(Untitled)

[kateorman]

A list of SF cliches includes "Psychedelic drugs give somebody magical power over space, time and reality," but off the top of my head I can only think of a couple of examples (The Stars My Destination and arguably Vurt). Anybody got any others?

Comments

[3lobed]

I can add Greg Egan's "The Infinite Assassin" to the list but you're right, it's interesting, it's an idea that feels like it should be a cliche but hasn't been used as much as it seems to have been.

Oh, if can draw on games, though, then we've got the supervillain "Purple Haze" from Champions, the drug "spook" from Necromunda, and Narco-Alchemy from Unknown Armies.

[strangedave]

The Plutonian Drug from a Clark Ashton Smith story, the one with the Hounds of Tindalos I think. Drug grants the power of psychic time travel.

[infinitarian]

The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch. Also The Book of the War.

[iblis_kukl]

I'm about to read Phil Dick's Now Wait for Last Year, and from the plot description I think that can be added to the list as well.

Palmer Eldritch definitely qualifies, though.

eliazar

[jack_ryder]

"Time Travel for Pedestrians" by Ray Nelson from "Again, Dangerous Visions". Time travel through the process of masturbating whilst tripping.

(PS - It doesn't work.)