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Harlan 101, Volume 1: Encountering Ellison
Designed as both an introduction to Harlan Ellison's vast body of work and as a manual for would-be writers, Harlan 101 collects the best of the author's short fiction, seven essays on the craft of writing, and a collection of rarely seen oddities from Ellison's extensive archives.
This 406-page paperback features:
A new introduction by New York Times bestseller Neil Gaiman, author of the Hugo Award-winning novels American Gods and The Graveyard Book, and creator of Vertigo Comics' Sandman series.
The first appearance in a widely available Ellison collection of his newest short story—the 2011 Nebula Award-winning "How Interesting: A Tiny Man."
Five Hugo Award-winning short stories, including "‘Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman," "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream," "The Deathbird," "Jeffty Is Five," and "Paladin of the Lost Hour." (Note: The television adaptation of "Paladin of the Lost Hour" is available in Brain Movies, Volume One.)
"Snake in the Crypt"—The never-before-republished story that Ellison rewrote to become "The Deathbird." See how this average tale was re-worked into a Hugo Award-winning novelette.
The lost ending to "Paladin of the Lost Hour"—This ending only appeared in the very first publication of the short story in the 1985 anthology Universe 15; it has never been reprinted.
A disturbing and, as-yet, unfinished short story titled "Pet."
Seven informative, yet entertaining essays on the craft of writing (four which have never appeared in an Ellison collection).
Plus sixteen other stories—some subtly revised for this publication—spanning Ellison's career. From the 1950s comes "The Sky is Burning." The 1960s are represented by "All the Sounds of Fear" and "Pretty Maggie Moneyeyes." The Ellison of the 1970s appears in "At the Mouse Circus," "Basilisk," "Hindsight: 480 Seconds," "The Man Who Was Heavily Into Revenge," "Shatterday," "Shoppe Keeper," and "Strange Wine." The 1980s offerings include "Broken Glass," "Grail," "On the Slab," and "Prince Myshkin, and Hold the Relish," while the 1990s bring forth "The Man Who Rowed Christopher Columbus Ashore" and "Sensible City."
This 406-page paperback features:
A new introduction by New York Times bestseller Neil Gaiman, author of the Hugo Award-winning novels American Gods and The Graveyard Book, and creator of Vertigo Comics' Sandman series.
The first appearance in a widely available Ellison collection of his newest short story—the 2011 Nebula Award-winning "How Interesting: A Tiny Man."
Five Hugo Award-winning short stories, including "‘Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman," "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream," "The Deathbird," "Jeffty Is Five," and "Paladin of the Lost Hour." (Note: The television adaptation of "Paladin of the Lost Hour" is available in Brain Movies, Volume One.)
"Snake in the Crypt"—The never-before-republished story that Ellison rewrote to become "The Deathbird." See how this average tale was re-worked into a Hugo Award-winning novelette.
The lost ending to "Paladin of the Lost Hour"—This ending only appeared in the very first publication of the short story in the 1985 anthology Universe 15; it has never been reprinted.
A disturbing and, as-yet, unfinished short story titled "Pet."
Seven informative, yet entertaining essays on the craft of writing (four which have never appeared in an Ellison collection).
Plus sixteen other stories—some subtly revised for this publication—spanning Ellison's career. From the 1950s comes "The Sky is Burning." The 1960s are represented by "All the Sounds of Fear" and "Pretty Maggie Moneyeyes." The Ellison of the 1970s appears in "At the Mouse Circus," "Basilisk," "Hindsight: 480 Seconds," "The Man Who Was Heavily Into Revenge," "Shatterday," "Shoppe Keeper," and "Strange Wine." The 1980s offerings include "Broken Glass," "Grail," "On the Slab," and "Prince Myshkin, and Hold the Relish," while the 1990s bring forth "The Man Who Rowed Christopher Columbus Ashore" and "Sensible City."
- GenresFictionScience Fiction
406 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2011
2 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Harlan Ellison
1,082 books2,809 followersHarlan Jay Ellison (1934-2018) was a prolific American writer of short stories, novellas, teleplays, essays, and criticism.
His literary and television work has received many awards. He wrote for the original series of both The Outer Limits and Star Trek as well as The Alfred Hitchcock Hour; edited the multiple-award-winning short story anthology series Dangerous Visions; and served as creative consultant/writer to the science fiction TV series The New Twilight Zone and Babylon 5.
