HARLAN ELLISON: BRING ON THE DANCING FROGS

**MattBrady** · 05-22-2007, 01:03 PM

by Zack Smith

As his 73rd birthday approaches, Harlan Ellison remains as passionate and opinionated as ever. The award-winning author, activist and self-proclaimed “pain in the ass” has recently seen the release of the long-awaited second volume of Harlan Ellison’s Dream Corridor from Dark Horse Comics.

The ten-years-in-the-making anthology features adaptations of his work by a who’s who of comics’ greatest talents, including Neal Adams, Paul Chadwick, Richard Corben, Gene Colan, Gene Ha, Tony Isabella, Martin Nodell, Rags Morales, Steve Niles, Steve Rude, Eric Shanower, Curt Swan, Ty Templeton and Mark Waid, just to name a few of the many contributors.

We recently got to ask Ellison, who will be the subject of the upcoming documentary Dreams with Sharp Teeth and whose story “The Discarded” will be adapted for the ABC anthology series Masters of Science Fiction, some questions about Dream Corridor and comics in general. Well…actually, sometimes he asked the questions in this three=part interview. Read on to see what we mean…

Newsarama: Harlan, first off, how’s it feel to see the rest of Dream Corridor finally in print?

HARLAN ELLISON: I am quietly humble and proud.

NRAMA: Have you gotten any reactions from the people involved?

HE: (baffled) It just came out.

NRAMA: I mean, how do they feel to see this work they did 10 years ago finally see print?

HE: People are…glad it’s coming out. I tell you what: How about I pose the questions, and you just take down the answers, okay..?

Click here for Part One of the full interview...

drastic_q · 05-23-2007, 11:17 AM

Foolscap!

vbartilucci · 05-23-2007, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

HARLAN ELLISON: I am quietly humble ...

I just peed myself laughing. This guy's hilarious.

It's so much fun reading an interview with Harlan (and this is a fine one), knowing his history and everything.

I love the fact that every "ah" and "uh" are quoted verbatim, to avoid any possibility of a misquote.

Harlan is responsible for the literary term I coined; the "Jellybean Moment" That is, a scene, plot twist or device in a story that is so outlandish and from left field it drives you crazy, but you don't actually notice it until well AFTER the story's over, but the story was so good you gleefully suspend your disbelief and move on, as opposed to trashing the story and deciding it isn't any good because of said event. The masks arriving via fedex to the entire population of London in V for Vendetta is a good non-Ellison example of a Jellybean Moment.

Rockin' Rich · 05-23-2007, 12:26 PM

So where's The Last Dangerous Visions?

Charlie Hustle · 05-23-2007, 12:32 PM

gene ha is incredible... damn.

jfk5351 · 05-23-2007, 12:43 PM

This is the kind of comic the Big 2 should have had a knifefight over...Ellison RULES!!! The art and the text flow perfectly. Well worth the 10 year wait. And TLDV...BAH! I want more Dream Corridor!!!

OM · 05-23-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Newsarama: Harlan, first off, how’s it feel to see the rest of Dream Corridor finally in print?

HARLAN ELLISON: I am quietly humble and proud.

...And Carter was a relevant President, too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zach, who I honestly feel for, having had to endure Harlie's rantings

The ten-years-in-the-making anthology...

Q: Why did it take ten years?

A: It took that long to find enough contributors that weren't being sued by Harlian for bulls'hit reasons to make a decent-sized book.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbartilucci

Harlan is responsible for the literary term I coined; the "Jellybean Moment"

...Which has a second, more historically accurate definition: it's a moment where your peers, fans and/or detractors manage to give you your come-uppance by totally destroying a moment of happiness generally associated with a victory involving sexual pursuit, with the method involving a specific topic, point of order, subject of debate/derision, and/or situation of irony and the use of said in a particularly devious manner. CIP: Harlan, the Sexy Smurfette, and her being told that jellybeans were Harlan's favorite candy.

vbartilucci · 05-23-2007, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OM

...Which has a second, more historically accurate definition: it's a moment where your peers, fans and/or detractors manage to give you your come-uppance by totally destroying a moment of happiness generally associated with a victory involving sexual pursuit, with the method involving a specific topic, point of order, subject of debate/derision, and/or situation of irony and the use of said in a particularly devious manner. CIP: Harlan, the Sexy Smurfette, and her being told that jellybeans were Harlan's favorite candy

Do you wanna tell the story or should I?

jfk5351 · 05-23-2007, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OM

...And Carter was a relevant President, too.

