Harlan Ellison would sometimes show up at small, independent bookstores, sit behind a desk (conveniently and prominently placed in the display window), set his typewriter on it and start hammering away. He would complete entire stories there, often with a premise supplied by the store's patrons. He was showing off, yes: Showing off his ability, his need, to write. It was a need fed by a well of energy that never dried. His creativity was practically boundless. These are just some of the fruits plucked from that always-ripe tree. Savor them.
Savor the wit, the humor, the sly grin you can see in your mind's eye, as he leans in close to tell you a joke about the human condition. And then, when he's got his arm around your shoulder, got you chuckling, off guard...he'll tear your heart out. Not to be cruel. But to make you hurt, just like he hurts. Violence in an Ellison story isn't there to thrill you, or to sicken you - its there to make you feel. To feel for the person getting hurt. To maybe, just maybe, make you step outside yourself for just one moment, and know the cold terror of what we do to ourselves.
There is a reason so many authors you most likely already know loved him. Neil Gaiman wrote the foreword, for example. Consider taking the time to find out why. This book is a fine start.
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From the Publisher
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Harlan Ellison (1934–2018) is a legend of the SFF, horror, and speculative fiction genres. His published works include more than 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, comic book scripts, teleplays, essays, and a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media. Ellison won numerous awards, including multiple Hugos, Nebulas, and Edgars. Many of Ellison’s short stories have been adapted into a variety of formats, including television episodes of The Twilight Zone and Star Trek. Photo Credit: Chris Cuffaro.
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