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CNN Interviews with Harlan Ellison, Bruce Sterling

Posted by Zonk on from the mona-lisa-listening dept.

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!"

110 of 147 comments (clear)

  1. Bruce Willis? by sedyn · · Score: 5, Funny
    he interviewed Harlan Ellison, Connie Willis, Bruce Sterling, and Len Wein


    Does anyone else think that this placing is unfortunate? I know that I misread it on first-pass.
    --
    Am I open minded towards open source, or closed minded towards closed source?
  2. Is that audio stream copyrighted? by ChipMonk · · Score: 2, Funny

    Because, you know, it's illegal in Sweden to download copyrighted material.

    1. Re:Is that audio stream copyrighted? by Snaller · · Score: 1

      Unless you have their permission smartass.

      --
      If Google really cared they would fix Android Chrome to reflow text, instead of discriminating
  3. The Sterling-Ellison Connection by Nova+Express · · Score: 4, Informative
    Not many people know that Harlan "discovered" Bruce. He attended a very early Turkey City Writer's Workshop, bought Bruce's first novel (Involution Ocean), and then paid Bruce's way to the Clarion Writer's Workshop. Harlan is a prickly character, but he does have a fine eye for talent (and a gift for making the right enemies).

    Bruce has "paid it forward" by helping a number of new writers (myself included) with their careers by subjecting them to the bracing fire of a Sterling critique...

    --
    Lawrence Person (lawrencepersonh@gmailh.com (remove all "h"s to mail)

    http://www.lawrenceperson.com/

    1. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by grolaw · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Ellison "prickly"? You must be using some meaning of the word "prickly" that I wasn't previously familiar with.

      Harlan was a wicked, wicked young man. His readings at Worldcon in NYC in the late 60's and early 70's were the stuff of massive panel debates. AND, fawning admiration by most of the attendees.

      I can remember one piece that Harlan read an overtly raw sex piece from the dais at the Commodore Hotel, around the time that he published "I see a man sitting in a chair and the chair is biting his leg" in a collaboration with Robert Sheckley. I recall that Sheckley, Gunn, and Silverberg were all onthe panel and a room full of college kids had their first exposure to erotic literature.

      The man wrote, and read, brilliantly. Yes, he has short-man's syndrome, but in his defense, he has taste and style and a willingness to explore just about anything as a writer.

      From his Dangerous Visions anthologies to his scripts for Demon with a Glass Hand and City on the Edge of Forever to The Glass Teat and The Other Glass Teat, Ellison has cranked out a lifetime's work nearly every year for the first 20 years of his professional life. Only Isaac Asimov was more prolific.

      Ellison had a legitimate, hard fought, lawsuit for copyright violation. Companies were reprinting his work and selling it without paying any royalty and Ellison had every right to fight for his property rights.

      See, http://harlanellison.com/home.htm/ for Ellison's (way out of date) home page and,

      See, http://www.authorslawyer.com/c-ellison.shtml/ for the copyright action.

    2. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by mbrother · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Ellison also discovered a lot of other writers, too, including Dan Simmons. While most people see his growly, larger-than-himself public persona, he can be an incredibly generous man. He called up one friend of mine who'd reviewed a story of his because Ellison wasn't sure he'd appreciated some of the subtlies of the story -- and then they talked for an hour. A guy I knew in college had written a complaining letter to him about why he was years late on a Star Trek project, and Ellison called him up to bitch back and explain, and then they talked like buddies for an hour. Interesting, talented guy.

      --
      Professor of Astronomy, Author of Spider Star & Star Dragon (Tor)
    3. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by Nova+Express · · Score: 4, Funny
      >Ellison "prickly"? You must be using some meaning of the word "prickly" that I wasn't previously familiar with.

      "Prickly" as in "Every single science fiction writer older than myself I know can tell you a story about how Harlan Ellison was a complete asshat to them at one time or another." Most also have a story about how Harlan went out of his way to do something nice for them as well.

      There are legions of Harlan Ellison stories in science fiction. Like the time he flew across the country to punch out Charles Platt. (Like I said, he has great taste in enemies.) Or the job he did on Andy Porter (IIRC) in Short Form. Or check out Christopher Priest's the Last Deadloss Visions (AKA The Book on the Edge of Forever.)

      Make no mistake about: At the top of his game, Ellison was probably the best short story writer in the field, and I fully expect "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream" to be read 100 years from now. But in no way, shape or form is he a saint.

      --
      Lawrence Person (lawrencepersonh@gmailh.com (remove all "h"s to mail)

      http://www.lawrenceperson.com/

    4. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by grolaw · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Exactly. Prickly doesn't convey the proper image of Ellison.

      An under-medicated, short curmudgeon, with distinct bi-polar and antisocial traits who used his personality as a birth control device is a somewhat more accurate description of the Ellison I know.

    5. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by billyjoeray · · Score: 3, Informative

      Another fact some people might forget is that Ellison was the technical advisor for Babylon 5

      --
      This sig will make it clear that ANYONE can use this post for ANY purpose WITHOUT the written consent of the NFL.
    6. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by cei · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I have one of the collections of Ellison erotica written under the pen-name "Paul Merchant." I was able to get Ellison to sign it using his preferred nom de plume (which the publisher wouldn't let him use), D.S. Merchant (for Dirty Smut Merchant). I wasn't really sure how he would handle being handed a copy of Sex Gang at a signing, but he was in good spirits. He doesn't normally sign those, but he hadn't seen a copy in a while.

      --
      This sig intentionally left justified.
    7. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by identity0 · · Score: 1

      Ellison had a legitimate, hard fought, lawsuit for copyright violation. Companies were reprinting his work and selling it without paying any royalty and Ellison had every right to fight for his property rights.

      That is about as much bad spin as you'd likely find in a SCO press release. Do you work for them, per chance, gvien that your nick seems to be a rip on "groklaw"?

      Hell, even your links show you're wrong - basically, people on Usenet were pirating Mr. Ellison's work, and instead of going after them he went after AOL.

      For providing Usenet access.

      Apparently he cannot distinguish between a company publishing something and providing open access to a network. He seems to think AOL is responsible for all the content you can access through it, like a television network. Even under the DMCA this was questionable. I am definitely no friend of AOL, but it's too bad they settled this out of court instead of kicking Harlan's ass.

