Harlan Ellison suffered a stroke on Thursday, October 9 and is hospitalized. Harlan’s right side is paralyzed, his wife Susan told readers of his forum.
Mark Evanier adds he has been told Susan says Harlan’s mind is sharp and the rest of him seems unaffected.
Josh Olson commented on The Harlan Ellison Facebook Fan Club that a specialist visited Harlan on Friday: “She’s checking for slurring and loss of memory, and he’s being quintessential Harlan – talking a mile a minute, and throwing out more obscure references per minute than anyone can possibly keep up with.”
Harlan on stage at LV Creation event in August.
Update 10/14/2014: Good reports are coming in from Harlan’s visitors — see Eyewitnesses to Ellison’s Recovery.
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Is it grasping at straws to point out that Harlan’s left-handed, and thus very slightly less hampered by problems on the other side?
Good luck to you, Harlan! Even one half of you is better than a whioe lot of other writers!
FWIW, I had a stroke ten months ago, totally paralyzed on the right side. Couldn’t talk worth shit. But now I’m mostly back… thing is to not let it get you down.
Get well soon, Mr. Ellison.
I am sorry to hear this, as I have always liked Harlan. Still, it is good to know that his brilliant mind doesn’t seem to be affected. Prayers for Harlan and Susan…
Hey Harlan & Susan, big wave from Scotland. Thinking of you both and wishing you weel & home as soon as possible! Cuddles x
Speedy recovery to Mr. Ellison! He is needed now more than ever!
Been through it Hal. All the best. Bob Toth, Melbourne, Australia
Do not give up the fight for you are one of the last to see clearly this mess of humanity. You still have much to teach us. Get better. Be strong. We all love you…. by the way, thanks for all you have done to show that a cantankerous attitude is a sign of genius.
Harlan, I remember hearing you on “Hour 25” and I’ve always loved your writing and then I had the opportunity to interview you when you visited Kent State back in the late 80s and my respect for you and your work deepened.
I’m holding a good thought for you here in Ohio and hoping for your recovery.
Michael, it’s not grasping at straws at all. I had a stroke some years ago which paralysed my left side, but I’m right-handed. Things were difficult, but they could’ve been a lot worse if my dominant side had been the afflicted half. The real problem with stroke, as I’ve learned from my own experience, is that it will affect different people in different ways and to varying degrees; hopefully Harlan’s problems aren’t too hard to surmount.
I agree with James R. I’m a lefty. I messed up two disks in my neck this spring. Two epidurals later, I still have weakness and stiffness in my right hand–I’m basically an 8-fingered typist these days, as the last two aren’t worth much. Would be much worse if that were the side I ate and wrote with. But my impairment was much smaller than Harlan’s. He’s coping with damage to a whole side of his body, not just hand and (lesser degree) arm. The other better news is that lefties’ brains often aren’t as differentiated from one hemisphere to the other as righties’. That may, I hope, make his recovery easier.
Get as well as you can as soon as you can, Harlan!
Pulling for you, Harlan. Have a family member working to recover from a stroke and it’s possible although by his own admission not a cake walk. Still, we’re genuinely pulling for you. Hang in there.
So its caught up with you too you old bastard, but don’t worry it wont last, there is just too much energy whizzing around in your brain, and many more grovelling bastards to put in there place. give it a couple of months and you will be ambidextrous,k not a bad feeling. I as one of your fans miss you and look forward to your recovery….Best wishes…Jim
Oh, my God, those poor nurses. 😉 Were you on a deadline or something? This is procrastination at its finest. Get the hell up and get back to work.
I can think of few people who would be more pissed off by being partially paralyzed. I hope the problem is temporary and he’s back to being a fully functioning cranky old bastard soon.
Mr. Ellison, you have long been one of my favorites …. speedy healing!
All my best to a great writer and uplifting influence in my life. I sadly have never met Harlan, but his works have been an inspiration to me. If Harlan and I were actually acquainted I’d go for something more snarky and less “appropriate”, but for now I will be serious and sincere in wishing a speedy recovery to one of the few people in this world that I look up to (pardon the preposition… “up to whom I look” is kind of awkward usage).
Get well Uncle Harlan, get well. We need you!
Love and Light to both of you, Harlan (of the most beautiful hair) and Susan.
Wishing you a complete recovery!
Had a stroke myself over three years ago. Now I want strawberry ice cream all the time and forgot the last season of Seinfeld,I also walk like a zombie. I still write so that affliction has not changed and I still regard you as some arcane writing deity. This will explain all the animal carcasses at your doorstep. I blame Hallmark. Get well or I will demand the return of all of them, You made me want to be a writer. HEH!
love
Lonesome Cowboy Bill
Love your work. Work your love. I had a stroke three years ago and other than forgetting the last season of Seinfeld and walking like a zombie I am fine. The writing is an affliction that continues. You made me want to be a writer. I consider you to be an arcane literary deity. This explains all the animal carcasses at your door. Get better or I will demand them all back.
love
Lonesome Cowboy Bill
Harlan is responsible for two unforgettable memories: I’m still haunted by “I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream”; and I still giggle whenever I remember his appearance on the old Tom Synder show and the Martian joke.!
So sorry to hear this, I wish him all the best. Harlan is an incredible writer and human being, and I hope that things will turn out for the best. My love to him and Susan.
Get well soon Harlan!
Get well soon, Mr. Ellison. I have admired you and your work for many years.
Funny. I had been thinking about Harlan over the weekend, wondering how he was doing. An early inspiration, though I write nothing like him.
Add my voice to the choir: Get well, Harlan! Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.
Harlan, enough of this growing older business; it’s such a bore! Time for you to turn it around and start growing younger! If anyone can do it, you’re the guy!! We’re all pulling for you to get well, so don’t let us down. Don’t argue with the doctors too much and rip up the scenery during those physical therapy sessions. We hope to see you writing stories in book store windows soon even if you have to use dictation software and not use a keyboard.
Good reports are coming in from Harlan’s visitors — see Eyewitnesses to Ellison’s Recovery.
Harlan Ellison has been an advisor to the Q-Collection Comic Book Preservation Project for several years. http://q-comics.com/committee.htm I have spoken with Harlan on the telephone more than any other of our 26 Q-Collection advisors (in 19 countries). Harlan is not on-line and prefers one-on-one discussions. I mailed Mr. Ellison Q-Collection update packets irregularly during the many years he has been advising me on the Q-Project, but have been putting off the latest packet. The latest packet will include a lecture I am scheduled to give on THE PHILOSOPHY (and fun) OF AGING. I knew he’d enjoy reading what all of us are facing – in a humorous tone. That packet should go out to Harlan within the next week or so. I hope to hell that he’ll get to enjoy it. John Offerman Sindall, Ph.D., Q-Project Founder https://www.facebook.com/qcollectionproject
HARLAN ELLISON! Get well soon. I am sad you are brought low by this right-sided stroke thing, which you have cleverly foiled, by being a sinister leftward-leaning left-hander. That was thinking ahead! You’re in my prayers today for a complete and speedy recovery, and my Plan “B” is to just hope fervently you get better soon, because you are one of the good ones, Harlan. You are an amazing man, and you have forced an improvement, making the world better than when you arrived.
Your friend and fan,
Sam Longoria
Hollywood CA USA