Kirk Allen
Encyclopedia
"Kirk Allen" was the pseudonym given to a patient of Robert Mitchell Lindner's, in his book The Fifty-Minute Hour. Born in Hawaii
in 1918, "Kirk" soon became obsessed with a series of novels, the protagonist of which shared his name. Due to "Allen's" anonymity, it is unclear what the series was, apart from the fact that it was science fiction
. Some have theorized that the series was the "Barsoom
" books, by Edgar Rice Burroughs
, featuring the main character "John Carter".
"Kirk" attended University, and became a scientist, working with the United States Military on a classified research project during World War II
, which helped to bring about the war's end.
Meanwhile, convinced that the novels were his personal biography, he "filled in" many omitted details from the novels, from his own "recollection". He was incredibly thorough, creating full-color maps, sketches, a glossary of names and terms, socio-economic data, etcetera. In his own words:
Eventually, he reached the outer limits of the scope of the novels, and began to "recall" his/the character's further adventures. He even began to hallucinate being in the various settings of his stories, physically experiencing them.
Soon, his employers became aware of his psychotic condition, and demanded that he get psychiatric treatment. Reluctantly, he conceded. His psychoanalyst was Lindner, who would eventually write a popular case-study of Allen.
Lindner eventually cured Allen, by immersing himself in the fantasy world, but in the process became himself obsessed.
Paul Linebarger (better known by his nom de plume, Cordwainer Smith) was long rumored to have been the original "Kirk Allen," According to Cordwainer Smith scholar Alan C. Elms, this speculation first reached print in Brian Aldiss
's 1973 history of science fiction, Billion Year Spree; Aldiss, in turn, claimed to have gotten the information from Leon Stover
. More recently, both Elms and librarian Lee Weinstein have gathered circumstantial evidence to support the case for Linebarger's being "Allen," but both concede there is no direct proof that Linebarger was ever a patient of Lindner's or that he suffered from a disorder similar to that of "Kirk Allen."
created the comic book series "Starborn", based on the story of Kirk Allen.
Carl Sagan
wrote about this case in Chapter 10 of his book The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
, Ballantine Books, March 1996.
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
in 1918, "Kirk" soon became obsessed with a series of novels, the protagonist of which shared his name. Due to "Allen's" anonymity, it is unclear what the series was, apart from the fact that it was science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
. Some have theorized that the series was the "Barsoom
Barsoom
Barsoom is a fictional representation of the planet Mars created by American pulp fiction author Edgar Rice Burroughs, who wrote close to 100 action adventure stories in various genres in the first half of the 20th century, and is now best known as the creator of the character Tarzan...
" books, by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.-Biography:...
, featuring the main character "John Carter".
"Kirk" attended University, and became a scientist, working with the United States Military on a classified research project during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, which helped to bring about the war's end.
Meanwhile, convinced that the novels were his personal biography, he "filled in" many omitted details from the novels, from his own "recollection". He was incredibly thorough, creating full-color maps, sketches, a glossary of names and terms, socio-economic data, etcetera. In his own words:
“My first effort, then, was to remember. I started by fixing in my mind, and later on paper in the forms of maps, genealogical tables, and so on, what the author of my biography had put down. When I had this mastered, by remembering I was able to correct his errors, fill in many details, and close gaps between one volume of the biography and the next."
Eventually, he reached the outer limits of the scope of the novels, and began to "recall" his/the character's further adventures. He even began to hallucinate being in the various settings of his stories, physically experiencing them.
Soon, his employers became aware of his psychotic condition, and demanded that he get psychiatric treatment. Reluctantly, he conceded. His psychoanalyst was Lindner, who would eventually write a popular case-study of Allen.
Lindner eventually cured Allen, by immersing himself in the fantasy world, but in the process became himself obsessed.
Paul Linebarger (better known by his nom de plume, Cordwainer Smith) was long rumored to have been the original "Kirk Allen," According to Cordwainer Smith scholar Alan C. Elms, this speculation first reached print in Brian Aldiss
Brian Aldiss
Brian Wilson Aldiss, OBE is an English author of both general fiction and science fiction. His byline reads either Brian W. Aldiss or simply Brian Aldiss. Greatly influenced by science fiction pioneer H. G. Wells, Aldiss is a vice-president of the international H. G. Wells Society...
's 1973 history of science fiction, Billion Year Spree; Aldiss, in turn, claimed to have gotten the information from Leon Stover
Leon Stover
Leon Eugene Stover was an anthropologist, a Sinologist, and a science fiction fan, who wrote both fiction and nonfiction. He was a scholar of the works of H. G. Wells and Robert A. Heinlein.-Scholarly career:...
. More recently, both Elms and librarian Lee Weinstein have gathered circumstantial evidence to support the case for Linebarger's being "Allen," but both concede there is no direct proof that Linebarger was ever a patient of Lindner's or that he suffered from a disorder similar to that of "Kirk Allen."
In Popular Culture
In 2011, Stan LeeStan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
created the comic book series "Starborn", based on the story of Kirk Allen.
Carl Sagan
Carl Sagan
Carl Edward Sagan was an American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, science popularizer and science communicator in astronomy and natural sciences. He published more than 600 scientific papers and articles and was author, co-author or editor of more than 20 books...
wrote about this case in Chapter 10 of his book The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
The Demon-Haunted World
The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark is a book by astrophysicist Carl Sagan, which was first published in 1995.The book is intended to explain the scientific method to laypeople, and to encourage people to learn critical or skeptical thinking...
, Ballantine Books, March 1996.