[ExI] Harlan Ellison, one of science fiction’s most controversial authors, has died

[spike at rainier66.com]

From: extropy-chat <extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org <mailto:extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org> > On Behalf Of John Grigg

Subject: [ExI] Harlan Ellison, one of science fiction’s most controversial authors, has died

 

 

 

>>…I had no idea that he had assaulted my friend Charles Platt....  Wow...

 

 

>…Eh?  Ellison attacked John Wayne!  Unacceptable.

 

>…I am sorry to see Ellison has passed, but I can’t empathize with criticism of the Duke.  He was a good guy.

 

>…spike

 

 

 

I did some searching on this and found that Ellison wrote the Star Trek episode “City of the Edge of Forever” which is by far my favorite episode of the original series.  I don’t like the things he did, but I will cheerfully acknowledge his brilliance.

 

Keith, are you there, me lad?  Was Ellison among your many friends?

 

Regarding the business of Ellison’s groping Connie Willis, Isaac Asmov relates a story about an award ceremony where he was on the stage in front of a jillion people, posed for photos when this happened:

 

SCIENCE 

 

 

103 

 

 

A charming young woman, not quite five feet tall, made the presenta- 

tion and in simple gratitude I placed my arm about her waist. Owing to 

her unusually short height, however, I didn’t manage to get low enough 

and the result brought laughter from the audience. 

 

Trying to dismiss this embarrassing faux pas (though I must admit 

that neither of us budged) I said, “I’m sorry, folks. That’s just the Asimov 

grip.’’ 

 

And from the audience, Ben Bova (who, it seems appropriate to say in 

this particular connection, is my bosom buddy) called out, “Is that 

anything like the swine flu?” 

 

I was wiped out, and what does one do when one has been wiped out by 

a beloved pal? Why, one turns about and proceeds to try to wipe out some 

other beloved pal. — In this case, Arthur C. Clarke.

 

This is from a 1977 edition of Fact and Science Fiction, which I read at every opportunity in my misspent youth, not for the fiction but for Asimov’s non-fiction essay in every issue.

 

Note that I am not suggesting that Ellison’s pawing of Willis was accidental, even though I accept Asimov’s explanation.  Just saying: people who are giants of creativity are not necessarily good at everything.  

 

Anyone who has attended a gathering of really smart people know that such meetings are sometimes socially awkward (with the term “sometimes” defined as always) as the participants seem to compete to out-geek each other.  This is a good thing if one is socially awkward oneself: one feels comfortable among those similarly afflicted.  It is most entertaining when one brings a normal mate to such gatherings, just to watch the normal one’s horrified expressions at the things we do and say.  The Hako Sote episode at my house is still urban legend in my neighborhood.

 

spike

 

 

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