Several of his short fiction pieces have been made into movies, such as the classic "The Boy and His Dog".
His literary and television work has received many awards. He wrote for the original series of both The Outer Limits and Star Trek as well as The Alfred Hitchcock Hour; edited the multiple-award-winning short story anthology series Dangerous Visions; and served as creative consultant/writer to the science fiction TV series The New Twilight Zone and Babylon 5.
Several of his short fiction pieces have been made into movies, such as the classic "The Boy and His Dog".
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 2, 2014
When I first started reading science fiction in the early to mid-Seventies, my favorite author was Isaac Asimov and my favorite books were his classic Foundation Trilogy: Foundation, Foundation and Empire and Second Foundation. I loved these books and still do. At the time, Asimov would on occasion write about a younger author who came across, to me at least, as aggressive, combative, and pugnacious. This was Harlan Ellison. I confess it took several more years before I read much of his work, although I loved his two anthologies Dangerous Visions (1967) and Again, Dangerous Visions (1972). Those years were the years I read a lot of science fiction.
In the 1980s, I began to track down and read collections of Ellison’s short stories. They were unlike any I had read before in the genre. In fact, Ellison himself disliked being called a science fiction writer. His preferred term was speculative fiction. To say that Ellison is a science fiction writer or even a speculative fiction writer is to too narrowly place him in one genre. Ellison is a writer in many genres from early crime fiction to horror, mystery, fantasy, and yes, science fiction.
Ellison, who turned 80 on May 27th, has written over 1700 short stories, novellas, novels, screenplays, teleplays, essays, and criticism. He is one of, if not the most awarded writer of his time. He has won8 Hugos Awards from the World Science Fiction Convention, 4 Nebula Awards from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, 5 Bram Stoker Awards from the Horror Writers Association, and 2 Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America. He’s been nominated for a Grammy. He’s received several lifetime achievement awards. He is the author of what many consider the best episode of Star Trek, The City at the Edge of Forever. He’s written episodes for many TV shows and screenplays for films. And yet, after all this, I fear he is still relatively unknown.
Although, over the last 30 years, I have read most of Ellison’s work, I am positive there is much I haven’t read. Ellison currently has his own publication company, Edgeworks Abbey that in recent years has put out 10 volumes of Ellison’s work. Five of these are collections of his teleplays. There are four more books scheduled for publication this year.
Of the 10 volumes currently in print, Harlan 101: Encountering Ellison is perhaps the best introduction for one who has read few, if any, of his works before. The collection consists of 24 short stories/novellas and 7 essays. The stories includes some of his best known stories: “Repent Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman,” a Hugo and Nebula Award winner; “Grail;” “Jeffty Is Five;” “Paladin of the Lost Hour;” “The Deathbird,” a Hugo Award winner; “I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream,” a Hugo Award winner; and “Pretty Maggie Moneyeyes.”
Among the essays included are several on the craft of writing. In “The Whore with a Heart of Iron Pyrite; Or, Where Does a Writer Go To Find a Maggie?,” Ellison argues for the importance of creating characters, that although not real, must portray a verisimilitude of reality in order to hook a reader. Writers should be observant of people, get to know others, carefully note behaviors and responses, all to build a background of experience to write believable characters. Other essays deal with the importance of the title for a story, writing about people, how to begin a story in order to capture the reader, and the difference between writing stories and writing teleplays and screenplays.
Harlan 101: Encountering Ellison is the first book of Ellison’s I’ve read in maybe a decade or so. While reading it, and after I finished, I was reminded of all the wonder his writing inspired in me. Yes, it’s true, I was visiting an old friend, but the stories had not aged. They still contained themes of vital importance and vibrant resonance. Again, if one has not read any of Ellison’s work before, this is an excellent introduction. Hopefully, it will lead one to seek out further stories. Although he writes little for publication these days, I am greatly comforted by the fact that he is still here and still fighting. I look forward to his forth-coming books. I easily highly recommend this book.
In the 1980s, I began to track down and read collections of Ellison’s short stories. They were unlike any I had read before in the genre. In fact, Ellison himself disliked being called a science fiction writer. His preferred term was speculative fiction. To say that Ellison is a science fiction writer or even a speculative fiction writer is to too narrowly place him in one genre. Ellison is a writer in many genres from early crime fiction to horror, mystery, fantasy, and yes, science fiction.