    8. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by ChadN · · Score: 1

      FWIW, in the introduction to "Prayers to Broken Stones", Harlan exclaims that it was he who "discovered" Dan Simmons at a writers workshop (and that when he is long forgotten for his own work, he will be remembered for that fact alone). Dan Simmons, of course, went on to write the early Hyperion Cantos books soon afterwards and win the Hugo. Dan acknowledges the discovery in that introduction (although his recounting of the events is somewhat different).

      --
      "It's overkill, of course. But you can never have too much overkill." - Anonymous Slashdot Coward
    9. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by Hortensia+Patel · · Score: 1

      Wasn't there a "Victims of Harlan Ellison Support Group" at one point? I seem to recall Dave Langford writing about it in the dim and distant past.

    10. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by dbIII · · Score: 1
      Ellison had a legitimate, hard fought, lawsuit for copyright violation. Companies were reprinting his work
      He also suggested completely shutting down USENET during some legal action after some of his stuff was posted on the net - prickly and not really interested in looking at details or worrying about consequences. At that time USENET was actually useful and not the morass of spam and possibly russian child porn it is now.
    11. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by grolaw · · Score: 1

      Haven't seen a copy of one in 25 years!

      It does show that Ellison had range and guts.

      I just don't remember if it was really all that good,.. How does he compare with Nin?

    12. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by grolaw · · Score: 1

      I predate "groklaw" and wouldn't rip Heinline's "grok" from Stranger in a Strange Land. Shame that paralegal decided to start a blog without an original name - still a nice blog that.

      I've had this nick since 1987 when I started using it on The Well and BIX. That was the year I started law school.

      As for the case: the law makes you take certain steps. In Chess you must open with a pawn or a knight. Period. Them's the rules..

      For Ellison - who acted through his attorney - and it was the attorney came up with the strategy - the route he took and rules he used were both: successful and mandated by law.

      Ellison had been fighting print pirates for years - this was just the war on a new front. He won and AOL lost. How many people have the guts to bring a suit and risk losing and paying a massive attorney's fee award to AOL? Check the pleadings. There is a fee petition in there and the Court denied it...but it could have bankrupted Ellison had the decision gone the other way. Fee petitions are decided by judges - not juries.

    13. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by grolaw · · Score: 1

      In the law you ask for more than you can get. Nobody opens with their bottom dollar.

      As for the strategy, USENET wasn't hurt by Ellison. Usenet, and the Internet have been hurt far more by the few hundred individuals who spam and crap all over everything.

      Ellison was a leader in exploring individual legal rights over Internet matters. His argument advanced individual rights. Exactly what is the problem with that?

    14. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by ediron2 · · Score: 1
      At that time USENET was actually useful

      In 2000?! No way. At the time, the endless september had already come and (never) gone. Think about it: that is how this suit got a footing: AOL turned on the idiot stream, Harlan noticed, Kersplat!

      TO call USENET useful at this point, I suspect you've got the same definition as I do: Useful compared to it being gone, but a faint shadow of itself and only useful thanks to deja-news and massive killfiles.
    15. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by Malleus+Dei · · Score: 2, Interesting
      An under-medicated, short curmudgeon, with distinct bi-polar and antisocial traits who used his personality as a birth control device is a somewhat more accurate description of the Ellison I know.

      Sorry, but any description of Harlan that leaves out the word "brilliant" is incomplete. I am yet another member of SFWA (just how many of us are on here?), and I first met the larger-than-life Harlan back in the Seventies. I know a ton of Harlan stories that range from his boyhood to the dead gopher to some private acts of kindness that would make your jaw drop. (And I'm not telling any of them.)

      IIRC in the movie "My Favorite Year" there's a great line: "With Swan you forgive a lot."

      Likewise Harlan.

      --
      Slashdot Moderation Guidelines: Leftist viewpoint (+4), Conservative viewpoint (-4, Troll)
    16. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by grolaw · · Score: 1

      Brilliant - agreed!

      However I was responding to the inherent inadequacy of the term "prickly" as a descriptor of Ellison's demeanor...

    17. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by ucblockhead · · Score: 1
      How about "Ellisonian".

      :-)

      --
      The cake is a pie
    18. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by identity0 · · Score: 1

      Ellison had been fighting print pirates for years - this was just the war on a new front. He won and AOL lost. How many people have the guts to bring a suit and risk losing and paying a massive attorney's fee award to AOL? Check the pleadings. There is a fee petition in there and the Court denied it...but it could have bankrupted Ellison had the decision gone the other way. Fee petitions are decided by judges - not juries.

      And this is why people hate lawyers. You completely ignore the fact that AOL was in the right and Ellison and his lawyers were wrong to target them as if they were a pirate publisher, instead of as a common carrier such as a phone company.

      It's because of crap like this that the internet is starting to look like a shopping mall in a police state. Do you seriously want your ISP to be trying to monitor everything?

    19. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by grolaw · · Score: 1

      I'm rarely interested in flame wars, but *this* may be an exception.

      You SUPPORT AOL?

      Change the hypo: It's Walmart selling illegal copies (e.g. copies of your book that you (and/or your publisher) didn't authorize and the sale is one from which you don't receive a royalty - but Walmart receives their cut from every book sold.

      Now, do you want Walmart stopped from making a buck from you?

      AOL was the largest single source of downloaders that could be identified. AOL made a buck from the thieves.

      AOL had NOTICE.

      AOL ignored the notice and continued to permit tens of thousands of copies to be downloaded...for which AOL made $ for connect time.

      As for hating lawyers - good - it only encourages us.

      Grow up. The world is full of free riders and, absent lawyers you would be screwed.

      Got seatbelts?
      Taking safe meds?
      Eating (mostly) safe food?
      Your drinking water OK?
      Can you see a mile in any direction on a clear day?
      Got the right to vote, hold a job or marry a person not of your race?
      Are you a woman who can vote, own land and run a business?
      Does your car withstand a 5mph rear impact without bursting into flame?
      Did you buy a PC without buying a bundled copy of Bill's OS?
      Making minimum wage, or beyond?
      Have time and a half over 40 hrs a week?
      Go to a public school with people of different ethnicity?