Q: Why did it take ten years?

A: It took that long to find enough contributors that weren't being sued by Harlian for bulls'hit reasons to make a decent-sized book.

...Which has a second, more historically accurate definition: it's a moment where your peers, fans and/or detractors manage to give you your come-uppance by totally destroying a moment of happiness generally associated with a victory involving sexual pursuit, with the method involving a specific topic, point of order, subject of debate/derision, and/or situation of irony and the use of said in a particularly devious manner. CIP: Harlan, the Sexy Smurfette, and her being told that jellybeans were Harlan's favorite candy.

Ellison is a giant in speculative fiction and The Dream Corridor books are one of the rare instances whereby comics have achieved equity with "real" literature as far as quality. It took 10 years due to some health issues...on both Ellison's and others part.. not legal issues. Hell, Mark Waid, Gene Colon, Gene Ha, Curt Swan and Harlan Ellison...read it first, then rip the author. I could give a damn about whether or not I'd pal around with the man (I would in a skinny minute), but you do have to recognize his talent. Hell, the above poster probably thinks ASB&R is fine art and well-written... not to mention on time.

Lukecash · 05-23-2007, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbartilucci

Do you wanna tell the story or should I?

Somebody post the story...or at least send me a PM

Well, I remember buying a lot of those issues back in theday. I particularly remember that Harlan hated John Byrnes version "I have no mouth but I must scream" to the point that he included the original story in the mag.

I remember him giving interviews to Tom Snyder before he retired. He has a lot of stories to tell and a very entertaining way of telling/writing them.

Harlan Ellison undermines his talent by his personality. He's the kind of guy who thinks every aspect of life must be "won" and will fight eveyone full throttle. As a result, his personality probabbly got him very far, but I can't help think of how much further he could have gone on if he'd been able to be a team player when it was necceisary

vbartilucci · 05-23-2007, 02:32 PM

Almost as fun as reading an Ellison interview - reading the discussions after said interviews between his supporters and detractors. Harlan is such a polarizing force he should rent himsef out as a centrifuge.

NoPrize · 05-23-2007, 02:33 PM

I am humbled and proud to have Ellison love comics and continue to do so. If I beg or bother you enough Mister Ellison, could you write the next Blade series or an X-men title.

Pretty Please with Graft MONEY on top

vbartilucci · 05-23-2007, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lukecash

Somebody post the story...or at least send me a PM

My version (paraphrased and filtered through memory from Bjo Trimble's book "On the Good Ship Enterprise")

Harlan wrote (and was awarded for) the story "Repent, Harlequin!" Said the TickTock Man, in which jellybeans were used to sabotage the system used to relegate a world's population (trying to stay vague). After the story was read (and enjoyed) by most people, the usual response some time later was "Hey, where the hell did he get jellybeans?" (Hence my "Jellybean Moment" term cited above)

Cut to the WorldCon. People were constantly taunting Harlan by asking "Where'd he get the jelly beans, Harlan?" to which his response was usually a request that people be fruitful and multiply...just not in those words.

Now, during the con, Harlan had his eyes set on a young model who (IIRC) was showing off some contumes from the hot new show, Star Trek. She was not interested in his advances. She received the advice from others at the con that when accosted again, she present him with a bag of jellybeans.

His response was Homeric in its ferocity.

jfk5351 · 05-23-2007, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoPrize

I am humbled and proud to have Ellison love comics and continue to do so. If I beg or bother you enough Mister Ellison, could you write the next Blade series or an X-men title.

Pretty Please with Graft MONEY on top

I think Harlan would kick @ss on Doctor Fate or the Jim Corrigan Spectre... or perhaps Dr. Thirteen and Phantom Stranger. If his health and schedule allows, why not? Heck if it has to be Marvel, Doctor Strange would work...

NO...even better...how about Ellison and Mahnke on Ralph and Sue Dibny...Ghost Detectives!!!

