Difference between revisions of "Harlan Ellison"

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(May 27, 1934 -- June 28, 2018)
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(May 27, 1934 – June 28, 2018)
  
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Harlan Ellison began as a [[fan]] in the [[Cleveland]] area and was an active fan in the 50s, attending [[Midwestcon 1]], a member of the [[Cleveland Science Fantasy Society]] (for which he edited ''[[Science Fantasy Bulletin]]''), creator of [[7th Fandom (Ellison)]], regular contributor to [[Science Fiction Five-Yearly]].  He was a member of the [[Terrans]], the [[Hydra Club]], the [[N3F]], and the [[MWA]].  Legends have grown around him such as the [[Midwestcon Incident]].
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'''Harlan Ellison''' was one of the [[sf community]]’s most notorious figures.  
  
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Fanzines include ''[[The Kong Papers]]'' (with [[Bill Rotsler]]), ''[[Dimensions]]'', ''[[An Invitation]]'',  ''[[Seventh Fandom]]'', ''[[A Statement of Posture]]'' (with [[Al Lewis]] for [[FAPA]]), and ''[[Vector (Ellison)|Vector]]'' (with [[Jim Schrieber]]).
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==Fan==
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He entered [[fandom]] in the [[Cleveland]] area and was an [[actifan]] in the 1950s, attending [[Midwestcon 1]], a member of the [[Cleveland Science Fantasy Society]] (for which he edited ''[[Science Fantasy Bulletin]]''), regular contributor to [[Science Fiction Five-Yearly]].  He was a member of the [[Terrans]], the [[Hydra Club]], the [[N3F]], and the [[MWA]].
  
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In the late 50s he started writing professionally and by the 60s was in [[Los Angeles]] area, writing scripts for Hollywood, media non-fiction and [[sf]]. His [[sf]] quickly established him as one of the most talented short fiction writers in the field.
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[[File:7fandom.jpeg|thumb|[[7th Fandom]]ites [[Bill Dignin]], [[John Magnus]] and Harlan Ellison, from left, at [[Clevention]] in 1955. Photo by [[Howard DeVore]]. ]]
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He rallied the [[7th Fandom|Phony 7th Fandom]]ites at [[HEcon]] in his apartment and led them, wielding the scarlet [[Birdbath]], to [[Midwestcon 4]]. The jeering reception these antics received had him ranting, “[[Mad Dog|The mad dogs have kneed us in the groin...!]]”
  
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He was [[GoH]] at [[Iguanacon II]] the 1978 [[Worldcon]] where he spent the convention living in a camper because of his opposition to Arizona's non-passage of the ERA.
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Just about every fan who ever knew him has a Harlan Ellison Story. Legends have grown around him, such as the [[Midwestcon Door Incident]], the [[Tricon Reminiscence (Panshin)#THE JELLYBEANS|Jellybeans]], the [[St. Louiscon Movie Screen Affair]] and the [[Cheech|savage, sullen, defiant and contemptuous tale of Cheech]]. He once tried to auction of a pregnant [[Carolyn Hickman]] on a street corner in [[Midwestcon 6|Bellefontaine, Ohio]], and he attempted to stop mere fans from being [[Hugo]] nominators at [[Pacificon II]].  
  
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Possibly his most famous project is (the unfinished) ''[[dangerous-visions-anthology|Dangerous Visions]]''.
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Driving cross country to [[SFCon]], the 1954 [[Worldcon]] in [[San Francisco]], with [[Roger Sims]] and [[George Young]], Harlan, behind the wheel, made an error in judgment, and they were chased by police. "Change seats!" Harlan ordered. "I don't have a license!" Barreling down the road, with the cops still pursuing, he and Roger traded spots, and Roger was able to talk his way out of the ticket.
  
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Ellison had a reputation for being abrasive and argumentative, and he has generally agreed with that. A good friend, [[Robert Bloch]], spoke at a roast for him, saying that other people take infinite pains; "Harlan gives them." For a short, early (1954) description of him see [[Peter Vortzimer]] in ''[[Abstract]] #8'' p61.
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[[Fanzines]] include ''[[7th Fandom (Ellison)]]'', ''[[The Kong Papers]]'' (with [[Bill Rotsler]]), ''[[Dimensions]]'', ''[[An Invitation]]'', ''[[Seventh Fandom]]'', ''[[A Statement of Posture]]'' (with [[Al Lewis]] for [[FAPA]]), and ''[[Vector (Ellison)|Vector]]'' (with [[Jim Schrieber]]).
  
