Harlan Ellison's last convention this weekend, says he's dying

[palitoy]

I really dread getting autographs in case the person is a dick and somehow the experience sours me. Ellison however, really wouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. I have to think that anyone who appreciates his work would come prepared.

Personally, I'd go to see him speak but don't need his signature.

[huedell]

I really dread getting autographs in case the person is a dick and somehow the experience sours me. Ellison however, really wouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. I have to think that anyone who appreciates his work would come prepared.

Personally, I'd go to see him speak but don't need his signature.

I don't think everyones after his signature I know I wouldn't.....I like that he's a crank and speaks his mind.

Yes, it's part of his character (I'd wager)... autograph or not,
as apes said:

You can think someone is a horse's a*s and still like their works...
I could see getting an autograph if you're a fan of his books, etc. You don't
have to "like" him personally to like what he created...

....whatever your "experience" gained from interaction at a con... even if
it's from the audience... many people can relish that just for what it "is"....
positive or negative.

[ramsey37]

A great writer, and one of the last of the "Golden Age".
Bradbury is probably 88 now and in a wheel chair.
They're going fast...

Bradbury is 90.
George

[WannabeMego]

Sad but so in character, which oddly makes me smile. I both dislike and admire the guy, he can be a real *** but I did like his work.

I agree...Whenever I think of him...I think of Steranko for some reason. I can't stand the crotchety old bastached...but love his work.

...and Bradbury is my FAVORITE!!! Love his stuff!!!

[johnmiic]

I can't understand why anyone would want to go to a convention with him there. I heard he's like 20,000,000 times worse than Prowse

That's a tragedy to think like that Mike because I did see Ellison in NYC at a Creation Con in 1988 and he was more than words can describe. He was suave, funny and totally engrossing to listen to. Sometimes I don't like him but that day he was on fire!

Ellison opened by talking about a new Horror Award he had won and the guy down in the front row kept talking. Ellison kept stopping to tell him to be quiet, (this was before cell phones so it was not a cell phone incident). " Can you hear me? Because I can hear you!" Finally Ellison could stand it no more. He asked the guy to get up and put his chair on the stage beside him and made him sit there on display until Ellison finshed his story. Even the guy on stage laughed.

He introduced his wife referring to her as Vanna White from Wheel of Fortune, "Vanna please stand up for the audience and take a bow! Ok Vanna please sit down."

Then the questions turned to Star Trek. Everyone wants to know about Ellison & Star Trek. Ellison told us about how Gene Rodenberry and Paramount had David Gerrold work on the writers Bible for Star Trek-The Next Generation and gave him no "created by..." credit at all. He did this as the rep from Paramount stood in the back of the room and bit his tounge as he could not challenge Ellison on this story. "Ellison chided the guy as he left the room, " How about that?"

He also stated that they encouraged writers to cross the picket line that year. There was a writers strike and it interfered with TNG's second season. He claimed that they had written new scripts and changed the cover dates to look like they were old Phase II scripts to get away with it.

Ellison further pointed out how Rodenberry always claims City on the Edge of Forever was re-written because Scotty was dealing drugs in the original script-which is a flat-out lie. Ellison said, "Raise your hands all of you who have read my script! You are all a witness to the truth! Was Scotty dealing drugs?" We all raised our hands. "No, Scotty was not dealing drugs as Rodenberry always said. Thank You!"

Ellison told us how he was offered to write Star Trek IV and Star Trek V and he set his price too high. His agent always urged him, "Go a little lower, a little lower. They won't pay that price!" Ellison said, " Of course they won't pay that price but if I have to write another Star Trek Script that's what I want because I have to put up with Paramount's bullsheet, then I have to put up with Shatner's bullsheet," then he point to the audience, "and last but not least I have to put up with all of your bullsheet!" The crowd roared in laughter! He also told the story about he wrote a script for Star Trek The Motion Picture and Michael Eisner's friend suggested, "What about Aztecs? Could you put some Aztec's in the script?" Ellison replied, "Whaaaatt!!!???!?!"

He went up to a young woman who was scantilly clad and dressed like a D&D enthusiast/warrior and said, "But enough, lets get a question from a regular person in the audience,*GASP*!" The woman was amused and flattered at being singled out by him. Ellison likes to flirt with women no matter what.

A young man asked about perverse sexual content in Ellison's stories. Ellison pointed out that the person had him confused with someone else. " 1. That story was written by Robert Hienlien, 2. Robert Hienlien and I look different as he is 6 foot tall plus and I am 5 foot 4 and lastly Robert Hienlien is dead and I'm alive!" Again we all roared with laughter.

