The great writer Harlan Ellison turns 80 today.
Ellison has won eight Hugo Awards, a shared award for the screenplay of A Boy and his Dog that he counts as "half an Hugo" and two special awards from annual World SF Conventions; four Nebula Awards of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA); five Bram Stoker Awards of the Horror Writers Association (HWA); two Edgar Awards of the Mystery Writers of America; two World Fantasy Award from annual conventions; and two Georges Méliès fantasy film awards.
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WikipediaEllison is known primarily to television viewers as the author of two episodes of
The Outer Limits (original series) --
Demon with a Glass Hand, and
Soldier. He is also the author of
The City on the Edge of Forever episode of the original
Star Trek series. The episode was heavily rewritten by others. He was also creative consultant for the 1980s version of
The Twilight Zone, and
Babylon 5 He is also known for threatening to sue the producers and distributor of
The Terminator because he felt that the story was based on his
Soldier episode. He received an out of court settlement.
(video)Ellison is known for his colorful personality, as evidenced by this video clip (PROFANITY ALERT!):
Harlan Ellison -- Pay the Writer