Harlan Ellison Dead: Legendary ‘Star Trek’, ‘A Boy And His Dog’ Sci-Fi Writer was 84

by Greg Evans
June 28, 2018 12:51pm

Harlan Ellison, one of the world’s foremost science fiction writers, has died at 83. His death was announced by a family friend via twitter.

“Susan Ellison has asked me to announce the passing of writer Harlan Ellison, in his sleep, earlier today. “For a brief time I was here, and for a brief time, I matter.’ – HE, 1934-2018. Arrangements for a celebration are pending.”

Among Ellison’s highly influential and very popular novels and novellas are 1969’s post-apocalyptic A Boy and His Dog (made into a 1975 cult film starring a young Don Johnson) and, among the very many short story collections, 1980’s Shatterday, which included the remarkable title story.

Among Ellison’s Hollywood work was the screenplay for the non-sci-fi The Oscar, starring Stephen Boyd, and he also wrote for such TV shows as The Flying Nun, Route 66, The Outer Limits, Star Trek and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.

Ellison’s Star Trek episode, The City on the Edge of Forever, is often cited as among the original series’ very best. Ellison himself was no fan of the end result, though, often complaining about rewrites.

The writer also was a creative consultant to both the 1980s Twilight Zone reboot and Babylon 5.

Biography A Lit Fuse: The Provocative Life of Harlan Ellison by Nat Segaloff was published last year.

Among the many awards won by Ellison are multiple Nebula, Hugo and Edward awards, along with Edgar Allen Poe and Writers Guild of America trophies.

The award-winning fantasy and science-fiction writer Harlan Ellison died today at the age of 84. His wife, Susan, confirmed the news. Ellison edited the influential anthology Dangerous Visions in 1967, and over the course of his storied career had won multiple Nebula, Hugo, Edward, Writers Guild of America, and Edgar Allen Poe Awards — to name just some of his honors.

https://deadline.com/2018/06/h...r-was-84-1202419133/

One of the greats. R.I.P.

It's not easy writing science fiction / fantasy. To get an idea, you can read a new short story every day at http://www.dailysciencefiction.com.

There are some new luminaries on the scene. I recently read a debut novel by Ann Leckie, "Ancillary Justice," which won both the Hugo and Nebula awards. Ellison scored multiples of both.

Now he is with “The guardian of forever”. Fine writing, Rest In Peace Harlan...

Agreed one of the greats. They seem to be passing over in numbers of late. Sad.

RIP Harlan. I read a lot of sci-fi back when I was a teenager he was my favorite.

Awesome writer. He will be missed!

Agreed, he was one of the masters and will be missed.

His name rings a bell. I was into reading pulp science fiction stories. RIP.

The Terminator was loosely based on his short story and Outer Limits episode 'Soldier'.

Another great has passed. RIP Harlan