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Tributes and remembrances by John L. Coker III, Esther Cole, and Jon D. Swartz appeared in Scientifiction:The First Fandom Report (New Series #56, 2nd Quarter 2018).  He was also remembered by several SF notables in the August 2018 issue of Locus.
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==Pro==
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In the late 1950s, he started writing professionally and by the ’60s was in [[Los Angeles]] area, writing scripts for Hollywood, media nonfiction and [[sf]]. His [[sf]] quickly established him as one of the most talented short-[[fiction]] writers in the field. (At 5-foot-2½, he was a was a short fiction writer, too.)
  
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{{link | website=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCS7bhYrtY0|text=Audio of talk Adaptation of Science Fiction to a Visual Media at Pacificon II}}
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He used the [[pseudonym]] '''Cordwainer Bird''' to alert the public when he felt his creative contribution to a project had been mangled. Other [[pennames]]: '''Jay Charby, Sley Harson, Ellis Hart, John Magnus, Paul Merchant, Pat Roeder, Ivar Jorgenson, Derry Tiger, Harlan Ellis '''and''' Jay Solo'''.
  
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{{SFE|name=ellison_harlan}}
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He was [[GoH]] at [[Iguanacon II]], the 1978 [[Worldcon]], where he spent the [[convention]] living in a camper because of his opposition to [[Arizona]]'s refusal to pass the Equal Rights Amendment.
  
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Possibly his most famous project is the (never finished) ''[[dangerous-visions-anthology|Last Dangerous Visions]]''.
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He was a notorious skirt chaser, and often crude about it. When he grabbed [[Connie Willis]]’ left breast on stage at the 2006 [[Hugo Awards]] ceremony and later claimed, “there was the slightest touch. A shtick, a gag between friends, absolutely NO sexual content,” this history did him no favors in [[fannish]] opinion.
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Ellison was frequently abrasive and argumentative, and he generally agreed with that. Despite his own fannish background, he was tended to be especially rude to and about [[fans]] and [[fandom]]. He was also quite litigious. And sometimes violent -- among other incidents, he slugged [[Charles Platt]] at the 1985 [[Nebula Awards]]. A good friend of Ellison’s, [[Robert Bloch]], spoke at a roast for him, saying that other people take infinite pains; "Harlan gives them."
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===More reading:===
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*A short, early (1954) description of him see [[Peter Vortzimer]] in ''[[Abstract]] #8'' p61.
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*Tributes and remembrances in ''[[Scientifiction: The First Fandom Report]]'' (New Series #56, 2nd Quarter 2018) and the August 2018 issue of ''[[Locus]].''
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*{{link | website=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCS7bhYrtY0|text=Audio of talk “Adaptation of Science Fiction to a Visual Media” at Pacificon II.}}
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*[https://www.laweekly.com/this-city-has-lost-its-wonder-harlan-ellison-has-left-the-building/ L.A. Weekly obituary.]
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*{{SFE|name=ellison_harlan}}.
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*[http://www.harlanellison.com/ Official website.]
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{{fanzines}}
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* ''[[7th Fandom (Ellison)]]''
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*''[[The Kong Papers]]'' (with [[Bill Rotsler]])
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*''[[Dimensions]]''
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*''[[An Invitation]]''
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* ''[[A Statement of Posture]]'' (with [[Al Lewis]] for [[FAPA]])
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* ''[[Vector (Ellison)|Vector]]'' (with [[Jim Schrieber]])
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{{recognition}}<br>
 
[[Hugo Award]] wins:
 
[[Hugo Award]] wins:
 
* [[1966 Best Short Fiction Hugo|Best Short Fiction Hugo]]
 