      Send your thanks to the attorneys.

    20. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by identity0 · · Score: 1

      I don't support 'AOL', I support *any* ISP, university or network that provides Usenet access to do so without threats made against them based on the irresponsible actions of some on the network. If you want to stop copyright infringement, attack the pirates, not the network.

      Your reasoning will lead to the MPAA/RIAA getting my ISP(and yours) shut down because a bunch of asshats decide to pirate movies over it.

      Your analogy is flawed, because Wal-mart directly controls and procures everything in their stores. A better analogy is that of a toll bridge, over which some people conduct illegal business, like drug smuggling, but the majority of users are legitamite. Shutting down that bridge because you think it's not right for them to profit off some illegal users does not change the fact that they have no obligation to check every car that goes across.

      Guess what, people should be held responsible for what they do on the networks, they should not be able to shift the blame to the networks themselves. "Waaah, my ISP made money off of it, blame them, blame them!"

      I think you will find that Slashdot is not the place to bring your pro-censorship bullshit, troll.

    21. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by grolaw · · Score: 1

      Censorship never entered this discussion - this was about theft and profits running to third-parties arising from the theft.

      Walmart does not publish - it sells. The hypo remains valid. AOL's (then) vast userbase made them the right target. The tollway analogy fails because the bridge is a single route - all traffic uses the same route. Were Walmart is only one source (albeit a very big source) of the stolen property then it makes sense to shut down the retail outlet's ability to sell the stolen goods.

      Malum per se and malum prohibitum are manifest at the retailer - the bridge is merely a path and reaches only malum prohibitum. Intent, my friend, defines the apex of the liability curve.

      The problem was protecting the writer's rights - not attacking the Internet. The case was - and remains - a valid exercise of the right to petition the courts for redress of grievnces.

      You want responsibility for people but none for companies who make a buck off of illegal trade. Think harder: there is liability for all or none.
      When you resort to name-calling you have run out of ideas.

    22. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by VAXcat · · Score: 2, Funny

      Well, she was much taller...

      --
      There is no God, and Dirac is his prophet.
    23. Re:The Sterling-Ellison Connection by grolaw · · Score: 1

      Nin and Ellison - quite the comparison: "Little Birds" v. "Sex Gang" - though they both made money from their erotica I suspect that Nin had the better return on her work. As for the height comparison: it all depends on the measure....

      Everybody agrees that Harlan could be a real dick....

      Perhaps the horizontal measure of the man exceeded the vertical?

  4. A new record for Slashdot? by Qwertie · · Score: 3, Funny

    A story so boring that it's only got 6 comments 15 minutes after being posted!

    1. Re:A new record for Slashdot? by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 1
      > A story so boring that it's only got 6 comments 15 minutes after being posted!

      Really???
      frist psot!!!!
      w00t!!!

      --
      No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
    2. Re:A new record for Slashdot? by ghee22 · · Score: 1

      you must have your moderation at +3

      --
      "Persistence is annoying success." - ghee22 11:28:1999 - 10:53:PM
    3. Re:A new record for Slashdot? by webdesignr · · Score: 1

      Maybe it has something to do with the Holiday weekend.

    4. Re:A new record for Slashdot? by Scaba · · Score: 1

      Holiday? Are you talking about July 4th? Do you think the entire world celebrates the anniversary of America gaining independence from England?

  5. LTFPC? by maynard · · Score: 1

    Maybe folks are Listening To the Fine PodCast before commenting?!?!? Naaaaa.... --M

  6. Re:Oh, PULEEEZE by Ph33r+th3+g(O)at · · Score: 1

    He tried to force USENET providers to screen posts and allow him cancellation privileges at will. That's not just protecting his precious stale old short stories.

    --
    I too have felt the cold finger of injustice.
  7. Re:Oh, PULEEEZE by Ph33r+th3+g(O)at · · Score: 1

    What choice would I have? And it isn't as if he hadn't already been paid many times over for it. All he succeeded in doing was turning people who had never even heard him off of his work and exposing himself as a net.kook.

    --
    I too have felt the cold finger of injustice.
  8. Who are they by Quentusrex · · Score: 1

    Would anyone be so nice as to briefly, or not, explain who these four people are? What they have done that people would recognize? etc? I surely don't recognize their name.

    Are these people worth reading about, other than the fact that they got slashdotted?

    1. Re:Who are they by 1000baseFX · · Score: 1

      Your showing both how young you are and the fact that our schools are failing.
      These are some of the bigger names in Science Fiction.
      Never heard of "A boy and His Dog"?.

    2. Re:Who are they by mbrother · · Score: 1

      Connie Willis -- Mulitple Hugo award winning sf author. Best known novel is probably DOOMSDAY BOOK. Harlan Ellison -- Multiple Hugo award winning sf author. Best known for short stories like "I have no mouth and I must scream." Also did some TV (e.g., Star Trek, Outer Limits) and movie work. Bruce Sterling -- one of the founders of the cyberpunk movement and still a big tech guru publishing regularly in Wired. He's won some of those Hugos, too, I believe. Try the ground-breaking cyberpunk anthology he edited in the 1980s called MIRRORSHADES. Len Wein -- probably the lesser of these four. Best known for THE PROBABILITY BROACH, which is probably the pinnacle of Libertarian SF featuring an alternative US where there was no constitution.

      --
      Professor of Astronomy, Author of Spider Star & Star Dragon (Tor)
    3. Re:Who are they by Sangloth · · Score: 4, Informative

      Bruce Sterling is a founding father of cyber-punk, next to William Gibson. Despite the role-playing world's that come to mind when cyber-punk is mentioned, Sterling's worlds are believable and his stories aren't very action oriented. One of his latest books was about politicians in the US in about 40 years. Bruce more looks at social trends then technology, that's not to say tech isn't in his books, but in general they are about society.

      Connie Willis wrote the Doomsday book, a story about a time traveler stuck in Europe during the plague. There was a very heavy historical emphasis, in practice it was a historical novel. She's written other timetravel stuff. Her books aren't so much fun as interesting.

