PeterDavid.net

Nice obit.

Harlan has such a rep for being a cantankerous bastard, it's nice to see him give some heartfelt praise to someone that he truly respected.

It makes the loss of Julie hurt all over again, as a good obit should.

Copying or distributing any part of this piece for personal use, commercial use, or any other use you can come up with is strictly forbidden.

First off. I didn't read it because I might remember parts or all of it and the human mind is a storage device. I wonder if Harlan would send the DMCA police after me if I printed it into PDF for myself. I suddenly remembered why I've given up on reading anything he writes. He's ass.

It's sad that Julie Schwatz died. His lifes work was a part of my childhood. And he will be missed.

Peter, do you know if there's any difference between this version and the one that ran in CBG?

I'm gonna copy it, print it out, and use it as a mouse pad for my optical mouse. Whatcha gonna do about that Harlan?

I forgot the main thing, nice obit

I have to admit to some confusion.

I understand, agree with, and accept copyright as a way to protect an author's credit, reputation, income, and so on.

But somehow "I am here to praise Julie effusively in public" seems to be in conflict with "Do not share my words with others or preserve them for yourself."

Could we forget Ellison's valid concerns about idea theft and reflect on the fact that a legend has passed on?

One of Julie's favorite quotes by Ellison was "I don't take a piss without getting paid for it." Julie would probably be amused that Harlan's philosophy extended to his own obituary.

What a great loss to the world of comics. I remember all the times when I used to get DC's version of their fan magazine (like Marvel's F.O.O.M. friends of ol' Marvel) back in the seventies. There won't be another guy like him.

On the subject of Harlan. What's the twenty years plus controversy with his Last Dangerous Visions anthology?

Den: Harlan has a rep for being cantankerous only because many people keep repeating that opinion as fact. I have met him on a few occassions and found him to be nothing but a gentleman and a gentle soul. But if you lie to or about him or try to steal from him, he will defend himself with whatever means he feels is neccesary. Usually it is those who have tried to take advantage of Harlan or Harlan's friends who claim he is a bad person. He's not. I would trust him with my life.

Mitch Maltenfort: Harlan is in a big legal battle to protect authors' internet rights. At this time, to allow anyone free rein to copy his work would undermine his legal standing. Thus, he must make the statement.

Bladestar: What do you gain by making that statement? "I'm gonna do this and you can't stop me. Wha'daya think of that?" What? Tell me. Does it make you a better person? Does it make you taller or better looking? Do you think it makes you more appealing to other people?

Better question: Does your mother know you've grown up to act this way?

"Robert" (if that's your real name): Last Dangerous Visions probably isn't going to happen. All the people who had involvement with the project already know that. The only people who keep talking about the project are those whose work was rejected for the project (and they're just crybabies), those who just want to keep screaming about it because they take pleasure in stirring the pot, and those who are just unaware of the whole story. I will make the assuption that you are part of the third group. If you are part of the second group, change your name to Bladestar next time you post.

Monkeys...NOT. Gerbils!

Alan: Does you r mother know you're using her computer without permission? Does you chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight? Did you think of your post all by yourself? IS Harlan a self-important blowhard? Is his little copyright BS-excess interesting?

Maybe if he'd left that sillyness out of an obituary post, I wouldn't have had to make fun of it.

Now hurry up, you're strained peas are getting cold...

Someone please explain fair use to Ellison before he has another of his tantrums.

Actually, if you've read it at all, you've copied it. That is the way Internet browsers work.

Alan,'

Agree on Harlan Ellison--I've met and spoken to him at sveral conventions and found him to be a gentleman and one of the most interesting speakers on Earth. You can just yell out a name or subject and get a hell of a great story (I understand Issac Asimov was much the same but I never had the pleasure of meeting him).

Since it is obviously a major sore point I would never dream of bringing it up to him but is there anyplace we can find the real story on the Last Dangerous Visions? The originals were two of the most influential books I read as a kid and I was looking forward to more. Are the stories that were to be included now just being published elsewhere? (though I was mostly looking forward to the Ellison intros).

*Slaps forehead*

That's right Franklin, I've forgotten all about that aspect of IE...

Boy... this is what I get for only perusing the title. I read "Harlan's obituary..." and freaked out - I thought that it was Harlan that had passed away! I am glad that I was wrong. Well, that'll learn me to read more better.

Chuck May

Bill Mulligan: As to the exact details of which stories are still in Harlan's possession and which have been returned to the authors, I don't know and (this is spoken very politely) I don't care. It's between Harlan and the original authors.

I heard Harlan speak in Chicago a decade ago and somebody there brought it up. I have seen people bring it up at Harlan's site. Harlan has said in the past that this is one of his major failings in life, not getting the LDV into print. For unknowing people to keep asking him about it must tear at his heart. For those idiots who keep badgering him...well, that pretty much tells us what vile and despicable beings they are. It must be akin to asking someone about the time they ran over and killed somebody.

Thanks go to you for asking so politely. I just don't have the knowledge to answer your question.

Gerbils.

Alan,

And thank you for the reply.

I suppose the Last Dangerous Visions could probably never measure up to its promise anyway. It was alot easier to be "dengerous" back in the sixties than it would be now. You can pretty much write or film anything you want now without raising too many eyebrows (ok, except for the New Testament). the tempation would be to just push the limit on sex and gore and taboo busting for its own sake. Holocaust Denying Gay Snot Vampires, that sort of thing.

Alan Coil,

Thanks for answering my question. Were we at the same con, when Peter David was grilling him? PAD asked about the book and Ellison muttered "I know where your family lives."

My own experience agrees with Bill Mulligan's, that was why I had been a bit confused. Ellison is usually known for declaring his opinions with pride, and he clearly had a very good opinion of Julie Schwartz.

But releasing any one document in the public domain could be seen as thin end of the wedge, weakening his court case. It's comprehensible now -- a bloody pity, but I understand it.

Bill,

Agree with you on the LDV being dated before its actual publication. The stories would probably still be good, but shock value ages about as fast as political humor.

I did have the privlege of hearing Isaac Asimov give a talk. Didn't get a chance to actually meet the man, but he was a genial and funny speaker. (I've always suspected that the pugnacious writer Manny Rubin of the Black Widowers owed something to Harlan Ellison.)

Actually, Harlan's incarnation in Isaac's fiction was as the author-cum-amateur-detective Darius Just, in "Murder At the ABA". Isaac got in some good jabs at his own expense, too... :-)

It's very well done.

Manny Rubin was in fact Lester Del Rey toned down somewhat and transplanted to a new profession, as Mario Gonzalo was Lin Carter. The others are also based on specific Trap-Door Spiders, people I've never heard of and don't remember.