Harlan Ellison News: 1998 Archive
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11/15/98The Human Operators comes to the small screenHarlan is heading to Vancouver later this week to monitor the first few days of shooting on the OUTER LIMITS episode based on The Human Operators, a short story HE wrote with A.E. Van Vogt. This marks the first collaboration of Harlan's to visit the screen. Harlan reports being very excited about the script and the episode and has had a good deal of input. Two Reports on Boston appearance I've received two reviews of Harlan's speaking engagement this Halloween in Boston: First Review - by John McGondel Second Review - by Timothy J. Wood Babylon 5 magazine features interview with HE Babylon 5 the official magazine for the TV series named, well, Babylon 5, carried a two-part interview with Harlan (the conceptual consultant for the show and a close friend of series creator J.M. Straczynski). They got my e-mail address and website URL wrong, but other than that it's a good piece that does a detailed job of explaining just exactly what HE does for Bab 5. The interview appeared in the two October 1998 issues, #3 and #4. If you'd like to see it, contact Titan Magazines at titanbooks@compuserve.com or order online from http://www.thestation.com/ (but be warned, as this goes to press the magazines available on The Station appear to be only the 1997 issues - make sure you get the 1998 ones.) 10/31/98Ellison at the SciFiConBe sure and check out the Webderland Booth at SCIFI.COM this weekend. Also, the Con is auctioning off a 20-minute private conversation with Harlan - The Con folks have the following to say about that: Harlan Ellison, a man who needs no introduction on this website, has graciously offered to auction off an opportunity to speak to him via telephone, proceeds to benefit the Starlight Children's Foundation. It's a great charity and who knows if you'll ever get the opportunity again to speak your mind direct and unfiltered to a man known for speaking his. Please check it out at First Auction's SCIFI.CON 3.0 Charity Auction booth, http://www.scifi.com/scifi.con/offerings/charityauction/. Bidding closes at 2pm ET on Monday, November 2 so act fast! Psi-Factor to feature HE Harlan has just finished shooting a guest appearance on the Canadian syndicated television show Psi-Factor. He plays an alien called "Grifter" on the series, featuring Doctor Detroit's Dan Ackroyd and Max Headroom's Matt Freuer. More word about when the show (entitled "The Observer Effect") will be out as I get it. DARE needs your help I've added The Dictionary of American Regional English to the charities Harlan supports on the Stuff Harlan needs page. Check them out! HE in SF Top 100 (and other places) 
Our media mogul, Steve Rhodes
has found a couple of Ellison items out there for you this month. First,
the SF Bay Guardian the has a cover
story in their October Literature section which prominently mentions
Dangerous Visions, and a Salon
Magazine Review also mentions DV. Second, Entertainment
Weekly for the second week in October listing their "Sci Fi Top
100". It's a name that would make Ellison cringe, but he is responsible
for or related to quite a few of the entries. In tertiary relations, we
have I, Robot at #21, Terminator at #23, and Outer Limits
at #25. In direct relations:59 Dangerous Visions (1967): Harlan Ellison edited this seminal anthology that broke the rules of traditional space opera by including writing that is influenced as much by sex, drugs, and rock & roll as by robots, death rays, and Mars. 96 A Boy and His Dog (1976): In this grim but witty film version of Harlan Ellison's famed novella, Don Johnson and his telepathic pooch wander a post-nuke wasteland till they discover a perfectly preserved middle-American town hidden underground. 97 Babylon 5 (1994-present): Creator-writer J. Michael Straczynski has crafted that rare sci-fi TV gem: a dense, satisfying opus that has spooled out over the past four years like a rich novel. 10/04/98Things to Do in Boston When You're Harlan Ellison and it's almost HalloweenIf you can't make it to Denver in mid-October, head to Boston on October 30th. "An Evening with Harlan Ellison" will be making its 1076th from 7:00-8:30pm at The Boston Center for Adult Education. The talk is $29, but $49 gets you an additional hour of a reception with HE from 8:30-9:30pm. Harlan will also be giving a class on "The Art of Writing Fantasy/Science Fiction" from 10:00am-Noon the 31st (for $75 mind you). The talk is at Arlington Street Church, 20 Arlington Street, at the corner of Boylston Street in Boston and the class is at 5 Commonwealth Avenue. Call (617) 267-4430 for more details. DragonCon Pics and other treats Be sure and check out the HE pictures from DragonCon 1998, just arrived on the site, as well as a new guest rant from Paul Riddell and a new review of Approaching Oblivion. 