Ellison, who turned 80 on May 27th, has written over 1700 short stories, novellas, novels, screenplays, teleplays, essays, and criticism. He is one of, if not the most awarded writer of his time. He has won8 Hugos Awards from the World Science Fiction Convention, 4 Nebula Awards from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, 5 Bram Stoker Awards from the Horror Writers Association, and 2 Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America. He’s been nominated for a Grammy. He’s received several lifetime achievement awards. He is the author of what many consider the best episode of Star Trek, The City at the Edge of Forever. He’s written episodes for many TV shows and screenplays for films. And yet, after all this, I fear he is still relatively unknown.
Although, over the last 30 years, I have read most of Ellison’s work, I am positive there is much I haven’t read. Ellison currently has his own publication company, Edgeworks Abbey that in recent years has put out 10 volumes of Ellison’s work. Five of these are collections of his teleplays. There are four more books scheduled for publication this year.
Of the 10 volumes currently in print, Harlan 101: Encountering Ellison is perhaps the best introduction for one who has read few, if any, of his works before. The collection consists of 24 short stories/novellas and 7 essays. The stories includes some of his best known stories: “Repent Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman,” a Hugo and Nebula Award winner; “Grail;” “Jeffty Is Five;” “Paladin of the Lost Hour;” “The Deathbird,” a Hugo Award winner; “I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream,” a Hugo Award winner; and “Pretty Maggie Moneyeyes.”
Among the essays included are several on the craft of writing. In “The Whore with a Heart of Iron Pyrite; Or, Where Does a Writer Go To Find a Maggie?,” Ellison argues for the importance of creating characters, that although not real, must portray a verisimilitude of reality in order to hook a reader. Writers should be observant of people, get to know others, carefully note behaviors and responses, all to build a background of experience to write believable characters. Other essays deal with the importance of the title for a story, writing about people, how to begin a story in order to capture the reader, and the difference between writing stories and writing teleplays and screenplays.
Harlan 101: Encountering Ellison is the first book of Ellison’s I’ve read in maybe a decade or so. While reading it, and after I finished, I was reminded of all the wonder his writing inspired in me. Yes, it’s true, I was visiting an old friend, but the stories had not aged. They still contained themes of vital importance and vibrant resonance. Again, if one has not read any of Ellison’s work before, this is an excellent introduction. Hopefully, it will lead one to seek out further stories. Although he writes little for publication these days, I am greatly comforted by the fact that he is still here and still fighting. I look forward to his forth-coming books. I easily highly recommend this book.
November 13, 2020
A great introduction to the late Harlan Ellison -- though, for me, an excuse to read some of his classic stories for the first time in decades -- that includes some of his most beloved and influential short stories ("Jefty Is Five," "The Deathbird," and "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream" as well as some less-known works. I especially enjoyed Ellison's seven essays on writing; what a great writing teacher he must have been! This is one of many handsome volumes produced by Jason Davis and Edgeworks Abbey to honor Ellison's legacy.
November 8, 2021
Seems like a very long time ago, when I happened to borrow a few titles of Mr. Ellison's from my local library. I found a analog cassette recording of his iconic story "A Boy And His Dog," which was, much to my listening pleasure, read by the author himself. More importantly, I had the rare opportunity to read one of the few major omnibus volumes of his work: (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...) I deeply regret never having the opportunity to meet Ellison or even write to him, especially after reading his later work "Susan," that resonated with both my wife and myself on so many levels. Though not completely unattainable, his books are becoming increasingly difficult to find; as of this writing "Harlan 101" is not available from the main website (HarlanEllisonBooks.com-many of his other titles available). Having been published only a few years ago, one may have a far better chance of attaining a copy of this book than his "Essential Ellison," that is without a unusually high price tag or a summoning ritual. Though a smaller selection appears, all his major stories are present, including some rare essays on some of said story's inner workings. It is sheer reading pleasure for the long-time Ellison fan as well as someone who has not had the pleasure. Ellison's essays provide a rare glimpse into the process, the real-life people who inspired him (and in some cases possessed him) to write particular stories. Neil Gaiman introduces the volume with high praise for the stories and immense appreciation to the author.
December 25, 2022
Ellison was his own category. He wrote what he wanted and if it offended anyone too bad. This collection made me want to go back and re-read his stuff, which is a goal for 2023. A good introduction to Harlan as well as a book for those already familiar with him.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews