Story where a traumatised soldier in a hospital vanishes. ‘Experts’ don't understand that poets did this all the time and not a poet can be found anywhere. The story was in English. Perhaps it was by Asimov.


This is Alfred Bester's Disappearing Act.

It ends:

He waited for them to find a poet, not understanding the endless delay, the fruitless search, not understanding why Bradley Scrim laughed and laughed and laughed at this final, fatal disappearance.

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    Wasn't a Twilight Zone episode based on this? I know that's a little off-topic, but I remember there was an episode about three USAF astronauts that made it in a wreck and went to the base hospital. Then they ended up disappearing one by one with people not having any memory of their existence. – MissouriSpartan Nov 19 '18 at 19:28
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    @MissouriSpartan it's similar, but IMHO the point of the Bester story is that the country is so gunned up and focused on things that directly benefit the war effort, that poetry and other things that they are supposed to be defending have vanished. I don't remember that theme from the TV show. – Organic Marble Nov 19 '18 at 19:49
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    Thanks Organic Marble. That was quick. – Salil Nov 20 '18 at 2:08

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