Posted in: Comics | Tagged: harlan ellison

Harlan Ellison Has Passed Away in His Sleep at Age 84

Published Thu, 28 Jun 2018 15:24:34 -0500

Last updated Thu, 28 Jun 2018 16:27:07 -0500

Legendary writer Harlan Ellison passed away in his sleep Thursday, according to Christine Valada, who posted the news on Twitter on behalf of Susan Ellison. Valada, along with her late husband Len Wein, was a close friend of Ellison and his wife.

Susan Ellison has asked me to announce the passing of writer Harlan Ellison, in his sleep, earlier today. "For a brief time I was here, and for a brief time, I mattered."—HE, 1934-2018. Arrangements for a celebration of his life are pending.

— Christine Valada Is Voting to Defeat the Madman (@mcvalada) June 28, 2018

Ellison's contributions to science fiction across several mediums including fiction, television, and comics, as well as his criticism, earned him his status as of one of the most well-known and respected writers in the world. Ellison counted eight Hugos and three Nebulas amongst his dozens of awards. Ellison is survived by his wife Susan; the couple had no children, nor did Ellison from his previous marriages. He was 84 years old.

It didn't take long for tributes to begin on Twitter.

My heart is broken. Off to gather what few thoughts I can for awhile.

What an awful day.

Harlan Ellison is dead.

— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) June 28, 2018

So sorry to hear that my first favourite author died last night – Harlan Ellison. pic.twitter.com/gDfOOSxp7l

— Dave McKean (@DaveMcKean) June 28, 2018

Harlan Ellison died.
He was combative, cantankerous, loved drama, sued people frequently.
But he had great taste as an editor (so much so he almost single-handedly moved SF forward as an art form with one anthology), talent as a writer, and penned some memorable comics. pic.twitter.com/8Q6jEiuXRo

— Patch Zircher (@PatrickZircher) June 28, 2018

.@TheSimpsons RIP Harlan Ellison one of the all-time great sci-fi writers (though he hated the abbreviation!) pic.twitter.com/bGmWq5MPDc

— Al Jean (@AlJean) June 28, 2018

https://twitter.com/HopeLNicholson/status/1012413562315264001

RIP Harlan Ellison. I met him in the early 90's and was on a panel with him at some show. We ended up on the same flight home and he wanted to talk to me so he came to the back and offered the woman next to me his first class seat so he could sit with me and talk.#harlanellison

— Matt Hawkins (@topcowmatt) June 28, 2018

If there's an afterlife, Harlan Ellison and @LenWein will have a hell of a time. Thanks for the laughter. https://t.co/H1fwWgVkoo

— Christine Valada Is Voting to Defeat the Madman (@mcvalada) June 28, 2018

With many more surely to come, due to the influence Ellison's work has had on so many people. As noted in Valada's tweet, arrangements for a "celebration of his life are pending."