Would you consider Dr. Hofmann's "famous discovery" to have had any great
influence on SCI-FI?
Certainly, the "Sixties" which adopted it as well as marijuana and several
other "psychedelics" had its influence on the SF of the time, in
particular the many stories and novels of "altered states" and "alternate
realities" (now generally "virtual realities", but still the same old BS)
ever since.
One short story along those lines I remember in particular from the
Seventies was Silverberg's "All the Way Up, All the Way Down", about a
telepathic-drug-trip (in a densely-packed residential "monad", at that).
But I think the most interesting SF story I've read about LSD was
Cordwainer Smith's "Under Old Earth", where the "congohelium" is plainly
you-know-what, and which very much made me suspect Linebarger wrote it in
the wake of a little "experiment", from the sound of it at a nice _metal_
concert or club, and it basically scared holy Hell out of 'im.
Too bad Lovecraft wasn't around for a session . . . .
--
My friends, I have come to you from a faraway land
of sand and palm upon a voyage of discovery,
and I count myself fortunate above all men,
for upon this my first night in your land
I have been taken to your leader, King Peyote,
and have been raised up instead of put down,
and have been shown the wonders of the world
which are presently turning red before me
and falling like a waterfall.
< _The Journey of Joenes_


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