Harlan Ellison – 1980
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In a 1980 interview segment, Harlan Ellison discusses his intense dislike of being called a "science fiction" writer, and recalls an incident where he walked out of a TV interview.
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January 25th, 2012 - 12:14
I wish more people in this world were like Harlan Ellison. Once he’s gone, the world will be a much grimmer place.
January 25th, 2012 - 12:17
Harlan Ellison during his “A Better Tomorrow” phase.
January 25th, 2012 - 12:47
. . . Good God, he’s awesome. Why can’t there be more people in the world like that? XD
January 25th, 2012 - 13:25
@posthumanhero Christ, learn to type correctly or at least grasp a little of the English language and grammar before flaunting your worthless opinion.
January 25th, 2012 - 13:34
I almost died laughing when he did his womans voice. I never would’ve guessed he could do such a high pitched voiced. Thank you for uploading this
January 25th, 2012 - 13:45
Looks a bit like Robert Blake.
January 25th, 2012 - 13:54
@Shatnerspeare I lol’d so hard.
January 25th, 2012 - 14:12
@Moredread25 because he’s petty….oh poor guy has to get called a science fiction writer……like he only wrote for outer limits among a million opther sci fio related things………i think i really like him circa 1967, but find him to be a nudge here.
January 25th, 2012 - 14:40
how did such a hip dude become such a jerk?…….the interview u can find on here from around 1967 has him so full of wonder and hope for science fiction writing — giving, down to earth, cool…….and by the 70s he started being this whiny complainer…………just totally uncool…….did something happen to him?
January 25th, 2012 - 15:03
Hey Harlan,
Forget about Beowulf. Now here’s Beofool. If you only had true wist of what the prefix ‘beo’ meant you’d laugh. A synonym for snob. You might be a Beofool!
January 25th, 2012 - 16:00
Harlan is such a prick! He dists Krantz & Pyne–merely droch chaint* (deserving or not)–a real blondenfeaxed* rudesby. Good thing he’s not a psycho-babbler like Hubbard. There’s actually a coherent point to what he says. Reminds me of George Reeves, the original superman, who’s pissed about being typecast.
* Gaelic, Anglo-Saxon for grizzly-hair, vulgarity.
January 25th, 2012 - 16:08
@aculturemind Really great response. Being a pedantic young male myself, I am relieved to see that someone understands. My family wants to throw me out the window sometimes (and I’m sure that is the case for Harlan’s as well.), but I would rather die than pass up a good opportunity to argue for a cause which I believe to be just, even if clueless spectators are hanging their heads in shame. It’s called valor, manthasagittarius. Or as aculturemind put it better, “internal fortitude.”
January 25th, 2012 - 16:40
@manthasagittarius Until he sits you down in a bar, talk you sweetly and swoon you over like it usually goes downt. (Well, won’t happen anymore now that he’s a corpse, but ya get the drift.)
January 25th, 2012 - 17:13
“Shatterday” is one of his classics, Read Jefty Is Five and let it grab you and make you think.
January 25th, 2012 - 17:23
@pniner LADIES man??!! Look, I’ve loved this guy as a writer for many, many years — always halfway between cringing and gobsmacked with admiration at his technique, his voice, his insights — but I’d sooner get into bed with a roll of barbed wire. And yes — he is a narcissist. Solipsistic as a three year old. This is not “backbone”, it’s a combination of “F-you first” preemptive rejection and sheer lack of interpersonal chops.
January 25th, 2012 - 17:52
@standinstann Dave’s a snazzier dresser than that.. or so I thought.
January 25th, 2012 - 18:29
RIP MEREDITH.
Had an aunt that died of the same causes right around the same time. Weird
January 25th, 2012 - 19:07
@luv2bud
I don’t think it’s narcissism. It’s internal fortitude, unashamedly expressed. So, yeah, fuck ‘em. Or, as I like to borrow: kill em all, an let god sort ‘em out.
January 25th, 2012 - 19:26
Why is he dressed like David Bowie?
January 25th, 2012 - 19:32
I read a long interview of Harlan (in The Comic Reader?) in 1978, when I was in the eighth grade, and he became my hero and role model. Now I can see that he was-is fairly Narcissistic and unnecessarily abrasive, but he definitely has backbone, and won’t kiss anyone’s ass. I’ve gotten in a fair amount of trouble over the years for that kind of attitude, but fuck ‘em all, right Harlan?
January 25th, 2012 - 20:18
Shatnerspeare thats freakin funny…lol.
January 25th, 2012 - 20:48
Nice old lady voice, Harlan.
January 25th, 2012 - 21:10
Give the man his bedside manner… Harlan Ellison has a gifted mind that drank in every bit of booklore he could find in his youth. His essays from his life… his marching with Cesar Chavez… his penning a column for the controversial Free Press that mysteriously burnt down in California… whats not to like about the man? Honesty is so rarely found these days.. and usually disdained by those who havent a clue as to what life is about.