      Harlan Ellison's books are fun. He is a brillant writer who should not be let out in public(The man is very easily offended, and not afraid to attack with a chair or what not when he is offended. If he's not violent, he's shouting furiously, and it really doesn't take anything intentional to set him off). He wrote I have no mouth and I must scream and Repent Harliqin said the Tick Tock Man. Harlan's books, and Harlan have a extreme cynical viewpoint that's very entertaining. Harlan started out attending sci fi conventions, and has many big sci fi writer friends. I don't know that his writings really fall in a sci fi category (To be clear, Harlan's books pay no attention to science at all, it's more experimental modern writing), but they are good reads.

      I've read a ton of Sci Fi, and I've never heard of Len Wein. A quick google says he's a comics guy invovled heavily with X-men, fantastic 4, hulk, and the watchmen series. Some one else will have to give a perspective here.

      All three authors are big names in Sci Fi, although none of them give more then lip service to the sci part. I can barely think of who else might belong on this list over them. (Well...Philip K. Dick, Asimov, Heinlien, Bester, Clarke, Cambell(Editor, not an author) a couple other golden oldies. Of living people under 70, Bear, Guin, Stephenson, Kress, and Gibson...Still that's a wish list... )

      Still, these are the names of real Science Fiction in the last 20 years (Star Trek and such belong in fantasy or action). I'm not trying to be elitist. These are big names... If you don't know these people, you don't know science fiction...

      Sangloth
      I'd appreciate any comment with a logical basis...it doesn't even have to agree with me.

    4. Re:Who are they by mbrother · · Score: 2, Funny

      Ack, I blew it on Len Wein! L. Neil Smith is the author of THE PROBABILITY BROACH. Len Wein has done some media and comic book work.

      Well, I said he was the least well-known of these four in SF circles. Guess I just proved that assertion with a data point.

      --
      Professor of Astronomy, Author of Spider Star & Star Dragon (Tor)
    5. Re:Who are they by haystor · · Score: 1

      No, "A Boy and His Dog" was more like:

      See Jane.
      See Jane run.
      Run Jane, run.

      --
      t
    6. Re:Who are they by Forbman · · Score: 1

      might as well throw in David Gerrold to the list, too. Larry Niven. Maybe even Jerry Pournelle.

      If anyone has gotten the "alien invasion" right, it's Gerrold. Anyone who disputes this obviously has not seen Mother Nature in action (i.e., kudzu, himilayan blackberry, thistles, morning glory/bindweed, reed canary grass, et many al) when it comes to "alien" species slowly, then quickly, overwhelming an area in the span of about 1-3 years.

      It starts out slow. there's a few here, a few there. We'll pull them out. OK. Next year, there's a few more. OK, maybe some Roundup or Crossbow. Ahhh shit. Get out the tractor.

    7. Re:Who are they by nanoakron · · Score: 1

      Peter F. Hamilton - best UK newcomer. More focus on the 'Sci'. Read him, you'd enjoy it.

    8. Re:Who are they by julesh · · Score: 1

      Gerrold, of course, is an author who also frequently gets the "who?" reaction, despite having written possibly the best loved Science Fiction story, ever.

      I keep intending to read some of the Chtorr(sp?) books, but keep putting it off. I want to be certain he'll finish the series first. :)

    9. Re:Who are they by STrinity · · Score: 1

      Yes, read Peter F. Hamilton. Provided you enjoy characters who have so little depth they make Mace Windu look like Hamlet, and prose so awful you could use it for shipping material.

      --
      Les Miserables Volume 1 now up with my reading of
    10. Re:Who are they by Res+Publica+Defenden · · Score: 1

      Perhaps most importantly, Len Wein created Swamp Thing.... This set the stage for Alan Moore's genre-defining take on the character in the 1980s. Moore's run on Wein's character ultimately helped redefine the comics medium.

    11. Re:Who are they by cgreuter · · Score: 1

      Connie Willis wrote the Doomsday book, a story about a time traveler stuck in Europe during the plague. [...] Her books aren't so much fun as interesting.

      I never did manage to finish The Doomsday Book but I really enjoyed both To Say Nothing of the Dog and Bellwether and I would consider both of them to be great fun.

      Willis tends to alternate between funny and dark. Doomsday was of the latter while the other two were more of the former. If you're curious, check them out or try one of her short-story collections. Impossible Things is a pretty good sampling of her work.

    12. Re:Who are they by mink · · Score: 1

      I'd add Michael Swanwick to the list of current Science Fiction authors, but I am heavily biased.

      --
      Well I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years doctor, and I'm happy to say I finally won out over it.
  9. Bruce Sterling free books by chill · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Bruce is pretty hardcore into cyberpunk. Check out the links, including a LEGAL digital copy of his "The Hacker Crackdown" at http://project.cyberpunk.ru/idb/library.html

    -Charles

    --
    Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
  10. Re:Oh, PULEEEZE by grolaw · · Score: 1

    Harlan, and anybody else who was proud of their work, would fight to keep their creation - both in the form that it was written and under some mechanism to recover payment for the work.

    Harlan was right. End of story.

  11. Re:wish I had an ipod by 1000baseFX · · Score: 1

    Hey, pull your head out. They're mp3's.

  12. An interesting listen-to by AndrenidEnder · · Score: 1

    although I'm unsure it really did more than simply reaffirm what we already knew: that Hollywood often fails at accurately representing the genre of Science Fiction.

  13. Bruce Sterling? by lheal · · Score: 2, Funny

    My mind filled in: "oh, the Twilight Zone guy".

    Then I realized that Rod Serling was probably dead of lung cancer by now, and that I didn't know who Bruce Sterling was.

    --
    Raise your children as if you were teaching them to raise your grandchildren, because you are.
    1. Re:Bruce Sterling? by cei · · Score: 1

      Then again, with the parent post misreading as "Bruce Willis", that could be "the Twilight Zone guy" too... Bruce starred in the New Twilight Zone episode based on one of Ellison's short stories, "Shatterday".

      --
      This sig intentionally left justified.
  14. Re:Oh, PULEEEZE by mbrother · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.