He had so much to say I can't remember it all but he was really cool while we were there.

After his appearance he walked around the dealers room and shook dealers hands and looked through their boxes for old comic books and thru their bins for antique toys.

[toys2cool]

I look like Gollum now he's funny man

[huedell]

Great post johnmiic... it's so on point and engrossing that actually
it could be part of his eulogy.

[kingdom warrior]

That's a tragedy to think like that Mike because I did see Ellison in NYC at a Creation Con in 1988 and he was more than words can describe. He was suave, funny and totally engrossing to listen to. Sometimes I don't like him but that day he was on fire!

Ellison opened by talking about a new Horror Award he had won and the guy down in the front row kept talking. Ellison kept stopping to tell him to be quiet, (this was before cell phones so it was not a cell phone incident). " Can you hear me? Because I can hear you!" Finally Ellison could stand it no more. He asked the guy to get up and put his chair on the stage beside him and made him sit there on display until Ellison finshed his story. Even the guy on stage laughed.

He introduced his wife referring to her as Vanna White from Wheel of Fortune, "Vanna please stand up for the audience and take a bow! Ok Vanna please sit down."

Then the questions turned to Star Trek. Everyone wants to know about Ellison & Star Trek. Ellison told us about how Gene Rodenberry and Paramount had David Gerrold work on the writers Bible for Star Trek-The Next Generation and gave him no "created by..." credit at all. He did this as the rep from Paramount stood in the back of the room and bit his tounge as he could not challenge Ellison on this story. "Ellison chided the guy as he left the room, " How about that?"

He also stated that they encouraged writers to cross the picket line that year. There was a writers strike and it interfered with TNG's second season. He claimed that they had written new scripts and changed the cover dates to look like they were old Phase II scripts to get away with it.

Ellison further pointed out how Rodenberry always claims City on the Edge of Forever was re-written because Scotty was dealing drugs in the original script-which is a flat-out lie. Ellison said, "Raise your hands all of you who have read my script! You are all a witness to the truth! Was Scotty dealing drugs?" We all raised our hands. "No, Scotty was not dealing drugs as Rodenberry always said. Thank You!"

Ellison told us how he was offered to write Star Trek IV and Star Trek V and he set his price too high. His agent always urged him, "Go a little lower, a little lower. They won't pay that price!" Ellison said, " Of course they won't pay that price but if I have to write another Star Trek Script that's what I want because I have to put up with Paramount's bullsheet, then I have to put up with Shatner's bullsheet," then he point to the audience, "and last but not least I have to put up with all of your bullsheet!" The crowd roared in laughter! He also told the story about he wrote a script for Star Trek The Motion Picture and Michael Eisner's friend suggested, "What about Aztecs? Could you put some Aztec's in the script?" Ellison replied, "Whaaaatt!!!???!?!"

He went up to a young woman who was scantilly clad and dressed like a D&D enthusiast/warrior and said, "But enough, lets get a question from a regular person in the audience,*GASP*!" The woman was amused and flattered at being singled out by him. Ellison likes to flirt with women no matter what.

A young man asked about perverse sexual content in Ellison's stories. Ellison pointed out that the person had him confused with someone else. " 1. That story was written by Robert Hienlien, 2. Robert Hienlien and I look different as he is 6 foot tall plus and I am 5 foot 4 and lastly Robert Hienlien is dead and I'm alive!" Again we all roared with laughter.

He had so much to say I can't remember it all but he was really cool while we were there.

After his appearance he walked around the dealers room and shook dealers hands and looked through their boxes for old comic books and thru their bins for antique toys.

That's a Great Story!! Thanks for sharing......That's why I love Ellison!

[Joe90]

Careful what you say about Ellison... He may sue you.

[Cmonster]

I'm surprised he didn't charge people for the news.

That is probably the funniest post I've seen in here yet.

SC

[Mikey]

No more City on the Edge of Forever lawsuits ?

Man, it just wont be the same

[Gorn Captain]

Bradbury is 90.
George

He doesn't look like a day over 88 to me....

[Gorn Captain]

I'd still try and get his autograph, if only for the quality of his writing.
I grew up reading his books, not a bad way to learn a language, while most of my class mates associated reading with checking the info on the backs of football trading cards...

It's like The Shat: great actor, but not so easy to get along with on a personal level.

[UnderdogDJLSW]

Whether nice or not, I too am sad to see that he is ill.