Writer Harlan Ellison died in his sleep this morning at the age of 84. For what feels like forever but was probably more like ten years, we who knew him had been hearing that he was dying. It seemed impossible that he could go away but more believable when we also heard that he was not writing.
Harlan was a writer who made other writers proud to be writers. He celebrated and exalted the profession…and would have winced at the inevitable obits that are already describing him as "science-fiction writer Harlan Ellison" or, worse, "sci-fi writer Harlan Ellison." He was a writer who wrote many things, some of which belonged on the same shelves as unabashed science-fiction writers. One time I startled him when I, perhaps insensitively, told him I wished he'd write more that in no way belonged on those shelves — and his instant reaction made me think for a sec that I was in for a scolding and tirade from which I might never recover. To my relief, he sighed and said he wished that too.
I'm having real trouble writing this because I knew Harlan from 1969 on and was proud to be among his many, many friends…but in the last couple decades, I came to feel that the friendship was best served by maintaining distance. I admired the man greatly for most of what he did and most of what he stood for. I saw him perform many warm, human acts of kindness and benevolence. Most of the time when he mounted one of his many campaigns against injustice and/or insanity, I was with him all the way. But…
Well, having written and deleted and rewritten this paragraph ten times now, I'm thinking this is not the time or place to sort out my mixed feelings. That discussion would be as much about me as it would be about him and this is a time to remember him and to bond with others whose lives were changed by knowing this extraordinary man. I'm looking at that ominous "but…" I typed a half-hour ago and thinking, "Not now."
He was a great writer. He was, at times, a great human being…and if the "at times" seems like faint praise, think of all the people on this planet who never seize the opportunity to be great human beings at any time. I will miss him…but I guess I already have for about ten years. So have a lot of other folks even if some of them didn't know it 'til today.