    --
    Professor of Astronomy, Author of Spider Star & Star Dragon (Tor)
  15. Ellison is the William Shatner of Written Scifi by infonography · · Score: 1

    He's too busy puffing up his rep to write anything inventive. It's been what 25 years since he did anything worth reading. Funnier still, Bill Shatner has actually written better SciFi then Ellison. Why does the name Ellison seem to come with a air pump plug directly into the head? Larry is the same way. Seeing either of them is like watching a Bobble head doll that talks. (actually babbles)

    --
    Sorry about the writing. Robot fingers, you know? Cliff Steele in DOOM PATROL #23
    1. Re:Ellison is the William Shatner of Written Scifi by grolaw · · Score: 1

      Not a chance.

      Read, Dogfight on 101

      Then compare Shatner with Ellison, if you can.

      A simple, solid short story of a family man and his "souped-up" car. Ellison is a craftsman who mastered the short story - Shatner came late to the party and only because Roddenberry cast him in a SF role.

      Ellison is a writer, first, last and always. His muse may wain, but the body of work is solid.

      Finally, Ellison has done dramatic readings for years. It is another outlet for the artist and many of those are classics.

      See, http://www.audible.com/ and search for Ellison as narrator.

    2. Re:Ellison is the William Shatner of Written Scifi by mbrother · · Score: 1

      Ellison has continued to produce good work in recent years, just not things as famous and ground-breaking as he did once upon a time.

      And what makes you think Shatner actually writes? His name on some books?

      --
      Professor of Astronomy, Author of Spider Star & Star Dragon (Tor)
    3. Re:Ellison is the William Shatner of Written Scifi by infonography · · Score: 1

      Case in point, Along the Scenic Route ["Dogfight on 101"], (ss) Adam Aug 1969

      And a lot of others have dug into that road-rage vein, there was even a card game by Steve Jackson Games called Car-Wars. And as I recall they mentioned a different story of the same vintage as inspiration.

      --
      Sorry about the writing. Robot fingers, you know? Cliff Steele in DOOM PATROL #23
    4. Re:Ellison is the William Shatner of Written Scifi by tengu1sd · · Score: 1
      William Shattner provides the cover name, I've been told by several sources that there's at least 2 Ghost-writers behind Shattner's books.

      Not that this is a bad thing if they're willing to take the check and pass credit on Big Name Actor. It's a business you know and the next Tek book is coming out, check out the William Shattner homepage for book store appearances.

    5. Re:Ellison is the William Shatner of Written Scifi by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 1
      Case in point, Along the Scenic Route ["Dogfight on 101"], (ss) Adam Aug 1969

      And a lot of others have dug into that road-rage vein, there was even a card game by Steve Jackson Games called Car-Wars. And as I recall they mentioned a different story of the same vintage as inspiration.


      Er, it's a board game, in the wargame/simulation vein. I still have my copy.

      Chris Mattern
  16. Ever read Firefly by Piers Anthony? by crovira · · Score: 1

    Not Firefly, the movie by Wheadon.

    That was a disturbing book as much for its fundamental premise as for its denoument as for its cast of characters. (A paedohile who is a victim of his young 'victim'.)

    This was a great book which made me think.

    --
    MSBPodcast.com The opinions expressed here are my own. If you don't like 'em... Think up your own stuff.
    1. Re:Ever read Firefly by Piers Anthony? by JLF65 · · Score: 1

      It is a great book. I have it sitting on the shelf just a few feet to my left. A lot of his stuff is just teen whacking material, but that one is really some of his best work.

  17. Ellison on Religion by mcleodnine · · Score: 2, Interesting

    With this summer's wanna-be blockbuster shrouded in the cloak of Tommy Cruises' Scientology rant, I'm dead curious to hear what insight Harlan has to offer on this topic.

    C'mon. You know you want to tell us.

    Please?

    --
    one better than mcleodeight
  18. Re:Oh, PULEEEZE by SA+Stevens · · Score: 1

    Why do writers have to take actions that some pundits think 'is to their advantage' to keep face?

  19. In this Country, In this Era by Quentusrex · · Score: 2, Insightful

    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?

    1. Re:In this Country, In this Era by Forbman · · Score: 2, Interesting

      They should make students read "Player Piano", by Kurt Vonnegut.

      Capitalism? Only on eBay, auctions and garage sales. Otherwise, might as well call it corporate socialism. Govment makes more and more policies that are solely for benefit (or punishment) of industries or enterprises. That people might be involved is paid at best lip service.

    2. Re:In this Country, In this Era by indifferent+children · · Score: 1
      They are already bogged down trying to teach multi-ethnic understanding, the extremes of bipolar(atleast politically) secularism

      That would be an argument for teaching more SF. SF has long been a force for social change, usually in a liberal, multi-ethnic, secular* direction. If the schools were the subversive influence that you claim, SF would be required reading.

      * secular not necessarily meaning anti-religion, but the bronze-age religions (Zoroastrianism, Athenian mythology, Hinduism, Judaism and its decendents: Christianity and Islam, etc.) rarely get favorable treatment.

      --
      Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it. --Mark Twain
  20. He offered that insight on Hour 25. by Stormbringer · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ...back in the 80's. Hour 25 is now online-only, but it was a 2-hour Friday-night program on KPFK-FM in Los Angeles, hosted by Mike Hodel and Mel Gilden, at the time, and Harlan was a frequent guest. No doubt, Eric Foss has the entire broadcast archived on tape somewhere.

    From what I recall, Ellison said something like, "I attended a party in New York, along with some other writers, including L. Ron Hubbard, and Hubbard was saying something about 'Y'know what I should do? Invent a new religion. That's where all the real money is.' And, next thing you know, he came out with his next book, 'Dianetics'."

    1. Re:He offered that insight on Hour 25. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Yup. Heard him say this exact thing at a UCLA science fiction convention (Yay, Enigmacon!) in the late 80s.

  21. Re:wish I had an ipod by ken_devon · · Score: 1

    That link points straight at a 40 meg file. And their web server **hasn't melted**. Amazing, simply amazing.

  22. Re:Oh, PULEEEZE by aichpvee · · Score: 1

    I'd take it as a sign that I had "made it" and be happy. Unless they were trying to claim it was their IP, at which point I'd find who was doing it and go to their house with a shotgun rather than waste time trying to shutdown the distribution channel.

