Harlan Ellison passes
David sends us the sad news that Harlan Ellison, an American writer has passed at the age of 84. He is probably best known for his science fiction work that included screen plays for episodes of Star Trek, The Twilight Zone, and Babylon 5.
Like most of his generation he was a veteran of the US Army from 1957-1959.
Ellison’s disputatious personality was legendary among science-fiction aficionados. He was as caustic and pugnacious in person as he was on the page—a confrontation with Frank Sinatra is recorded in the famed Esquire profile “Frank Sinatra Has a Cold”; he settled out of court over allegations that James Cameron had plagiarized elements of his work in writing the screenplay for The Terminator (1984); and he once sent a dead gopher to a publisher who violated a clause in his contract. He frequently mocked his own fractious tendencies and misanthropic attitudes, indicating a more-humanist worldview than his ornery disposition might initially have suggested. His flamboyance was on full display in the documentary Dreams with Sharp Teeth, released in 2008 after more than 25 years of filming.
Category: We Remember
That is some strange wine.
Never fuck with the mouse.
Rest in Peace Harlan, I enjoyed your writings.
In the Army from 1057-1959? That is some SERVICE!
Actually, he was ROTC for the first 900 years, with only the last two AD. So, really, it ain’t all that.
I’ve hear the expression of being in since Christ was a Corporal — this dude comes close.
I served with some fellows who would have still not made E-5 during that time frame.
Back in the early 60s I used to check the retirement lists in the Army Times for “professional privates”. There were more than I expected. Of course, back then my career field included MOS 630, Mechanic’s Helper, that capped at PFC. Oh, my career field also included a lot of drunks, too.
Knew a guy who retired as a PFC circa 1984. ‘Course, he got court-martialed and reduced from SFC not long before retiring. (smile)
And yeah, he was under the “final pay” retirement system. So that really hurt financially.
He had a Norman Invasion combat patch.
He was definitely a curmudgeon. And a fine storyteller. And a cranky sort.
If it’s fiction, I haven’t read it. I’m just glad I saw disputatious used in a sentence.
I tried to type it four times then gave up.
Looks like he served under Duke William of Normandy around 1066. Wow this guy had some life. You sure that he was not an immortal.
Apparently the Ticktockman decided Ellison’s time was up.
RIP, Mr. Ellison. You could indeed write.
FWIW: if you have never read his work . . . there are a few of his stories you should. I’d suggest starting with I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream.
Fair winds and following seas, Mr. Ellison.
I read Rumble in the 8th grade, a friend of mine had just finished it, and gave it to me to read. I loved that book.
1st time I ever heard of a ‘Zip Gun’.
In his introduction to “Web of the City”, he claimed to have gone to “RANGER Basic Training” at Benning, where he wrote the mentioned title while sitting on the “head” (isn’t that a Navy slang for toilet…I could have sworn the Army called it “latrine):
https://books.google.com/books?id=L1E4CgAAQBAJ&pg=PT9&lpg=PT9&dq=Harlan+Ellison,+introduction+to+“Web+Of+The+City”&source=bl&ots=RRcgsEWJlT&sig=2wv6CkiJv539QCNxALaG3-4vwVI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjZkZnvpfnbAhVBO30KHWR3Dbc4ChDoATAFegQIBBAB#v=onepage&q=Harlan%20Ellison%2C%20introduction%20to%20″Web%20Of%20The%20City”&f=false
https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!topic/alt.fan.harlan-ellison/eopqX_BOcsY
He also admitted that as a PFC at Fort Knox in 1958 (writing for their newspaper), that he constantly was demoted to PVT, which explains his short service from 1957-1959.
He also claimed he broke his Drill SGT’s back.
Yep…guy knew how to write fiction.
He was allowed to have a typewriter and paper during basic? I don’t think so.
He was “in the head” sitting on the shyter lol
Would this be the same Harlan Ellison who in 1968 declared ROTC cadets at Texas A&M to be “America’s next generation of nazis?”
Yeah, forgive me if I don’t shed a tear for the asshole.
Most bios say he was caustic and pugnacious and pretty much of an a-hole.
He got kicked out of college. He said the expulsion was for hitting a professor who had denigrated his writing ability
If he went in the Army about 1957 he was about 23, kind of old to be drafted and he doesn’t seem like the volunteer type.
Anything known about his actual Army service? Nothing on the internet.
Well, he said that he went to “RANGER” Basic Training at Benning in 1957 and served at Knox afterwards.
Probably served if he was drafted, but embellished his short military service.
Yup, that is the same one. Like I said, he was a dick and he might have been a good writer but he was a huge Ass.
Most likely, TOW. I also read he was Anti-Vietnam in the 60s.
Probably carried a grudge against the military because of a possible failure in the US Army and projected it on his beliefs in the 60s. Course, he was drafted, so he may had no true interest in serving.
Probably dating Hanoi Jane?
I have read his stuff. Was not a huge fan, he was a dick. I saw him on a show once whining about how he would be remembered. Well, we will find out.
Pretty sure he was a draftee. Let’s face it, some people got drafted who shouldn’t be let out in public. However: one of the most influential 20th century sci-fi writers who wrote for (and pissed off) about every show out there. His written work is where he shone – I remember being blown away reading “Paingod” in 7th grade.
As I told Jonn, locate a copy of “Pretty Maggie Moneyeyes” – maybe one of the best short stories I have ever read.
Normally, I would say nothing since I can say nothing good. However, having had the dubious pleasure of meeting him in person; of having him do one of his patented asshole efforts at an event knowing that he was out-of-line for so doing; of having had to try to clean up the mess he made for the organization in question and having to live with the fact that he fucked them in the ass in regards some outside participants; and, of having him damage in an attempt to destroy the value of a collectible item belonging to someone I knew because he didn’t like someone else who had signed it, I can’t say more than that he was an asshole who I never saw apologize for anything he did to anyone or anything. Not that impressed with his writing, though I will give some marks to City on the Edge of Forever and his input to Babylon 5. That said, I have prayed for his soul.
Wow.
By contrast, saw Rod Serling (former Marine) once and he was personable, witty, and despite being totally unprepared (last minute replacement for Ray Bradbury) he held us spellbound for two hours.
‘By contrast’?
Serling, according to my Dad, when watching ‘The Twilight Zone’ and ‘Night Gallery’ with me, ‘was a Paratrooper who fought the Japs and suffered more than one wound in combat against them, and he wa a helluva boxer, too!’. The was passed on to him by his Uncle, who was an Army sharpshooter in the Pacific during WW2′.
Regarding Ellison; I think you need to look up his writing credits and awards. I think you’d be pleasantly surprised. 😉
Writer of one of, if not the greatest episodes, ever – ‘City on the edge of forever’.
Won a settlement from James Cameron over ‘The Terminator’, alleging – and then proving in court – that the basic story for the story ‘The Terminator’ was stolen from one of Ellison’s stories written for ‘The Outer Limits’.
Thanks for the many hours of entertainment, Mr. Ellison.
I get the feeling that he doen’t rate for entry into Valhall, so I’ll just say ‘Safe Travels, Mr. Ellison.’
Could not have been a Ranger, as the Rangers were disbanded at the end of the Korean Conflict and only reinstituted starting around 1962/63/something like that.
Ellison was a virulent supporter of gun control and confiscation.
And he was a lying sack of shit who claimed to be a Ranger — at a time when there were no Ranger units in existence, even.