Comments on: RIP Nicholas Johnson, author of Big Dead Place

RIP Nicholas Johnson, author of Big Dead Place

Xere — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 17:43:25 -0800

Nicholas Johnson, author of Big Dead Place: Inside the Strange and Menacing World of Antarctica, committed suicide on November 28, in West Seattle. His friend and former roommate Jason Anthony (mentioned in the acknowledgements of Big Dead Place) has written an obituary. An obituary from the book's publisher, Feral House. An adaptation of Big Dead Place remains in development with HBO. Previously.

By: Tell Me No Lies

Tell Me No Lies — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 17:44:41 -0800

I am not fucking enjoying this December.

By: Artw

Artw — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 17:57:39 -0800

By: localroger

localroger — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:02:19 -0800

Too many dots going on lately. .

By: Melismata

Melismata — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:10:00 -0800

WTF!?! That was a great book!! .

By: Chrysostom

Chrysostom — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:14:25 -0800

I am so sorry to hear that. I enjoyed the hell out of that book (and site).

By: pernoctalian

pernoctalian — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:28:48 -0800

By: Sticherbeast

Sticherbeast — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:51:01 -0800

By: rtha

rtha — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:02:19 -0800

Thanks for this. Bigdeadplace will always be one of my favorite blogs. .

By: KokuRyu

KokuRyu — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:23:21 -0800

It seems that Nick was recently accepted and then suddenly rejected for an Antarctic placement: Nick got "clean" and did quite well this past year keeping off the juice. But what might put him over was the fact that he was accepted to go down to Antarctica but at the last minute was rejected. I reproduce the rejection letter to him below.
Dear Mr. Johnson: Please be advised that PAE Inc. hereby rescinds its August 1, 2012 primary offer letter and September 28, 2012 alternate offer letter to you. It has recently come to our attention that, writing as Nicholas Johnson, you are the author of Big Dead Place. It is our opinion that due to the nature and content of this book, you would not be a suitable candidate for employment under the Antarctic Support Contract. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. PAE regrets any inconvenience this decision has caused, but believes that the decision is in both parties' best interest. Regards, //sm S*** M**** Vice President, Stability Operations PAE
Now Nick has taken a trip to another sort of Big Dead Place. See you, Nick. We love you.

By: Bwithh

Bwithh — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:31:50 -0800

By: byanyothername

byanyothername — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:41:59 -0800

Oh. Wow. .

By: Rustic Etruscan

Rustic Etruscan — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:54:41 -0800

By: LobsterMitten

LobsterMitten — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:56:54 -0800

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 20:07:09 -0800

His book is really a great read. May he rest in peace.

By: The corpse in the library

The corpse in the library — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 20:12:59 -0800

He was a close friend of mine once, and I'll miss him greatly. We hadn't been in touch recently but I liked knowing he was out there, being weird and creative and encouraging other people to do the same. A few us are getting together Sunday (tomorrow) in Seattle to share stories. Drop me a line if you knew him and want to join us.

By: Skygazer

Skygazer — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 20:29:09 -0800

He sounds like a unique and fascinating guy, with a unique and necessary voice and perspective, and that letter from "PAE" rejecting him for reassignment to McMurdo reads like such petty, small-minded, bureaucratic horseshit...sounds like they didn't really deserve him if you ask me. RIP, Nicholas Johnson. . This year, has been terrible. I lost a good friend last Saturday, another unique and necessary, creative, sensitive and magnanimous soul on Saturday. Second one this effin' year! RIP. Brent. .

By: bmarkey

bmarkey — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 20:32:10 -0800

I didn't know him personally, but I used to work with someone who did (and who was surprised that I'd even heard of Big Dead Place, much less enjoyed reading it.) This is very sad news indeed. My thoughts are with those who knew and loved Nick. .

By: hanoixan

hanoixan — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 20:58:43 -0800

Great book and it sounds like he was a good guy. .

By: infinitywaltz

infinitywaltz — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 21:21:49 -0800

Oh crap, that's terrible.

By: fallingbadgers

fallingbadgers — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 23:24:49 -0800

Sad news, a fascinating book

By: Harvey Kilobit

Harvey Kilobit — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 00:25:42 -0800

Another Previously with Nick Johnson in Antarctica. It sounds like the people sent to McMurdo Station get to experience the awesome nature of Antarctica about as much as Spring Break kids experience daily life in Mexico.

By: PeterMcDermott

PeterMcDermott — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 04:28:27 -0800

I bought the book from Amazon before I went on holiday earlier this year, but because the damn thing didn't arrive until after I'd left -- despite paying for next day shipping -- I still haven't read it. I can only think I bought it because of that earlier link.

By: bondcliff

bondcliff — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 05:03:36 -0800

Loved his book. .

By: daisyk

daisyk — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 07:27:14 -0800

By: warbaby

warbaby — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 10:21:06 -0800

I got the call yesterday from Nick's former professor Perry Mills. Nick ran a blog on Mills' crucifixion as a whistleblower at Western Washington University. Nick's dad confirmed that being blacklisted over Big Dead Place hit Nick very hard.

By: rtha

rtha — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 11:27:20 -0800

It's such tremendous bullshit that they yanked his contract offer because of the book. It made me want to go to Antarctica even more, and I'd already wanted to go (not as a tourist, but as a worker) so very much. I can't be the only one.

By: gerls

gerls — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 16:26:10 -0800

By: JoeZydeco

JoeZydeco — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:18:20 -0800

By: alteredcarbon

alteredcarbon — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:48:10 -0800