CNN Interviews with Harlan Ellison, Bruce Sterling

half_cocked_jack writes "Over at the CNN Podcast area they have a program titled 'Hollywood's SciFi Summer'. It sounded interesting, so I downloaded it. Much to my surprise, the host, Renay San Miguel, seems to really know SF, and he interviewed Harlan Ellison, Connie Willis, Bruce Sterling, and Len Wein on their views on how Hollywood handles SF. Great listening!"

Comments

Re:Oh, PULEEEZE

[mbrother]

At this time in tech history, I think it's to a writer's advantage to give away their work online, and that it actually helps sales of paperbacks and hardbacks. I put my money where my mouth is and my first novel, Star Dragon (Tor 2003), is available for free download from my site under a Creative Commons license. That's a decision that I made and my editor has supported. I hope it helps me generate sales at the milli-Ellison level or better.

But it's against the law to copy stories without permission. Harlan is old school, and as obnoxious as all hell when he wants to be, and that's his right here. Sure, publishers need to change their business model, but they haven't just yet. Respect the artist. If you think he sucks so much, why do you want to read his work anyway?

I wanted to use a story by Geoffrey Landis in my astronomy class last semester. I emailed him up, asked him if I could make 120 copies for my students, and he said absolutely. Even asked if I wanted the story in electronic form. If he'd said no, I wouldn't have done it.

In this Country, In this Era

[Quentusrex]

In this mostly planned economy, that too often verges on and grows ever closer to a socialism, why would the public school system teach anything about SF? They are already bogged down trying to teach multi-ethnic understanding, the extremes of bipolar(atleast politically) secularism, not equal opportunity but equal reality, social irresponsibility and trust in federal courts for all matters moral and ethical, and the many other view "new" initiatives in place today.

Can you really blame any graduate from the US Public School System for not knowing the 4 names?

Re:Ellison

[OSXCPA]

Ellison is known mostly for his 'human-centric' science fiction. Best example, IMHO, is "I have not mouth and I must scream". Not for the exclusively 'hard' sci-fi fan, but thought-provoking nonetheless. He also did some work on the original Trek, and between then and now had published a LOT of work. He's like a less-emotionally blasted, bitterer version of P. Dick. Basically, I like him because he treats his characters like people, rather than cutouts, which I see a lot in fiction in general, and Science Fiction in particular. Oh, and his rant about turning Asimovs' "I, Robot" into a screenplay (NOT the W. Smith version) in the published, illustrated screenplay is worth the purchase price. Angry, ranty - yes. Worshipful of good material, yes. 'Worthy'? IMHO, yes.

Re:Ellison

[swordgeek]

I love Ellison's work. No question that he's something of an asshole, but he's an entertaining one, and often not nearly as serious as people think he's being.

Since no one else has mentioned it yet, find a copy of "The Deathbird." If you can find the collection called Deathbird Stories, it has many of the other recommended works posted here. Also read "A Boy and his Dog," and then rent the movie (one of the only real SF movies ever made).

Now, why do I like his works? First of all, they're uncompromising--Ellison writes what he wants, and pulls no punches. OK, that's not entirely difficult to manage. However, Ellison taps into the heart of human emotions--his writing in The Deathbird is so powerful that it makes me weep, and not just with sadness but also partly with relief and closure. Not many other authors can manage that--Murakami is one, and I'm not sure I can think of any others--maybe Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Also, there's his wicked sense of humour--A Boy and his Dog is a brilliant black comedy, and too many people have missed that aspect of his writing.

One secret: Read his short stories one at a time. Sit down, read one, and then walk away. Maybe go back to it in a few days, but don't read them back to back, or you'll just glue them all together in your mind.

Re:Ellison

[Frumious Wombat]

Don't forget some of his non-fiction (or at least non-fictionalized) works, such as, " The Three Most Important Things in Life: Sex, Violence, and Labor Relations" which can be found (apparently officially) at http://harlanellison.com/iwrite/mostimp.htm/ . Two suitably bizarre accounts, and then his Half-day employment by Disney.

Having read some of his personal essays, as well as the standards such as, "I Have No Mouth, but I Must Scream", I would say the operative adjective isn't "prickly" but rather "obstreperous".