Popdose: No Concessions: Genghis Khan and Harlan Ellison
eric
· 1 year ago
The Star Trek script we saw, and most of us loved, was actually polished by D.C. Fontana -- one of Trek's best writers. The script Harlan wrote would have made a good sci-fi movie, but it didn't really fit the Star Trek TV series. The script D.C. Fontana wrangled out of Harlan's final product did fit the Trek mold, and that's why it is one of Trek fans' favorites. You can read all about it in Harlan's softcover City On The Edge of Forever, which I can recommend for the script, but not for the other 75% of the book, in which he rants about the injustice of it all.
The biggest shame of Ellison's career is that he wrote a brilliant movie script based on Asimov's I, Robot series which would be an all-time SF classic if ever faithfully filmed with a decent budget. The Will Smith film was a travesty. Ellison added just the right touch of humanity and emotional conflict to Asimov's concept to make a stunning screenplay. I recommend I, Robot: The Illustrated Screenplay even more than City on the Edge of Forever. Hey, it is only $.01 at amazon.com. With shipping, $4. Your time might be better spent reading that than watching a documentary about a crabby old Jewish geek like Harlan.
jefito
· 1 year ago
I'm pretty sure Ellison would be crabby if he was Baptist, Episcopalian, or Mormon. I'm not sure what his Jewishness has to do with it.
eric
· 1 year ago
I was only referencing the "self-described 'cranky old Jew'" in the review. Yes, I'm sure Harlan's crabbiness would transcend age, race, gender, sexual preference, country, and probably time and space. :)
I always enjoyed Harlan's appearances on Tom Snyder's (RIP, Tom) show. He's fun in small doses. Maybe it's good that he's a primarily a short story writer. He's also a short story-writer. :)
BobCashill
· 1 year ago
Footage from the Snyder appearances is part of the film.
All Comments
The biggest shame of Ellison's career is that he wrote a brilliant movie script based on Asimov's I, Robot series which would be an all-time SF classic if ever faithfully filmed with a decent budget. The Will Smith film was a travesty. Ellison added just the right touch of humanity and emotional conflict to Asimov's concept to make a stunning screenplay. I recommend I, Robot: The Illustrated Screenplay even more than City on the Edge of Forever. Hey, it is only $.01 at amazon.com. With shipping, $4. Your time might be better spent reading that than watching a documentary about a crabby old Jewish geek like Harlan.
I always enjoyed Harlan's appearances on Tom Snyder's (RIP, Tom) show. He's fun in small doses. Maybe it's good that he's a primarily a short story writer. He's also a short story-writer. :)