# Crazy old Harlan Ellison is dying
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [September 24, 2010, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868 "2010-09-24T13:03:46Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/1 "2010-09-24T13:03:46Z")
[Link](http://www.thedailypage.com/isthmus/article.php?article=30610)
My favorite quote:
> [@](#):
>
> “An old dog senses when it’s his time – dogs have that capacity; nobody doubts that. Nobody. But everybody doubts when you say, ‘I’m dying.’ They think you’re being a Victorian actress. They think you’re doing Bernhardt.”
So, Harlan is passing and he knows this because he has sensed it. He gets nuttier every year.
---
### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/2 "2010-09-24T13:53:30Z")
And so will pass one of the giants of speculative fiction. Who will take his place as someone willing to drop trousers in the middle of a crowded room to show a surgery scar? Who will rail at the Suits for being soul-less? Who will write more adventures of Arlo the Great White Hunter?
---
### Author:  [@Reno\_Nevada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/3 "2010-09-24T13:58:49Z")
What does this mean for _Last Dangerous Visions_?
---
### Author:  [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/4 "2010-09-24T14:02:52Z")
> [@Khadaji](#):
>
> So, Harlan is passing and he knows this because he has sensed it. He gets nuttier every year.
Enormously talented, endlessly fascinating, eternally frustrating.
He’s often a total prick, but I’ll be sad when he finally passes. I really do enjoy his writing, across multiple genres.
---
### Author:  [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/5 "2010-09-24T14:12:05Z")
I’ve always thought that Harlan was kind of the Hunter S. Thompson of speculative fiction. I have a signed copy of Partners in Wonder from when he hosted a screening of A Boy and His Dog at San Jose’s first Cinefest.
---
### Author:  [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/6 "2010-09-24T14:14:35Z")
Harlan is proof personified that enormously talented people can be total asses. I’ll remember the art and forget the person.
---
### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/7 "2010-09-24T14:28:54Z")
I’ll remember both. Harlan **is** a total ass, but he is also very funny and very giving when he wants to be. Every time I’ve encountered him has been memorable.
---
### Author:  [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/8 "2010-09-24T18:35:55Z")
He’s dying? Oh no!
I have no mouth and I must scream!
---
### Author:  [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/9 "2010-09-24T18:39:14Z")
Of course he’s dying. So am I. So are you.
This will be a less interesting world without him though.
---
### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/10 "2010-09-24T19:06:14Z")
I recall a verse of a filksong I once heard (to the tune of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”):
Repent ye, Harlan Ellison!
Says science fiction’s dead!
But he keeps writing more
And calls it “fantasy” instead!
He’s retired seven times this year,
But he’ll come out again
If you offer him an award
A Galaxy or Nebula
If you offer him an award!
---
### Author:  [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/11 "2010-09-24T19:17:21Z")
**Khadaji** said:
> [@](#):
>
> So, Harlan is passing and he knows this because he has sensed it. He gets nuttier every year.
Well, I’m not particularly a fan, but to be fair, he is old. It’s possible his health is going downhill, and he can sense things like it takes more energy to get out of bed, he gets tired more easily, he has trouble breathing, whatever. That he didn’t spell out the fine details doesn’t mean he doesn’t have more to go on than just “I feel it”. Maybe he doesn’t feel like categorically listing all the various ailments and tells that bring him to that conclusion. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t have more detailed reasons.
---
### Author:  [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/12 "2010-09-24T19:21:27Z")
Egads!
I remember when he was the brilliant young Turk challenging the old guard.
He did a charity event for our foundation at Dragon-Con back in the 90s and, yes, he was cranky. But he was a hoot to hang out with.
---
### Author:  [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/13 "2010-09-24T19:24:20Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> I’ll remember both. Harlan **is** a total ass, but he is also very funny and very giving when he wants to be. Every time I’ve encountered him has been memorable.
Agreed. I’ll be sad when he goes. I had the good fortune to get to know him a little bit when he was a client of an art gallery I worked for. He’s crotchety, but can be very nice when he wants to be.
---
### Author:  [@filling\_pages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filling_pages)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/14 "2010-09-24T19:51:29Z")
[My favorite picture of Ellison.](http://www.lasfsinc.info/upimages/dikdaniels/DD001/A098.jpg) Cracks me up every time.
---
### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/15 "2010-09-24T20:15:37Z")
> [@Irishman](#):
>
> **Khadaji** said:
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > So, Harlan is passing and he knows this because he has sensed it. He gets nuttier every year.
>
> Well, I’m not particularly a fan, but to be fair, he is old. It’s possible his health is going downhill, and he can sense things like it takes more energy to get out of bed, he gets tired more easily, he has trouble breathing, whatever. That he didn’t spell out the fine details doesn’t mean he doesn’t have more to go on than just “I feel it”. Maybe he doesn’t feel like categorically listing all the various ailments and tells that bring him to that conclusion. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t have more detailed reasons.
😛 Did you even \*read \*the quote? \*An old dog senses when it’s his time – dogs have that capacity; nobody doubts that. Nobody.
\*Yeah, go ahead and say he has his reasons - maybe he does. And I love woo as much as the next man. But I’m here to tell you - there are plenty of people who doubt that an old dog senses when it’s his time. Well, I can’t produce a cite on the word _plenty_, so I’ll just have to settle for saying that at least \*one \*person doubts it.
And he still gets nuttier every year.
---
### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/16 "2010-09-24T20:24:10Z")
On the upside, all my signed First Editions of his are going to be worth bank. 😃
---
### Author:  [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/17 "2010-09-24T20:30:30Z")
Ages ago I was having a conversation with a friend about Ellison. My friend said, “Harlan Ellison is crazy!” I said, “No he’s just insane.” (made sense at the time).
---
### Author:  [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/18 "2010-09-24T21:09:42Z")
> [@Khadaji](#):
>
> And he still gets nuttier every year.
Crazy as a soup sandwich.
I am very grateful for his body of work - and just as much for his work as an editor. I’m not in a hurry to invite him over for a beer, but I will be sorry when he finally gets around to shuffling off.
---
### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/19 "2010-09-24T21:36:59Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> On the upside, all my signed First Editions of his are going to be worth bank. 😃
I’m afraid if you inspect those closely you’ll find he signed them all “J.R.R. Tolkein.”
---
### Author:  [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868/20 "2010-09-24T21:44:01Z")
Color me skeptical. He’s not _that_ old. Unless he’s got a disease or affliction he hasn’t told anyone about, he doesn’t have a terminal condition. He hasn’t even made it to the average life expectancy yet.
I know people who have been sure they were about to die since they were 50 years old, and still going strong in their 70’s. They’re called hypochondriacs. My great grandmother was put in a nursing home after she had a stroke when she was in her early 70’s. She had several strokes after that, and more than once we were told she wasn’t going to last much longer. She lived to be 88 years old.
My guess is that this is just Harlan the drama queen. If he does die, then forever more people will say, “Harlan just _knew_, man. That’s how in touch he was with the cosmos.” If he doesn’t, well, he can always claim that he overcame the decline through sheer force of will, and then people can say, “Man, that Harlan is _tough_.” In the meantime, it sure helps ticket sales for the ‘last’ convention he’s attending before he dies.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-old-harlan-ellison-is-dying/554868.md?page=2)