* [[1966 Best Short Fiction Hugo|Best Short Fiction Hugo]]
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[[Hugo Award]] nominations: [[1956 Most Promising New Author Hugo]], [[1967 Best Short Story Hugo]], [[1968 Best Fan Writer Hugo]], [[1968 Best Novelette Hugo]], [[1970 Best Novella Hugo]], [[1971 Best Short Story Hugo]], [[1971 Best Novella Hugo]], [[1973 Best Novelette Hugo]], [[1976 Best Short Story Hugo]], [[1978 Best Dramatic Presentation Hugo]], [[1979 Best Short Story Hugo]], [[1981 Best Novella Hugo]], [[1985 Best Non-Fiction Book Hugo]], [[1986 Best Non-Fiction Book Hugo]], [[1988 Best Other Forms Hugo]], [[1989 Best Novelette Hugo]], [[1990 Best Non-Fiction Book Hugo]], [[1994 Best Novella Hugo]]
 
[[Hugo Award]] nominations: [[1956 Most Promising New Author Hugo]], [[1967 Best Short Story Hugo]], [[1968 Best Fan Writer Hugo]], [[1968 Best Novelette Hugo]], [[1970 Best Novella Hugo]], [[1971 Best Short Story Hugo]], [[1971 Best Novella Hugo]], [[1973 Best Novelette Hugo]], [[1976 Best Short Story Hugo]], [[1978 Best Dramatic Presentation Hugo]], [[1979 Best Short Story Hugo]], [[1981 Best Novella Hugo]], [[1985 Best Non-Fiction Book Hugo]], [[1986 Best Non-Fiction Book Hugo]], [[1988 Best Other Forms Hugo]], [[1989 Best Novelette Hugo]], [[1990 Best Non-Fiction Book Hugo]], [[1994 Best Novella Hugo]]
  
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{{recognition}}
 
 
* 1954 -- [[Sheep Dip Award]]
 
* 1954 -- [[Sheep Dip Award]]
 
* 1961 -- [[Toastmaster]] at [[Seacon]]
 
* 1961 -- [[Toastmaster]] at [[Seacon]]
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* 1967 -- [[Toastmaster]] at [[NyCon 3]]
 
* 1967 -- [[Toastmaster]] at [[NyCon 3]]
 
* 1968 -- [[Ozarkon 3]], [[Triple Fan Fair]]
 
* 1968 -- [[Ozarkon 3]], [[Triple Fan Fair]]
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* 1969 -- [[PgHLANGE 2]], [[Science Fiction Week]], [[toastmaster]] at [[St. Louiscon]]
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* 1969 -- [[AggieCon I]], [[PgHLANGE 2]], [[Science Fiction Week]], [[toastmaster]] at [[St. Louiscon]]
 
* 1970 -- [[Forry Award]]
 
* 1970 -- [[Forry Award]]
 
* 1973 -- [[Lunacon 16]]
 
* 1973 -- [[Lunacon 16]]
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* 1976 -- [[Fourth Dimension Con]]
 
* 1976 -- [[Fourth Dimension Con]]
 
* 1977 -- [[Kwintus Kublius]], [[Jupiter Award]]
 
* 1977 -- [[Kwintus Kublius]], [[Jupiter Award]]
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* 1978 -- [[Moncon II]]
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* 1978 -- [[Moncon II]], '''[[Iguanacon]]'''
 
* 1982 -- [[Jerucon]]
 
* 1982 -- [[Jerucon]]
 
* 1983 -- [[Syncon '83]], [[Windycon (NZ)|Windycon]], [[ICFA 4]]
 
* 1983 -- [[Syncon '83]], [[Windycon (NZ)|Windycon]], [[ICFA 4]]
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* 2015 -- [[Special Guest]] at [[Archon 39]]
 
* 2015 -- [[Special Guest]] at [[Archon 39]]
 
* Four [[Nebula Award]] wins
 
* Four [[Nebula Award]] wins
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{{person | born=1934 | died=2018}}
 
{{person | born=1934 | died=2018}}

Revision as of 05:21, 14 January 2021

(May 27, 1934 – June 28, 2018)

Harlan Ellison was one of the sf community’s most notorious figures.

Fan[edit]

He entered fandom in the Cleveland area and was an actifan in the 1950s, attending Midwestcon 1, a member of the Cleveland Science Fantasy Society (for which he edited Science Fantasy Bulletin), regular contributor to Science Fiction Five-Yearly. He was a member of the Terrans, the Hydra Club, the N3F, and the MWA.