JdRavnos · 05-23-2007, 06:42 PM

Harlan Ellison is like a really dirty standup comedian, it's not what he's saying it's how he says it. Note that I'm not saying he has nothing of value to say, a lot of his stuff is really interesting if you can get past the vitriol, but let's face it, a lot of the man's appeal is the fact that he'll fly off the handle over just about anything. It's rather entertaining, as long as you're not the target of his ranting or easily offended.

I loved his Sci-Fi Buzz sequences he did over 10 years ago (yikes! I'm getting old). I didn't always agree with him, but found him to be a great speaker and intelligent individual. Though I have to admit, I never took him entirely seriously after his first Buzz segment where he was offended by the use of the term "Sci-Fi" and that it made him wish he could go to your home and nail your dog's head to the coffee table, or something to that effect.

prolix · 05-23-2007, 07:39 PM

Harlan is Harlan. You can't separate who he is from what he does. You have to accept that ALL of Harlan is what comprises this genius. I knew it'd be within the first 3 or 4 posts that someone would take a shot at him; it's just too easy.

I'm fine with it if you hate him or want to keep repeating that tired old jellybean story. Really. I'll go on remembering what a giant in speculative fiction - in literature - he is and you guys go on thinking up witty barbs to deflate him. The obvious analogy here is dogs and fleas.

Charlie Hustle · 05-24-2007, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prolix

Harlan is Harlan. You can't separate who he is from what he does. You have to accept that ALL of Harlan is what comprises this genius. I knew it'd be within the first 3 or 4 posts that someone would take a shot at him; it's just too easy.

I'm fine with it if you hate him or want to keep repeating that tired old jellybean story. Really. I'll go on remembering what a giant in speculative fiction - in literature - he is and you guys go on thinking up witty barbs to deflate him. The obvious analogy here is dogs and fleas.

What in the world is speculative fiction? I've never heard that term.

vbartilucci · 05-24-2007, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Hustle

What in the world is speculative fiction? I've never heard that term.

Harlan bristles at the term "Science Fiction" as he believes it ghettoizes one. Vonnegut used to say the some kind of thing. Hence, Speculative Fiction.

OM · 05-24-2007, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfk5351

Hell, the above poster probably thinks ASB&R is fine art and well-written... not to mention on time.

...No, the "above poster" is fully aware that Harlan Ellison is an egotistical, obnoxiously pedtantic misanthrope with delusions of self-importance - and an obvious fetish for fliling frivolous lawsuits at the cut of the slightest fart in his general direction - that developed into a sort of offensive weapons array designed to overcompensate for his lack of physical stature much in the same way that a rabid bulldog defends itself against a much larger dog. Sadly, while you can put the rabid dog down before he manages to hurt someone, current laws do not allow this for those of Harlie's ilk.

[Cue Old Ego Trip to rush to the defense of his idol]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbartilucci

Quote:

Originally Posted by OM
...Which has a second, more historically accurate definition: it's a moment where your peers, fans and/or detractors manage to give you your come-uppance by totally destroying a moment of happiness generally associated with a victory involving sexual pursuit, with the method involving a specific topic, point of order, subject of debate/derision, and/or situation of irony and the use of said in a particularly devious manner. CIP: Harlan, the Sexy Smurfette, and her being told that jellybeans were Harlan's favorite candy

Do you wanna tell the story or should I?

...I told it last time, so I think it's your turn

jfk5351 · 05-24-2007, 11:08 AM

Harlan Ellison can be a jerk...and a true SOB. BUT...you must concede he is driven to protect his rights as he sees them...that he is one of the true giants in the field of not just speculative fiction, but all of literature. DO you really think Stephen King would be what he is today without the rather large footprints of Ellison to walk in? I have met the man on several occassions and have never been treated poorly...perhaps because I respect the art and simply enjoy the legends and admire the man. As a writer myself, I appreciate Ellison's fight to control his work...it's hard to do..especially after it leaves the printed page. I still would rather read Dream Corridor than Infitite Countdown to Civil War on the Front Line of This Week's Crisis anyday.

Old Ego Trip? HUH? I fancy you've confused a mirror for a portrait my honorable friend.

