The Perpetually Overflowing Cornucopia of Ellison News

Harlan Ellison’s short story ”He Who Grew Up Reading Sherlock Holmes” is a free read on the Subterranean Press site. (It’s dedicated to “the memory of my friend Ray Bradbury.”)

A bad thing had happened. No, a “Bad Thing” had happened. A man in Fremont, Nebraska cheated an honest old lady, and no one seemed able to make him retract his deed to set things right. It went on helplessly for the old lady for more than forty years. Then, one day, she told a friend. Now I will tell you a story. Or a true anecdote. For those who wish this to be “a story I never wrote,” have at it; for those who choose to believe that I am recounting a Real Life Anecdote, I’m down with that, equally: your choice.

The Archive of American Television features a large suite of short videos from its Ellison interview:

In these selections from his Archive interview, writer Harlan Ellison recalls some of his earliest television assignments. He discusses writing for Ripcord, The Twilight Zone, and The Flying Nun, and talks about his pseudonym, Cordwainer Bird. He speaks of working with the Writers Guild of America, shares how he writes scripts, and tells the tale of walking off his first directing job. Ellison also touches on his review of the 2013 film “Saving Mr. Banks,”comments on his mantra, and explains what his epitaph will be. Nat Segaloff conducted the interview on February 2, 2013 in Sherman Oaks, CA. This interview is a co-production between the Writers Guild of America and the Archive of American Television.

Another perspective on the Koenig/Ellison session at last weekend’s Trek con in Las Vegas:

The last day of the convention was a combination of weary participants, all of whom seemed to be more than capable of keeping a very cheerful “stiff upper lip,” and last day exuberance. There were still lots of things going on. Walter Koenig sat with Harlan Ellison and chatted about the old days and despite Mr. Koenig’s frail appearance yesterday evening, this 77 year-old actor sounds a good 20 years younger when he speaks and shows those sparkling eyes.

Mr. Ellison, who is not only an award-winning author but a prolific one as well, is a crowd pleaser and popular with fans. The writer was at the event each and every day and when he showed up in the vendor’s room to sign autographs for fans, the queue, aka line, stretched around the room. This 80 year-old creative genius has a reputation for being vitriolic and not suffering fools gladly, both of which almost guarantee a place in most fan’s hearts.

(And here’s a link to a Las Vegas blogger’s Q&A with Walter Koenig.)

3 thoughts on “The Perpetually Overflowing Cornucopia of Ellison News

  1. “…..A man in Fremont, Nebraska cheated an honest old lady, and no one seemed able to make him retract his deed to set things right. It went on helplessly for the old lady for more than forty years…….”

    Was she a writer who submitted a story to Last Dangerous Visions, expecting it to be published and help her earn a living….?

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