May 30, 2008

Harlan Ellison (Roddy MacDowell)

Harlan Ellison

Over the last 50 years, he's written hundreds of short stories ("A Boy and His Dog"), several novels and movies and worked on TV shows like "The Man From UNCLE," the original Star Trek, and "The Outer Limits." But don't call him a science-fiction author: Ellison says he's the heir to Edgar Allan Poe and Jorge-Luis Borges. Kurt asks Ellison about his brash reputation and about the new documentary about him called "Dreams With Sharp Teeth."

Listener Comments Leave a Comment | Refresh Comments
[1]
Posted by: Dennis Green
May 29, 2008 - 06:12PM
Stockbridge, ga

Outstanding. Well-done, whetting my appetite for the full hour (which I'd have done first if I had realized) and the upcoming Doc. "A Boy and His Dog" was an early influence on me growing up, and I hope to find a copy for review. It certainly characterizes the distinction between Sci-Fi and TwistedFantasy that Ellison apparently strives to reach.

Thanks for the great 12-minute teaser on this fascinating author,

Dennis Green

[2]
Posted by: Liz
June 01, 2008 - 05:09PM

What was the music played right after this interview? Could you include the artists and songs you use to segue from one segment to another?

[3]
Posted by: DJ
June 02, 2008 - 12:05PM
Studio 360

Liz,

The music we used directly after the Harlan Ellison interview is original music composed for us by the great David Van Tieghem. He composed our main theme and other incidental music that we often use throughout the show.

http://www.vantieghem.com/

Otherwise, we always try to list any and all music used during the show. Thanks for listening!

DJ

Studio 360

[4]
Posted by: Shane Shellenbarger
June 03, 2008 - 04:07PM
Phoenix, AZ

Excellent interview! I listened to the short version and then discovered the uncut interview and enjoyed them both. I have been reading and listening to Harlan Ellison since 1975 and I can never get enough of this living legend. He's opinioned, erudite, and fascinating.

I hope that Kurt will find another occasion to speak to Ellison very soon.

[5]
Posted by: arkonbey
June 05, 2008 - 01:29PM
Underhill, Vermont

Fantastic interview. He brain is just constantly bubbling; I'm a bit surprised that he hadn't burned out long before now.

You didn't ask the one question I was curious about: What exactly does a 'conceptual consultant' do other than play a computer's voice?(He was both on "Babylon 5")

[6]
Posted by: Michael Murray
June 05, 2008 - 02:39PM
Homer, Alaska

I loved this interview! What energy and humor. I caught myself bursting out in laughter several times as I listened. I'm looking forward to listening to the whole interview.

[7]
Posted by: abe
June 07, 2008 - 05:01PM

It's more fun to read ABOUT Harlan Ellison than it is to read him. I don't think he's actually produced any science fiction (yes Harlan, that IS what you write despite your shame) that will survive past him--unlike "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury or "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card.

In a way I kind of see the reason he wants to avoid the label Science Fiction---because famous sci-fi authors like Clarke and Asimov, despite the richness of their imagination, wrote in a dry, inartistic fashion, as did many other sci-fi writers. Ellison focused more on style and wanted to be recognized for that--something he felt being primarily known as a "sci-fi" author would preclude.

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