Harlan Ellison, one of the greats of speculative fiction ("
Call me a 'science-fiction' writer and I'll come to your house and nail your pet's head to the table"), activism, columns, film criticism, and countless other areas of literature, cinema, television, and entertainment, passed away today.
Harlan Ellison may be best known for his writing. He has written novels, short stories, and television scripts (including the original script for the
Star Trek episode "City on the Edge of Forever") and has won countless awards for his work. His short story "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream" is one of the most-translated stories in English. And he's responsible for innumerable great quotes; possibly his most famous is "The two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity."
Ellison was also a passionate and prolific critic. When he hated a work, he'd trash it endlessly. When he loved a work (or person), his praise was limitless. He was an outspoken activist as well, weighing in on all sorts of political and cultural issues. He was also an advocate for the creative, and his "pay the writer!" rant is famous for standing up to those who see writers as less. And he engaged in (and usually won) several lawsuits to protect his creations and intellectual property.
I was fortunate enough to have heard Harlan Ellison speak several times at the I-CON convention in Long Island, New York. He was a brilliant, energetic, and thoroughly engaging speaker. I also got to meet with him as well, and several books that he signed for me are among my most prized possessions.
Rest in peace, Harlan Ellison. You will be missed.
James Lynch
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