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Harlan Ellison still angry, still writing at 81
The Jewish Advocate ^ | May 22, 2015 | Nat Segaloff

Posted on 05/30/2015 10:36:56 AM PDT by EveningStar

Harlan Ellison is still an angry young man, except he'll be 81 on May 27. He has used this anger, fueled by childhood anti-Semitism, throughout his extraordinary career as a writer of speculative fiction. This year saw the publication of his 116th and 117th (so far) books: The Top of the Volcano, a collection of his awardwinning short stories, and a graphic novelization of his original script for "The City on the Edge of Forever," widely considered the best Star Trek episode ever written.

Although Ellison's hundreds of published stories contain a wealth of Jewish characters, his most complex creation is Ellison himself. Born in Cleveland Heights, Ohio in 1934 and raised in nearby Painesville, "We were not very Jewish," he said of his family. "I was a Shabbos Jew. We were Jewish when it came to the High Holy Days. The rest of the time, the only time Jewishness was brought up was when somebody called somebody a kike and there had been a fight. And that was usually me."

(Excerpt) Read more at thejewishadvocate.com ...


TOPICS: Books/Literature; Chit/Chat; Religion; Society; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: 2ndamendment; antisemitism; author; banglist; clevelandheights; harlanellison; israel; mystery; ohio; painesville; sciencefiction; scifi; screenwriter; secondamendment; startrek; writer
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To: Olog-hai

Not the impression I got but ok.


21 posted on 05/30/2015 11:09:30 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Proud Infidel, Gun Nut, Religious Fanatic and Freedom Fiend)
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To: The Antiyuppie
I actually met him once and was almost flattened by his ego. OTOH, Ray Bradbury and Jerry Pournelle (a bit loud) were pretty good guys. Bradbury was very old but still pretty sharp.

I was at a club meeting when I overheard one author observe that Harlan Ellison's ego was so massive, it had collapsed into itself and became a black hole, sucking the light out of any room he entered. Harlan laughed about it as the lights in the room suddenly went out. The electrical problem was quickly fixed, but has always stuck in my mind as an example.

The first time I met him was nearly 40 years ago when I was hauled to a Christmas pool party, and I was very much a brat to someone who had drunk too much. Being bitter from being at this party on my birthday, I took it as a challenge when my mother grabbed my arm and pointed me at Harlan, telling me that if I didn't have anything nice to say, I should go say it to him.

Took another six years before I fully understood some of his replies to my eight year old taunts.

22 posted on 05/30/2015 11:17:27 AM PDT by kingu (Everything starts with slashing the size and scope of the federal government.)
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To: The Antiyuppie

You mean Two of Thirty Eight?


23 posted on 05/30/2015 11:18:02 AM PDT by Squawk 8888 (Will steal your comments & post them on Twitter)
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To: EveningStar

Is the graphic novelization of the City on The Edge of Forever going to follow the TV plot or his original plot??


24 posted on 05/30/2015 11:29:15 AM PDT by scrabblehack
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear
I do have to wonder how much of what he perceived as anti-semitism in childhood was instead kids being their usual nasty selves and picking on anyone who was the slightest bit different.

No doubt plenty of that, especially if he didn't fit in perfectly. Jr High is about the crappiest time in a person's life if they are not good looking and popular.

But, when someone calls you a Jew-boy or kike and then punches you, well that's pretty clear.

Either way, it appears he had a rather combative youth.

25 posted on 05/30/2015 11:29:47 AM PDT by ChildOfThe60s (If you can remember the 60s, you weren't regally there....)
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To: EveningStar

Still writing, still lousy would be my guess.


26 posted on 05/30/2015 11:34:56 AM PDT by ifinnegan
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To: ChildOfThe60s

It appears to me he’s more a self-aggrandizing confabulator.


27 posted on 05/30/2015 11:38:09 AM PDT by ifinnegan
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To: The Antiyuppie
When Voyager was on, I would refer to Jeri Ryan as “11 of 10”.

Around our house she was known as "One with Two."

28 posted on 05/30/2015 11:39:37 AM PDT by papertyger
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To: ifinnegan
It appears to me he’s more a self- aggrandizing confabulator.

Concur.

I just thought of him as a shitty house guest. He writes a story for established characters, tries to remakes those characters, then throws a fit when no one wants to let him pee in their literary corners.

29 posted on 05/30/2015 11:48:53 AM PDT by papertyger
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To: papertyger

I don’t usually use the following, but it is apropos. Lol!


30 posted on 05/30/2015 11:53:53 AM PDT by ifinnegan
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To: shibumi

Hitler Painted Roses ping


31 posted on 05/30/2015 11:56:53 AM PDT by Salamander (Subhuman)
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To: Vaquero

As many on here already know, Jeri Ryan was indirectly responsible for Barack Obama’s rise to the Presidency.


32 posted on 05/30/2015 12:02:14 PM PDT by Bratch
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To: EveningStar

I prefer “The Trouble with Tribbles”, and especially Scotty’s ending line.


33 posted on 05/30/2015 12:04:23 PM PDT by SES1066 (Quality, Speed or Economical - Any 2 of 3 except in government - 1 at best but never #3!)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

He played Captain Decker. He dies in the episode and is surived by at least one son who became a Commander and later was Captain of the Enterprise before Kirk took back over in “Star Trek: The Motion Picture.”


34 posted on 05/30/2015 12:09:28 PM PDT by Fledermaus (Republican elites are as useless as bacteria in a flea's butt!!)
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To: The Antiyuppie

I called Ryan “ Rack of Nine”


35 posted on 05/30/2015 12:15:39 PM PDT by Vaquero ( Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
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To: EveningStar

His anger is legendary. His talent is spectacular. His literary output, unfortunately, taped off to nothing in recent years, his time now all spent on revenge and law suits.


36 posted on 05/30/2015 12:16:09 PM PDT by pabianice (LINE)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

He certainly did! It’s one of my favorite scenes ever from ST.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9djuORzi9rU

Regards,

PS: Here’s a clip from a Sci-Fi Channel special. It’s kind of choppy, but there are some good clips from Mr. Windom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1-GYMpM2HA


37 posted on 05/30/2015 12:17:52 PM PDT by VermiciousKnid (Sic narro nos totus!)
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To: EveningStar

Two of my favorites were the episodes he wrote for The Outer Limits- Soldier (with Michael Ansara) and Demon With the Glass Hand (with Robert Culp).


38 posted on 05/30/2015 12:21:28 PM PDT by mikeus_maximus
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To: Bratch
As many on here already know, Jeri Ryan was indirectly responsible for Barack Obama’s rise to the Presidency.

Yes ...Ryan, Senator Jack Ryan, and the people of Illinois, alive and dead.......had Jeri Ryan agreed to a three way with Jack and another hot chick, Hillary would have probably been elected in 08.

39 posted on 05/30/2015 12:23:29 PM PDT by Vaquero ( Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
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To: VermiciousKnid
Can't forget his work with my first true love ;) Inger Stevens
40 posted on 05/30/2015 12:24:36 PM PDT by papertyger
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