09/24/98Things to Do in Denver When You're Harlan EllisonIf you're in Colorado October 16, be sure and check out An Evening With Harlan Ellison, 7:00PM at Teikyo Loretto Heights University. The event's admission is $34, it runs from 7-9 p.m. and there will be a reception and book signing after the event. To register call (303) 399-0093. 09/03/98HARLAN ELLISON RISES FROM DEAD!!! VATICAN SUES FOR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENTcourtesy Kathleen Ryan, White Wolf Don't believe everything you read. Don't believe everything you hear, particularly any rumors to the effect that Harlan has recently had a heart attack, is lying on death's door, and has only failed to kick the bucket because he challenged the Grim Reaper to a political debate in which neither, thus far, has achieved decisive victory. Harlan Ellison is alive and well and living in Los Angeles. (Anyone who immediately thought of Jacques Brel gets two culture points.) In an interview with cub reporter Kathleen Ryan, Harlan described himself as being "just peachykeen." If you meet anyone who is still under the influence of the misinformation machine, set them straight. Harlan and his loved ones are quite naturally delighted that America is so concerned over the health of its favorite gadfly, but extremely tired of receiving calls of condolence, sympathy, well-wishing, and outright panic - even from their nearest and dearest, even from long-time fans. He and Susan know you mean well, butŠkindly knock it off. White Wolf's name has been unfortunately linked with the source of this fabrication. Our best detective work has failed to identify any actual employee who started this - even our most flamboyant, outspoken convention attendees can't recall saying anything that could have been twisted into "Harlan Ellison has had a heart attack." On the other hand, we couldn't be more sorry that all this has come to pass, and we apologize on general principles - our house has certainly lost face, whether it was our fault or not. You have now officially been set straight. Oh, and since you are probably a Harlan Ellison fan (or you wouldn't have been so interested as to read this far down the page) - Edgeworks 5, the omnibus containing The Glass Teat and The Other Glass Teat, is still on the way. Patience during this protracted, but unavoidable, pre-production phase is begged of you. When asked to comment, Stewart Wieck, the boss in these here parts, said, "Can't you see I'm on the phone, Kathy? Ask me after lunch." 08/18/98Writeup of Ellison as Odyssey Writer-in-ResidenceThis article, which will eventually be part of the Ellison on Writing section of Webderland, is now available online at: http://harlanellison.com/odyssey.htm. HE DragonCon Schedule Check the Ellison Appearances Page for a detailed schedule of HE's guest gig at DragonCon in Atlanta, September 3-6. I'll also be there for any Webderland visitors who want to see me, punch me out, or get their pictures on the website. I'll be the dark-haired gentleman fastened like a remorah to Ellison's back. 08/18/98Harlan looking for Czech science fictionHarlan Ellison is looking to buy two copies each of two science fiction anthologies that were published in the Czech Republic in 1992 and 1993. If any of you know where we can get these books or have contacts with Czech enthusiasts, please pass the information on to me at webmaster@harlanellison.com or via Ellison Webderland at http://harlanellison.com. The books are: SVETY SCIENCE FICTION Edited by Jaroslav Olsa, Jr. Published by Asociace Fanousku Science Fiction Contains the story "Survivor #1" aka "The Man with the Green Nose" by Harlan Ellison and Henry Slesar Hardcover with dustjacket. Approx 5 1/4" wide x 7 1/4" high Published: 1992/1993 ISBN 80-85390-13-2 HVEZOY JAKO BOZI Edited by Jaroslav Olsa, Jr. Published by Asociace Fanousku Science Fiction Contains the story "'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman" by Harlan Ellison Hardcover with dustjacket. (assuming it is in the same format) Published: 1993? (Not