7th Fandomites Bill Dignin, John Magnus and Harlan Ellison, from left, at Clevention in 1955. Photo by Howard DeVore.

He rallied the Phony 7th Fandomites at HEcon in his apartment and led them, wielding the scarlet Birdbath, to Midwestcon 4. The jeering reception these antics received had him ranting, “The mad dogs have kneed us in the groin...!”

Just about every fan who ever knew him has a Harlan Ellison Story. Legends have grown around him, such as the Midwestcon Door Incident, the Jellybeans, the St. Louiscon Movie Screen Affair and the savage, sullen, defiant and contemptuous tale of Cheech. He once tried to auction of a pregnant Carolyn Hickman on a street corner in Bellefontaine, Ohio, and he attempted to stop mere fans from being Hugo nominators at Pacificon II.

Driving cross country to SFCon, the 1954 Worldcon in San Francisco, with Roger Sims and George Young, Harlan, behind the wheel, made an error in judgment, and they were chased by police. "Change seats!" Harlan ordered. "I don't have a license!" Barreling down the road, with the cops still pursuing, he and Roger traded spots, and Roger was able to talk his way out of the ticket.

Fanzines include Seventh Fandom, The Kong Papers (with Bill Rotsler), Dimensions, An Invitation, Seventh Fandom, A Statement of Posture (with Al Lewis for FAPA), and Vector (with Jim Schrieber).

Pro[edit]

In the late 1950s, he started writing professionally and by the ’60s was in Los Angeles area, writing scripts for Hollywood, media nonfiction and sf. His sf quickly established him as one of the most talented short-fiction writers in the field. (At 5-foot-2½, he was a was a short fiction writer, too.)

He used the pseudonym Cordwainer Bird to alert the public when he felt his creative contribution to a project had been mangled. Other pennames: Jay Charby, Sley Harson, Ellis Hart, John Magnus, Paul Merchant, Pat Roeder, Ivar Jorgenson, Derry Tiger, Harlan Ellis and Jay Solo.

He was GoH at Iguanacon II, the 1978 Worldcon, where he spent the convention living in a camper because of his opposition to Arizona's refusal to pass the Equal Rights Amendment.

Possibly his most famous project is the (never finished) Last Dangerous Visions.

He was a notorious skirt chaser, and often crude about it. When he grabbed Connie Willis’ left breast on stage at the 2006 Hugo Awards ceremony and later claimed, “there was the slightest touch. A shtick, a gag between friends, absolutely NO sexual content,” this history did him no favors in fannish opinion.

Ellison was frequently abrasive and argumentative, and he generally agreed with that. Despite his own fannish background, he was tended to be especially rude to and about fans and fandom. He was also quite litigious. And sometimes violent -- among other incidents, he slugged Charles Platt at the 1985 Nebula Awards. A good friend of Ellison’s, Robert Bloch, spoke at a roast for him, saying that other people take infinite pains; "Harlan gives them."

More reading:[edit]

Fanzines and Apazines:

Awards, Honors and GoHships:
Hugo Award wins:

Hugo Award nominations: 1956 Most Promising New Author Hugo, 1967 Best Short Story Hugo, 1968 Best Fan Writer Hugo, 1968 Best Novelette Hugo, 1970 Best Novella Hugo, 1971 Best Short Story Hugo, 1971 Best Novella Hugo, 1973 Best Novelette Hugo, 1976 Best Short Story Hugo, 1978 Best Dramatic Presentation Hugo, 1979 Best Short Story Hugo, 1981 Best Novella Hugo, 1985 Best Non-Fiction Book Hugo, 1986 Best Non-Fiction Book Hugo, 1988 Best Other Forms Hugo, 1989 Best Novelette Hugo, 1990 Best Non-Fiction Book Hugo, 1994 Best Novella Hugo


Person 1934—2018
This is a biography page. Please extend it by adding more information about the person, such as fanzines and apazines published, awards, clubs, conventions worked on, GoHships, impact on fandom, external links, anecdotes, etc. See Standards for People and The Naming of Names.

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