    --
    The Farewell Tour II
  23. Re:podcast?!?! WTF?!?! by InfinityBuffer · · Score: 1

    Pizzacasting will pave the way to a new era where you can download pizza instantly. This is extremely important to the way humans live.

  24. Ellison by east+coast · · Score: 1

    Is there any slashdotters that really hold Ellison high for his works? I had a paperback of some of his short tales and I just couldn't get into it.

    My only other real knowledge of Ellison is a ST:TOS episode and his rants on the late CNet from sci-fi. And when it comes down to it rants are rants; much like assholes everyone has one and normally since most are based on opinion alone very few of them ever mean anything.

    I know the man has an extensive work pool but I've never met anyone with a seriously high opinion of anything he's ever done.

    And no, this is not a troll but rather a question of who likes this guy and for what reason?

    --
    Dedicated Cthulhu Cultist since 4523 BC.
    1. Re:Ellison by bhima · · Score: 1

      Well... It's like I think he's super great... but you are pretty much guaranteed to get a good read with his works, rather than the crap shoot you get with other authors.

      --
      Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
    2. Re:Ellison by bhima · · Score: 1

      whoops! I meant "It's NOT Like"

      --
      Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
    3. Re:Ellison by reymyster · · Score: 1

      I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream & Shatterday are 2 that are particularly standing out in my mind as having loved...I could probably think of more, but not at 4 in the morning.

      --
      http://instagram.com/thephotographer
    4. Re:Ellison by Bhodi · · Score: 1

      I'd say there are just a few people who like Babylon 5, on which he was a 'creative consultant'. He gave enough input to the series that his name is shown prominently at the begining of every single episode.

      I personally love B5 but I feel it doesn't hold a candle to some of his literary works (check out The Essential Ellison for a sampling of that).

      As far as name recognition and viewer/readership of the general populace, I'd say B5 is his most 'famous' work.

    5. Re:Ellison by julesh · · Score: 2, Informative

      Is there any slashdotters that really hold Ellison high for his works? I had a paperback of some of his short tales and I just couldn't get into it.

      Ellison ain't for casual reading, that's certain. Try some of his screenplays if you can't get into his stories: there are several episodes of the original Outer Limits series that he wrote; "Demon with a Glass Hand" is often considered the best, and is frequently cited as an important source of the inspiration for "The Terminator".

      Also, some of his best work is in things he has edited, rather than written. The anthology, "Dangerous Visions" is considered by many to be a groundbreaking point in the world of SF short stories. I hear he is also a good friend of Joe Straczynski's and was highly influential in the writing of B5.

    6. Re:Ellison by Malleus+Dei · · Score: 1
      Is there any slashdotters that really hold Ellison high for his works?

      Me.

      --
      Slashdot Moderation Guidelines: Leftist viewpoint (+4), Conservative viewpoint (-4, Troll)
    7. Re:Ellison by OSXCPA · · Score: 2, Insightful

      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.

    8. Re:Ellison by SA+Stevens · · Score: 1

      Ellison is almost a 'litmus test for geeks.'

      Or was, awhile back. I remember being twisted by his work back in about 1978 in ways that I've never recovered from. And that was late in his work.

      People who don't read much but who watch 'sci-fi' on teevee and think they understand the genre probably haven't read 'The Glass Teat' but really, really need to.

    9. Re:Ellison by graikor · · Score: 3, Informative

      I've been a huge Ellison fan since the first time I read "Repent, Harlequin!" Said the Ticktock Man in the early 80's.

      A few other very good Ellison stories include:
      Mefisto in Onyx
      Grail
      Djinn, No Chaser
      Pretty Maggie Moneyeys
      Shattered Like a Glass Goblin
      Paingod
      The Deathbird
      Anywhere but Here, With Anybody But You
      Chatting With Anubis
      Midnight in the Sunken Cathedral
      Paladin of the Lost Hour

      and many others I'm too lazy to type out.

      The thing about Ellison's writing that grabs so many people is that he expertly blends fantastic settings and situations with real human drama. The events descibed might be bizarre or possibly futuristic (although Ellison's work usually has a timeless quality), but the emotions the characters are dealing with are very real and familiar.

      /My personal Ellison story - Harlan had a huge line for autographs at Dragoncon '99, and I was too far back to be able to get my book signed before he had to leave. He came back on his own time to sign for all the people who got cut off in that line. A real stand-up guy!

    10. Re:Ellison by swordgeek · · Score: 2, Insightful

      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.

      --

      "People who do stupid things with hazardous materials often die." -- Jim Davidson on alt.folklore.urban
    11. Re:Ellison by Frumious+Wombat · · Score: 2, Insightful

      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".

      --
      the more accurate the calculations became, the more the concepts tended to vanish into thin air. R. S. Mulliken
    12. Re:Ellison by Malleus+Dei · · Score: 1

      Ah, Deathbird Stories. I'm in SFWA and have been reading SF&F since the fifties and nothing in the genre has ever had the emotional impact on me of Deathbird Stories.

      You write that he pulls no punches? That's not the half of it. Harlan pulled out every single emotional stop when he wrote those stories. He's gut-punching the reader when he's not pulling the reader's heartstrings.

      I've read just about everyone in SF&F, and IMO the two greatest writers of short story in the genre are Harlan Ellsion and Cordwainer Smith (a pseudonym for Colonel Paul Linebarger, Ph.D - psychological warfare expert, military officer, CIA agent, and professor of Asiatic Studies at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies).

      By the way, if you haven't read any Cordwainer Smith, do yourself a big favor: dig up a copy of The Best of Cordwainer Smith and read it.

      If you can't find that collection, look individually for "The Ballad of Lost C'mell," "Scanners Live in Vain," "The Game of Rat and Dragon," "The Crime and the Glory of Commander Suzdal," "Golden the Ship Was - Oh Oh Oh," and "Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons."

      You won't regret it.

      --
      Slashdot Moderation Guidelines: Leftist viewpoint (+4), Conservative viewpoint (-4, Troll)
  25. Why it has to be protected by DynaSoar · · Score: 2, Interesting

    mbrother (739193) sez: "At this time in tech history, I think it's to a writer's advantage to give away their work online"

    Unless things have changed a great deal recently, at this time in legel history it's all but necessary for writers to keep their work off the net unless the publisher releases it for that.