sure, since we haven't seen a copy) ISBN: Unknown The books can also be mailed to: Harlan Ellison PO BOX 55548 Sherman Oaks, CA 91413 USA The Ellisons will, of course, reimburse for any costs. If past appeals are any indication, this can include a tradeoff in signed Ellisonia. Harlan appearance in Boston Harlan Ellison will be making an appearance at the Boston Center for Adult Education on Friday and Saturday, October 30 and 31. He is the featured author for their 4th Annual Writing Festival, this year titled "Writing for the Millennium." The Friday night event -- "An Evening with Fantasist Harlan Ellison" -- features a reading and talk followed by an optional reception with Mr. Ellison. On Saturday, October 31, he will lead a workshop entitled "Inventing the Logic of 'What If?': The Art of Writing Imaginative Literature". The center is currently accepting registrations for both these events as well as for the other Writing Festival offerings via phone (617) 267-4430. Register on-line via www.bcae.org or through www.sidewalk.com. (Note: the best way to find the events is to go to sidewalk.com and run an all-text search on "Harlan Ellison", or you can also go to bcae.org and look under "Liberal Arts in the course catalog) Course codes and details are as follows: An Evening with Fantasist Harlan Ellison Reading and Talk Only: Course Code: MHAR 01 - Friday, October 30, 7:00 - 8:30 PM $29 plus a $6 registration fee, Meets at Arlington Street Church, at the corner of Arlington and Boylston Streets, Boston Reading/Talk and Reception Friday, October 30, 7:00 - 9:30 PM $49 plus a $6 registration fee, Meets at Arlington Street Church, at the corner of Arlington and Boylston Streets, Boston Workshop -- Inventing the Logic of "What If?": The Art of Writing Imaginative Literature Saturday, October 31, 10:00 - Noon $75 plus a $6 registration fee, Meets at the Boston Center for Adult Education (in the ballroom of the Gamble Mansion), 5 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston Webderland "Hot Spot" with new SF Cyberzine I mention this not mainly because they chose Ellison Webderland as one of their Science Fiction "Hot Spots", but because this new magazine is edited by Ellen Datlow (who did excellent work with OMNI) and looks to be a quality offering. Check it out: http://www.e-horizon.com/eventhorizon/ 08/01/98Ellison teaches at Odyssey WorkshopHarlan just completed a week-long gig at the Odyssey Summer Fantasy Writing Workshop, working on the art of writing with a number of students. Webderland has commissioned an article on the workshop from one of the students and should have a page up soon detailing the experience including comments from the students. Ellison works available online through Webderland The short story works placed online have been very popular, and Harlan has consented to have a couple of his essays online on Webderland's I Write. I'll also have a couple of biographical pieces available soon and some articles Harlan wrote for Unearth magazine on the art of writing. Bibliographic Database Version .099b Online A beta version of the Harlan Ellison Bibliographical Database is online now at http://harlanellison.com/bib. Here you can see a booklist and story/essay list with many sort and search options. The site is still in development, so you may experience occaisional difficulties. It's up now so interested parties can make comments and assist with filling in the "missing pieces". 07/10/98HE participates in Czech ConventionWith the help of Webderland, Harlan was an online guest at Parcon, a convention in Chotebor in the Czech Republic. You can view the responses of Harlan and other online guests on Parcon's Conference Page or view Webderland's Text Archive of Harlan's responses. HE Interview in Comic Book Profiles magazine The latest issue of Comic Book Profiles features a lengthy interview with Harlan on the issue's subject, Neal Adams. It's a good piece, although it might not be the best choice for folks who hate comics. It's on your newsstand, or send a check for 3.50 ($2.50 + $1.00 s/h) made payable to: As You Like It Publications, P.O. Box 2055, Poughkeepsie NY 12601. You can also contact the publisher at CBPROFILES@aol.com. Jeopardy does Harlan That's right, Harlan was a Jeopardy question, or rather answer! On the 6/23 episode, in double jeopardy, in the category "Author, Author", the $800 question was "Last name shared by Invisible Man author Ralph and A Boy and His Dog author Harlan".
