake...but an appropriate one nonetheless.

MC_Dove

MC_Dove

Cincinnati, OH
November 2004

JAN 12, 2007 11:07 AM

PointBlank said:

On his own blog, Wilson said doctors had told him his death was eminent.


I know this is a mistake...but an appropriate one nonetheless.



haha, amazing.

discochuck

discochuck

Austin, TX
August 2003

JAN 12, 2007 12:05 PM


All Hail Eris!

VonBismarck

VonBismarck

I'm lost
January 2006

JAN 12, 2007 12:08 PM

He is not dead, just starting a life in a new novel somehwere, perhaps in the
Universe Next Door.......
The man was a RAW genius, and a true iconoclast.
Eat of him, drink of him

luminosity

luminosity

Buckingham, VA
September 2006

JAN 12, 2007 12:15 PM

Just to add a bit of flame to the conspiracy angle, you should check Bob's blog out. The last entry is the announcement of the time and date of his 'passing'. As with most blog entries, it is signed as himself. Oh, and Bob: I'm writing this on the SG site. You know why. Thanks for all those lunches.

strongarmfarmer

strongarmfarmer

Evansville, IN
June 2005

JAN 12, 2007 12:59 PM

In my early twenties I read his book Cosmic Trigger. I wasn't able to think about anything in quite the same manner afterwards. The only other book that had an effect even remotely similar to this was Henry Miller's Tropic of Capricorn (yes I said Capricorn, not Cancer). Take this for what you will.

"Belief is the death of intelligence. As soon as one believes a doctrine of any sort, or assumes certitude, one stops thinking about that aspect of existence." From Cosmic Trigger by Robert Anton Wilson

emperorreagan

emperorreagan

Baltimore, MD
January 2004

JAN 12, 2007 01:52 PM

"Please pardon my levity, I don't see how to take death seriously. It seems absurd."

I like the way he approached the end, if his blog is any indication.

goatboy23

goatboy23

Vatican City
November 2003

JAN 12, 2007 01:57 PM

Dead, eh? That's what THEY want you to think!

Seriously though, I love his final blog entry. I hope I can approach death in such a great state of mind and with such a great sense of humor.

lowbrow

lowbrow

Bloomfield, CT
May 2003

JAN 12, 2007 03:33 PM

Here's hoping those who never knew of him will finally be exposed. It's a sad day.

Enter Chapel Perilous!

Gofuserectus

Gofuserectus

Mingo Junction, OH
February 2004

JAN 12, 2007 03:47 PM

oh Bob you fool! I will miss you! but I have most of your books to read and re-read. Maybe I will meet you some day in an alternate Omni-verse!!

Pwndcake

Pwndcake

Portland, OR
October 2004

JAN 12, 2007 03:59 PM

The world has lost a little brilliance.

Gringo

Gringo

Spokane, WA
May 2006

JAN 12, 2007 04:20 PM

I think there was similar confusion/skepticism when the media reported Andy Kaufman had died.

thefreak

thefreak

NEWSWIRE

Gardner, MA

JAN 12, 2007 05:12 PM

Pardon my ignorance, but who?

-TM

mrnonel

mrnonel

Los Angeles, CA
August 2004

JAN 12, 2007 06:33 PM

Like Saddam Hussein, can somebody please upload a cell phone video of RAW's passing to dispel the conspiracy theories? Even Timothy Leary had the foresight to broadcast his death over the internet. Since RAW's death is more probably more true than not, my sympathies go out to his family, friends, and fans. frown

LinkIsMyHero

LinkIsMyHero

USA
February 2005

JAN 12, 2007 08:43 PM

TheGringo said:
I think there was similar confusion/skepticism when the media reported Andy Kaufman had died.



Watching the movie Man on the Moon was a little amazing because every single person in the theater stayed long after the credits had rolled, because I'm pretty sure they half-believed Andy would stand up from one of the seats and shout "Gotcha!"