Harlan Ellison
(May 27, 1934 -- June 28, 2018)
Harlan Ellison began as a fan in the Cleveland area and was an active fan in the 50s, attending Midwestcon 1, a member of the Cleveland Science Fantasy Society (for which he edited Science Fantasy Bulletin), creator of Seventh Fandom, regular contributor to Science Fiction Five-Yearly. He was a member of the Terrans, the Hydra Club, the N3F, and the MWA. Legends have grown around him such as the Midwestcon Incident.
Fanzines include The Kong Papers (with Bill Rotsler), Dimensions, An Invitation, Seventh Fandom, A Statement of Posture (with Al Lewis for FAPA), and Vector (with Jim Schrieber).
In the late 50s he started writing professionally and by the 60s was in Los Angeles area, writing scripts for Hollywood, media non-fiction and sf. His sf quickly established him as one of the most talented short fiction writers in the field.
He was GoH at Iguanacon II the 1978 Worldcon where he spent the convention living in a camper because of his opposition to Arizona's non-passage of the ERA.
Hugo Award wins:
- Best Short Fiction Hugo
- Best Dramatic Presentation Hugo
- Best Short Story Hugo
- Best Short Story Hugo
- Best Novelette Hugo
- Best Novelette Hugo
- Best Dramatic Presentation Hugo
- Best Short Story Hugo
- Best Novelette Hugo
Hugo Award nominations: 1956 Most Promising New Author Hugo, 1967 Best Short Story Hugo, 1968 Best Fan Writer Hugo, 1968 Best Novelette Hugo, 1970 Best Novella Hugo, 1971 Best Short Story Hugo, 1971 Best Novella Hugo, 1973 Best Novelette Hugo, 1976 Best Short Story Hugo, 1978 Best Dramatic Presentation Hugo, 1979 Best Short Story Hugo, 1981 Best Novella Hugo, 1985 Best Non-Fiction Book Hugo, 1986 Best Non-Fiction Book Hugo, 1988 Best Other Forms Hugo, 1989 Best Novelette Hugo, 1990 Best Non-Fiction Book Hugo, 1994 Best Novella Hugo
Possibly his most famous project is (the unfinished) Dangerous Visions.
Ellison had a reputation for being abrasive and argumentative, and he has generally agreed with that. A good friend, Robert Bloch, spoke at a roast for him, saying that other people take infinite pains; "Harlan gives them." For a short, early (1954) description of him see Peter Vortzimer in Abstract #8 p61.
Tributes and remembrances by John L. Coker III, Esther Cole, and Jon D. Swartz appeared in Scientifiction:The First Fandom Report (New Series #56, 2nd Quarter 2018). He was also remembered by several SF notables in the August 2018 issue of Locus.
Audio of talk Adaptation of Science Fiction to a Visual Media at Pacificon II
Awards, Honors and GoHships:
- 1954 -- Sheep Dip Award
- 1961 -- Toastmaster at Seacon
- 1966 -- Westercon 19
- 1967 -- Toastmaster at NyCon 3
- 1968 -- Ozarkon 3, Triple Fan Fair
- 1969 -- PgHLANGE 2, Science Fiction Week, toastmaster at St. Louiscon
- 1970 -- Forry Award
- 1973 -- Lunacon 16
- 1974 -- AggieCon V, KWEST*Con, Infinity 74, Jupiter Award
- 1975 -- NASFiC 1
- 1976 -- Fourth Dimension Con
- 1977 -- Kwintus Kublius, Jupiter Award
- 1978 -- Moncon II
- 1982 -- Jerucon
- 1983 -- Syncon '83, Windycon, ICFA 4
- 1984 -- Westercon 37, Albacon 84 (did not attend)
- 1985 -- Triangulum, Albacon 85
- 1991 -- 17th World Fantasy Convention
- 1993 -- Baycon '93, World Fantasy Award for lifetime achievement
- 1994 -- The Undiscovered Country
- 1995 -- Dragon*Con 1995
- 1996 -- Albacon 1996
- 1997 -- Raymond Z. Gallun Award
- 1999 -- Readercon 11
- 2000 -- AggieCon XXXI
- 2001 -- Ray Bradbury Award For Outstanding Dramatic Presentation
- 2002 -- Baycon 2002 (Special Guest)
- 2005 -- Foolscap VII
- 2006 -- Minicon 41, SFWA Grandmaster Award
- 2011 -- Eaton Award for life achievement, Science Fiction Hall of Fame
- 2015 -- Special Guest at Archon 39
- Four Nebula Award wins
| Person | 1934—2018 |
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