07/04/98SLIPPAGE wins Locus AwardYes, you heard right. SLIPPAGE was awarded the 1998 Locus Award for best Collection last night at Westercon in San Diego, CA. This is an important award as of all awards it represents the largest body of voters--the readers. Harlan discoveree Dan Simmons also won for best SF Novel: THE RISE OF ENDYMION. More information on the watershed land I have typed in a good deal of information from local sources about the fight against the Buckley School mentioned in the 06/20/98 news entry. The information is at http://harlanellison.com/text/soha.txt, if you have any questions as to if sending a letter to councilman Feuer is part of the Good Fight, please read it. Ellison/Yerka appearance at Morpheus Gallery Harlan doesn't remember much of it, but it was a success. Despite suffering from what he though was flu but turned out to be a recurring cellulitis in his left leg that ran into a full blown staph infection, HE travelled to the Morpheus Gallery last Friday night (June 26) to meet fantasy artist Jacek Yerka for the first time. In great muscle pain and with a 102 degree fever that had kept him in bed all day, Harlan read 4 stories from his collaboration with Yerka, MIND FIELDS, at a very well attended even. Harlan said "I did what I had to do", and recalls Yerka as a very charming man. Edgeworks 5 delayed The latest Edgeworks series will be coming out in August or September of this year. The delay is due to market pressures and the complexity of this volume, collecting as it does both GLASS TEAT books under one cover with many, many "update" footnotes and a revised and complete index covering both books together. Stewart Wieck of White Wolf has made the following statement: White Wolf apologizes for the delay in publishing EDGEWORKS #5. We understand that this delay is upsetting for the readers of the series and those awaiting this volume in particular, but several components of the book are simply taking much longer to complete than we expected. Primary among these components is the index, which is huge considering this double volume of non-fiction. We made mistakes by rushing EDGEWORKS #1 out the door, and we don't wish to make the same mistakes with the fifth volume. The wait will be worth it. We apologize again for the delay. Stewart Wieck Publisher White Wolf Inc. 06/20/98CONTACT COUNCILMAN MIKE FEUER!Those of you who caught Harlan's appearance on Tom Snyder's LATE LATE SHOW last night know that HE lives on 200 acres of beautiful watershed land that Edgar Rice Burroughs once camped and threw parties on and that he and Leonard Nimoy were instrumental in saving from developers. Now the Buckley School, a local high school operating under a Conditional Use Permit (CDU) on this land, is attempting to expand and build a performing arts center and tennis courts (among other things) on this national resource, one of the last few significant patches of green in all of Los Angeles. This is not a public school we are talking about. It is a private school for local wealthy families, many of whom are falling over themselves to donate money so they can have buildings named after them as they turn this place into a country club. The Buckley School is supposed to be restricted to 750 students, is presently over 800, and is seeking to increase THAT number by 20%. They want to increase their building space from 96,000 square feet to 167,000, which will expand their area into the greenspace that borders Fossil Ridge Park. Harlan has spent 28 years of his life fighting this kind of development, but if this school gets it's way first it will beat the crap out of the land and second the kind of businesses that support a larger student body will most likely soon follow suit. Mike Feuer, councilman for the fifth district of LA, is considering the school's request. Harlan needs YOU to write Mr. Feuer (please be polite!) and ask him to deny the expansion of the school grounds on the basis of preventing the destruction of this beautiful and historic land. Also, if you are a resident of Los Angeles contact your local councilperson and let them know about this! Councilman Feurer is said to be on the fence on this issue, a groundswelling of polite but firm support for protecting the land will likely make a HUGE difference. Write to his Sherman Oaks office: Michael Feuer Councilman, Fifth District, Los Angeles 14310 Ventura Blvd, Suite 100 Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 -and maybe send a copy to his main office- Room 380, City Hall 200 N. Spring Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 More contact information and biographical information may be found on Mr. Feuer's homepage at: http://www.ci.la.ca.us/dept/COUNCIL/cd5/index.htm. If you are a local resident or don't trust the mail you may want to call the Sherman Oaks office at (818) 756-8083 and pass on your thoughts to Sharon Mayer, Mr. Feuer's executive assistant. Please write Councilman Feuer today! Again, PLEASE be polite, we are looking to change his mind, not piss him off! 06/08/98Appearances and Stuff to Buy UpdatedI've recently received information about HE's June schedule - he will be featured on the Sci-Fi Channel's MASTERS OF FANTASY this month, and also has an appearance on the Tom Snyder LATE LATE SHOW. Of special note is Harlan's appearing with Jacek Yerka to read from their famous collaboration Mind Fields at the Morpheus Gallery June 26. I've also received permission from the HERC to link to Amazon.com for those books unavailable through the HERC. For more information on these, check out the Recent and Upcoming Appearances and Harlan Stuff you can get pages. 