    Almost all writers' contracts require that they sign over e-rights to the publisher as part of their contract, whether or not the publisher intends to do anything with them. The writer signs away the e-rights, or doesn't sign the contract.

    Note that e-rights are rights to publish, not ownership. The writer still owns them.

    Along comes the work, posted online. The author has to make an effort to protect the work, because signing the e-rights gave the publisher the right to release it. If the writer doesn't, they are in violation of their contract and the whole thing can be cancelled.

    A few writers like Harlan can afford to take on a case like this themselves, and can afford to refuse to have an e-rights clause in their contract. Most can't. If they want to get the contract, they sign the whole thing, and they're stuck having to do their own police work.

    If a writer has signed a publishing contract for the work that includes an e-rights clause they can't publish it on line, and they have to try to prevent others from doing so.

    At least that's the way it was explained to me by Charlie Petit, Harlan's lawyer during the lawsuit, while I was serving as material witness and slated as expert witness. Harlan was protecting his own work because he wanted to, not because he had to, because he didn;t have to contend with these silly e-rights issues in contracts. He also did so because newer authors didn't have the resources to be doing things like this all the time, and he wanted to see this made public so they wouldn't get screwed out of being able to be authors.

    --
    "I may be synthetic, but I'm not stupid." -- Bishop 341-B
    1. Re:Why it has to be protected by 1u3hr · · Score: 1
      Along comes the work, posted online. The author has to make an effort to protect the work, because signing the e-rights gave the publisher the right to release it. If the writer doesn't, they are in violation of their contract and the whole thing can be cancelled.

      Rubbish. Why then do none of the other thousands of authors whose work you can find online do this? As long as the author himself has not put the work up, which would violate most publishing contracts which give the sole right to publish to the publisher, then it's not the author's responsibility to police this. The publisher has the right and means to do this should they want. Authors' contracts usually delegate the authority to pursue infringement cases to the publisher. I guess Harlan's didn't think it was worth the trouble to try to sue someone who had scanned and OCRed some of his stories.

      Actually, from what I know about this case, Harlan has no moral high ground. He made a deal with the guy who posted the files, the person who directly and knowingly violated his copyright, so he would give evidence against AOL, which WAS NOT the news server the files were posted from, merely one which carried the newsgroup with deep pockets.

    2. Re:Why it has to be protected by julesh · · Score: 1

      He made a deal with the guy who posted the files, the person who directly and knowingly violated his copyright, so he would give evidence against AOL, which WAS NOT the news server the files were posted from, merely one which carried the newsgroup with deep pockets.

      And refused (or rather, incompetently failed) to remove the material when requested to do so, thus losing their legal protection against such things. His stance on AOL was entirely fair, I believe.

    3. Re:Why it has to be protected by 1u3hr · · Score: 2, Informative
      And refused (or rather, incompetently failed) to remove the material when requested to do so, thus losing their legal protection against such things. His stance on AOL was entirely fair, I believe.

      Do you know anything about Usenet? It's practically impossible to comply and run a decent feed. Usenet is ephemeral anyway. Articles expire in days or weeks; and no single ISP could delete a post from every other server. And as I said, it did not originate with AOL, they have no authority to delete it from other servers. But more importantly, my point stands: Ellison gave a free pass to the guy who posted his story, and went after the company that had unwittingly allowed access to it. You may think this justified, but if generally applied this would lead to a completely locked down Internet, ISPs wouldn't let you use news, IRC or anything that allowed you to upload for fear of being sued. If Ellison wanted to protect his copyright he had a case against the poster, he published it. AOL acted as the delivery service, (I don't know if they tried the common carrier defence). That he ignored the willful act and went after the jackpot loses any moral authority he has on the subject.

    4. Re:Why it has to be protected by julesh · · Score: 1

      Do you know anything about Usenet?

      Yes. I've been a user on and off since '94, and have wasted away a lot of time on various groups.

      It's practically impossible to comply and run a decent feed. Usenet is ephemeral anyway. Articles expire in days or weeks; and no single ISP could delete a post from every other server. And as I said, it did not originate with AOL, they have no authority to delete it from other servers.

      Yes, but they could have complied with Ellison's actual request, which was to remove it from their own servers. And, legally speaking, were required to do so. Which was why, when they failed, they were sued.

    5. Re:Why it has to be protected by 1u3hr · · Score: 1
      Yes, but they could have complied with Ellison's actual request, which was to remove it from their own servers. And, legally speaking, were required to do so. Which was why, when they failed, they were sued.

      I don't know if that's true -- "legally required" how? Doesn't really matter anyway, that was susbsidiary to my point, which I won't bore you by repeating. Also, after looking up the status of this case, Ellison has settled with AOL and they've kissed up now. I wonder how much he screwed them for.

      Ellison said: "Through this litigation, I have come to realize that AOL respects the rights of authors and artists, and has a comprehensive system for addressing the complaints of copyright holders. I would not have settled this case if I were not sure that AOL is doing what it can do to fight online piracy. Because not all Internet service providers are as responsible as AOL, and because individual acts of online piracy continue, I am glad to have called attention to the problem of online piracy through this litigation.
      I'll note that you can download Ellison's books on alt.binaries.e-books to this day. Personally, I either buy or borrow real books to read so I have no personal agenda.
  26. Haven't seen/heard it yet... by sgant · · Score: 2, Funny

    Let me guess: all Harlen Ellison talks about is how great a writer he is and how much better his script for "City on the Edge of Forever" was than the one filmed for Star Trek.

    Am I right? I mean, that's ALL this guy talks about.

    --

    "Leo Fender was in a 'state of grace' when he designed the Stratocaster." -- Paul Reed Smith
    1. Re:Haven't seen/heard it yet... by djlowe · · Score: 1

      "Let me guess"
      Why guess? You can listen for yourself, and spare the rest of us your ignorance.

      Oh, and his first name is spelled "Harlan", BTW.

    2. Re:Haven't seen/heard it yet... by sgant · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nah...I'd rather guess and try to be clever than to actually spend time actually RTFA...er...L(isten)TFA I guess in this situation.

