# Theodore Kaczynski, Sci Fi writer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 11, 2003, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-kaczynski-sci-fi-writer/206858 "2003-10-11T16:44:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rufus\_T.Firefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@Rufus\_T.Firefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_T.Firefly)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-kaczynski-sci-fi-writer/206858/1 "2003-10-11T16:44:16Z")
While looking up details of various science fiction short stories, I ran across something interesting. I found a listing for a story called ‘Baby Boomers’ written by a Theodore Kaczynski, published in Galaxy in 1961. Of course, I recognized the name as being the same as the infmaous ‘Unabomber’. I know he wrote quite a lot, most notably his manifesto (which I believe came to light after his capture). Whether this is the same Kaczynski, or just a coincidence, I don’t know. I’ve scoured the web and can’t find anything to link the two together. Does anyone know if this IS the same person? Does anyone know what the story was about? ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-kaczynski-sci-fi-writer/206858/2 "2003-10-11T17:13:45Z")
Seems he (the unabomber) was 16 in 1958. So, unlikely: [http://www.steelhorsemag.com/harvard.htm](http://www.steelhorsemag.com/harvard.htm) Plus, the media would have disclosed unabomber’s publications. But ebay has this book: [http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3557513329&category=273](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3557513329&category=273) Would the story be in there? ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-kaczynski-sci-fi-writer/206858/3 "2003-10-11T17:18:32Z")
This list says it was published in 1969, not 1961: [http://www.hycyber.com/SF/galaxy\_ka.html](http://www.hycyber.com/SF/galaxy_ka.html) Is it also coincidence that the publication date is April 1? I note that the other publication dates on the list are just months, not specific dates. If it’s a gag, it’s either delicately subtle or profoundly obtuse, I can’t make up my mind which. In 1961, the Unabomber would have been an undergraduate at Harvard. 1969 would have been a couple years after his PhD, while he was a faculty member at Berkeley. ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_T.Firefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@Rufus\_T.Firefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_T.Firefly)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-kaczynski-sci-fi-writer/206858/4 "2003-10-11T17:24:25Z")
My bad. You’re right. It was 1969. Don’t know where I got 61 from…That makes more sense from a timing point of view. I’m always sceptical when I see Apr. 1st as a date, but I couldn’t imagine what the gag would be. And the site you pointed out was the same one that I found. I haven’t been able to find any other reference besides that one. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-kaczynski-sci-fi-writer/206858/5 "2003-10-11T18:29:22Z")
[Baby Boomers vs. The Unabomber](http://shtick.org/Breakdown/breakdown55.htm) ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-kaczynski-sci-fi-writer/206858/6 "2003-10-11T19:49:03Z")
I searched using this site [http://www.peopledata.com/](http://www.peopledata.com/) (warning, possible popups) and came up with 7 Theodore Kaczynskis. Two of the listings give a birth date in 1964.