Not to mention...have ya seen his list of achievements? Like my dear sweet Pappy once said, ain't bragging if ya can back it up.

OM · 05-24-2007, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfk5351

Harlan Ellison can be a jerk...and a true SOB. BUT...you must concede he is driven to protect his rights as he sees them...that he is one of the true giants in the field of not just speculative fiction, but all of literature. DO you really think Stephen King would be what he is today without the rather large footprints of Ellison to walk in? I have met the man on several occassions and have never been treated poorly...perhaps because I respect the art and simply enjoy the legends and admire the man. As a writer myself, I appreciate Ellison's fight to control his work...it's hard to do..especially after it leaves the printed page. I still would rather read Dream Corridor than Infitite Countdown to Civil War on the Front Line of This Week's Crisis anyday.

Old Ego Trip? HUH? I fancy you've confused a mirror for a portrait my honorable friend.

Not to mention...have ya seen his list of achievements? Like my dear sweet Pappy once said, ain't bragging if ya can back it up.

...Boy, if this were a thread about Civil War, your comments would be worthy of the most rabid Marvel Zombie. In order:

1) Most megalomaniacs *are* driven towards their goals. Doesn't justify those goals *or* their methods of achieving them, tho.

2) King is an even bigger hack than Ellison, but to their defense I will admit they're nowhere near as bad as James Michener.

3) The last story I ever read by Li'l Harlie that was worth a frack was this short story he did for Omni some 27 years or so back. See if Hitler Painted Roses is bootlegged anywhere out there via Google, and you'll see a currently far-too-rare example of when Harlan *can* write well. Of course, the punch line to *that* observation is that the story came about from listener suggestions he got during a call-in radio talk show. Ergo, the only reason it's halfway decent is that he didn't exactly come up with the concept behind the story.

And no, the referenced short story does *not* cause a Godwin Invocation. If I wanted to do that, I'd have compared Harlan to the little paperhanger in 1) above...

4) "Old Ego Trip" is a reference to a particular "net.god" from usenet who had a reputation for vehemently defending the Midget with a Mouth from any and all derision back when rec.arts.comics was *just* .comics. He particularly demonstrated this when the "Jellybean Incident" was related. Those who've been around usenet/internet comics fandom know who OET is.

5) His achievements don't mean squat, as they're overshadowed by his gaffes, sins and other major faux pas. To be totally honest, I wouldn't be surprised if the only reason he's gotten any awards at all is so that whoever's giving the award in question can avoid having to listen to Harlie whine and bitch and threaten to sue over having lost to some work that's obviously superior. As *my* "pappy" said, "if you can't beat'em, sue'em!"

jfk5351 · 05-24-2007, 02:15 PM

Dude...read Deathbird Stories. The entire collection is one hit after another. Sorry I'm not a longtime slave of the internet comics scene...I'd rather read 'em. I like Ellison the man, respect Ellison the artist and truthfully, the crap from the past is the past. I'd rather read well-written stories in both print and in comic form than most current crap that's floating around. If you despise Ellison so much, why read the blame article? He's not coming on here for you to scream at because he made you cry at a con 20 years ago. Even if you don't like the man, respect the work... which speaks for itself...and it says "I have something to say and I'm going to say it well and the way I want to".

Let's just agree to disagree...

pogofan · 05-24-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbartilucci

Almost as fun as reading an Ellison interview - reading the discussions after said interviews between his supporters and detractors. Harlan is such a polarizing force he should rent himsef out as a centrifuge.

Great line...made my day. Thank you!

BillReed · 05-24-2007, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Hustle

What in the world is speculative fiction? I've never heard that term.

Fiction that speculates, that asks "What If?" and answers it.

NoPrize · 05-24-2007, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfk5351

I think Harlan would kick @ss on Doctor Fate or the Jim Corrigan Spectre... or perhaps Dr. Thirteen and Phantom Stranger. If his health and schedule allows, why not? Heck if it has to be Marvel, Doctor Strange would work...

NO...even better...how about Ellison and Mahnke on Ralph and Sue Dibny...Ghost Detectives!!!

Sigh* I can dream. How about a William Gibson Iron Man