05/26/98Report on Story Under Glass at DV BookstoreAs previously reported here, Harlan wrote yet another story in the window of Dangerous Visions Bookstore in Sherman Oaks, CA. This time it was the X-File's Chris Carter on hand to give HE the story idea, "a 102 year old pregnant corpse". Harlan wrote a story entitled Objects of Desire in the Mirror are Closer Than They Appear. Folks can get a copy of the story by calling DV Bookstore at (818)986-6963 and ordering $25.00 or more worth of books, otherwise you'll have to wait for the story to appear in the Donald M. Grant limited edition (and the limited edition only, not the Del Rey hardcover or paperback) of The Crow: Shattered Lives and Broken Dreams, a collection edited by James Ober and Ed Kramer. Reviews Online Kersh Books 05/12/98Another Fishbowl Writing PerformanceHarlan will be writing another one of his "stories under glass" at 1pm on May 16, 1998 at Dangerous Visions bookstore in Sherman Oaks, CA. For those of you unfamiliar with the process, Harlan will be given a story idea at the event and then proceed to write a brand spanking new story in the window of the bookstore. In a Webderland exclusive, we've learned the person giving the idea to HE at the event will be none other than the X-Files' Chris Carter. DV is at 13563 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423, call DV at (818) 986-6963 for more details. The event will be filmed by the Sci-Fi Channel. 04/29/98HE seeking Czech fans to nail thieving Czech publisher!Harlan is looking for folks with publishing and fandom contacts in Czechoslovakia to find him copies of a Czech version of the Alien Sex anthology, pirated by a publisher there. If you can help, e-mail me immediately! Ellison Honored at Brandeis University Ellison Evening May 1st at CA College HE GOH at Mad Media 5 Con 03/11/98 - EXTRA SUPER JUJU SPECIAL ALERT!Harlan is looking for two copies of the January 1958 issue of AMAZING STORIES. E-mail me, webmaster@harlanellison.com, if you have a copy or know where I can get one. HE promises to make it well worth your while.Harlan on PI again Evening with Harlan Ellison in Illinois STALKING THE NIGHTMARE running 02/16/98SPECIAL ALERT: Appearance at Notre DameNo, not the cathedral, the university. Indiana residents, be sure and check out AN EVENING WITH HARLAN ELLISON on Thursday, February 19th at 8:00pm at the University of Notre Dame, Washington Hall. Best of all, it's FREE - call 219-631-7757 for more information. 01/12/98HE on PI...againHarlan will be making yet another appearance on ABC's Politically Incorrect on January 15th. Other guests will include actors Rick Ducommun (The Burbs) and Jean Smart (Designing Women) plus political consultant Mark Goodin, who ran Oliver North's senatorial campaign. Harlan is sure to tangle with Goodin, who he says brings to mind Thoreau's "sort of man who would serve the devil as easily as God and never make a distinction". As always, check local listings for showtimes. Harlan is also cutting 5 new commentaries for the Sci-Fi Buzz this Wednesday. Stalking the Nightmare on Stage HE Appearances Harlan will be appearing April 8th at 7:30pm at William Rainey Harper Comunity College. The address for the college is 1200 West Algonquin Road, Palatine, Illinois. Finally, Harlan will be the special writer-in-residence at the Odyssey summer fantasy writing workshop June 22-July 31st. The workshop is run by Jeanne Cavelos, a former Dell Senior Editor and winner of the World Fantasy Award. Guest lecturers will be Patricia A. McKillip, James Morrow, John Crowley, Ellen Kushner, Delia Sherman, and Warren Lapine. For more information and an application, send a SASE to Odyssey, 20 Levesque Lane, Mont Vernon, NH 03057 or phone/fax (603) 673-6234. Check out http://www.nhc.edu/odyssey, the application deadline is April 15th! 01/01/98Harlan Guest of Honor at DragonCon '98Harlan will once again be gracing Atlanta with his presence, attending DragonCon this summer as GOH. This humble editor first met Ellison at DragonCon in 1995, and if you can thread your way through the billion or so people playing Magic: The Gathering maybe you can meet him, too. Check out http://www.dragoncon.org for details. New Ellisonia hits the shelves As if that weren't enough, HE's Mom is featured in STRANGER KADDISH, the follow-up to the semetic science fiction extravaganza STRANGE KADDISH. Aardwolf is offering the book to Webderland Visitors at three bucks off the cover price - 9.95 plus 1.25 postage (11.20 for the non-math majors out there). Checks should go to Aardwolf Publishing, 45 Park Place South, Ste. 270, Morristown, NJ 07960. The print run is only 650 copies, so if you're interested you'd better get on the stick! 20,000 Satisfied Customers 
...and just so no one else on the Webderland Bulletin Board can bitch about not being informed, I got married on October 18th. The 8-week honeymoon in Europe/Morocco was fun, but it's great to be back home, folks. |