      I mean, this IS Slashdot. And you of course fulfilled the other Slashdot requirement of correcting someone's spelling when it doesn't matter at all.

      Bravo! Good to see someone keeping the old traditions alive.

      --

      "Leo Fender was in a 'state of grace' when he designed the Stratocaster." -- Paul Reed Smith
    3. Re:Haven't seen/heard it yet... by tverbeek · · Score: 1

      Ellison is known to be willing to share his strongly-held opinions about many other topics.

      --
      http://alternatives.rzero.com/
  27. Slashdot as therapy by abulafia · · Score: 1
    An under-medicated, short curmudgeon, with distinct bi-polar and antisocial traits who used his personality as a birth control device is a somewhat more accurate description of the Ellison I know.

    I feel much better about myself now. Thank you.

    --
    I forget what 8 was for.
    1. Re:Slashdot as therapy by grolaw · · Score: 1

      Harlan would have:

      Punched me out

      stolen my gal

      hogged the dais

      and, bragged about it.

      You do nice graphics. I feel much better about you, too.

  28. Won't waste time on video by Odd+John · · Score: 1

    Notice the irony. Writers, whose only skill is the written word, who have strongly criticized the poverty of TV/movies/video, are being presented by CNN in a low quality video format.

    I'd prefer to read a transcript of the interview than:

    - wait for a 40 meg download to

    - watch low resolution video

    - with low resolution audio of talking heads.

  29. Re:You are ranked 400,000 on Amazon by julesh · · Score: 1

    I checked Amazon and found that your novel, "Star Dragon" is ranked 400,000 place with only 4 customer reviews. Tell me again why free distribution helps new authors?

    You do know that the percentage of SF books still in print after 2 years is rather low, don't you? Books tend to only sell many copies in the first 6 months to a year after their release. If you want to continue selling after that, you need to keep interest alive by having another novel published that's more successful...

    Also, for this to do much good, we have to hear about his novel before we can download it. Then, well, it might not improve sales of this one -- I'm going to download it now, having just heard about its availability for the first time, but I'm unlikely to buy it. I might watch for his next one and buy that, though, if I like it. It's a good way of raising your profile.

  30. Re:Oh, PULEEEZE by julesh · · Score: 1

    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.

    Thanks. I'm actually downloading it right now; it's good to be able to read some work by new people so that I can learn whether I like it or not. I discovered Charlie Stross, David Weber and Mercedes Lackey like this, and I hope your story can come close to some of theirs. :)

    Out of interest, who is your editor? I'm wondering whose desk I should aim to get my novel manuscript onto, you see. ;)

  31. Re:podcast?!?! WTF?!?! by julesh · · Score: 1

    podcast has to be the most idiotic word EVER. It's just a fucking mp3 download!!!

    Actually, it's a subscription-based syndicated audio article.

  32. Re:You are ranked 400,000 on Amazon by mbrother · · Score: 1

    The paperback has been out for over six months, the hardback for closer to two years. The vast majority of books sell the majority of their copies within the first few months of release. That's how the business works.

    And a new author who doesn't worry about publicity and advertising is hurting their own career. You'd like to think that a great book will sell on its own merits, but people have to know a book is great in the first place. Star Dragon got great reviews, and was a finalist for the John W. Campbell award for best science fiction novel of the year. It's a good book for its readership...if they know it exists.

    I expect the biggest benefits will come when my second novel is released.

    You're right, new authors should worry about their craft. Published writers should worry about everything in their power to control, from craft improvements to publicity. It's not like you can't do more than one thing.

    --
    Professor of Astronomy, Author of Spider Star & Star Dragon (Tor)
  33. Re:Oh, PULEEEZE by mbrother · · Score: 1

    Yes, I agree with what you say. It makes sense. I was mainly making the counter-Ellison point, that many science fiction writers are not rabidly anti-file sharing the way he is, because there are good arguments for doing it.

    --
    Professor of Astronomy, Author of Spider Star & Star Dragon (Tor)
  34. Re:Oh, PULEEEZE by mbrother · · Score: 1

    Drop me a private email (mbrother@uwyo.edu) and I'll give you, or point you at, as much good advice and information as I can. It's hard to break in, but I believe that if you write a good book it will sell. There are pitfalls to avoid, and things that can make the process easier.

    --
    Professor of Astronomy, Author of Spider Star & Star Dragon (Tor)
  35. Re:You are ranked 400,000 on Amazon by sakshale · · Score: 1
    I checked Amazon and found that your novel, "Star Dragon" is ranked 400,000 place with only 4 customer reviews. Tell me again why free distribution helps new authors?
    Did you read the article? The author gives numbers demonstrating that the sales of his books increased after being posted. Your question implies that Amazon stats are significant. However large it is, Amazon still is only one vendor. Could it be that most online sales go through the Bean site? I have no clue. Possible most sales go through the local book store. Again, I have no clue. The author, however, posted the summary statistics for the sales through all channels. That just might be a clue....
    --
    For every problem there is a solution that is simple, obvious and wrong.
  36. Re:Oh, PULEEEZE by Mr2001 · · Score: 1

    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?

    It is possible to respect someone and his work without obliging his every wish about how it should be enjoyed and distributed. For example, Kafka wanted his writings to be destroyed upon his death... but we're all better off today because someone decided he was wrong.

    --
    Visual IRC: Fast. Powerful. Free.
  37. Re:Oh, PULEEEZE by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

    > At this time in tech history, I think it's to
    > a writer's advantage to give away their work online,

    That may be, but it's still up to the writer to do this, not for people to steal his work, ummmmm, "for his own good."

    --
    (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  38. Re:podcast?!?! WTF?!?! by mge · · Score: 1

    It's just a fucking mp3 download!!!

    Not only that, its 41 MB. Thats right.

    41 MB of SPOKEN WORD INTERVIEWS !!!
    I've got perfectly listenable copies of the H2G2 radio series, and they run to aprox 11MB per 30 miute show, so this better be good...

  39. Re:podcast?!?! WTF?!?! by mge · · Score: 1

    FF reported it was 41Mb. Turned out to be 33MB
    for 36 minutes of spoken word.