The Essential Ellison: A 50 Year Retrospective

I bought this book initially so I'd have a copy of the essay 'Xenogenesis', which scared seven shades of pea soup out of me when I first read it in IASFM. Further perusal gave me a thorough glimpse of the work of an author I'd been skipping, as I considered him a product of the 'second wave' of science fiction/science fiction-influenced authors (first wave involving Heinlein, E. E. 'Doc' Smith, and so on). Good to have been proven so wrong, and now it's a book I'll recommend to those of my friends who see 'Harlan Ellison' and only think 'that guy from Babylon 5'.

Taken from the introduction, "Sublime Rebel," by Terry Dowling: "In Egyptian mythology, Iai is a fascinating character. He is the rebel, the tester, the stubborn resisting force of intellect and insight which donkey-like stands its ground, refusing to budge, and challanges what is accepted and valued and thought to be sensible and true. The same sort of honest irrepressible rebel, in fact, which surfaced in the child who pointed out that the Emperor wore no clothes and in the Fool who told King Lear that he was wrong. Those dear precious rebels(for there are, and have been, many)not only dare to question but for their pains alienate themselves from those who haven't questioned, who didn't think to question, who are now made to look stupid because they didn't." Throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, author and social critic, Harlan Ellison, was a seminal influence within speculative fiction, fantasy and science fiction. As though from some bygone era, his writing in the field of science fiction is thematically grounded in human dilemma. The emotionally qualitative properties of his stories are vivid and palpable. Think stubbornly, cantankerously steadfast in personal conviction, artistic craft and vision. A true sort of sui generis, refusing to dillydally or sugarcoat the bitter truth. Appropriately overwrought, humorous, devilish. Dead on and justified, Harlan Ellison was watching. Time after time, Harlan's words serve as a breaker bar to wrest truth's free from convenient, apathetic confinement. I can think of no other author whose work, be it fiction or otherwise, so diligently rummages the depths of the human condition; all of those secretive, quiescent corners of the collective unconscious, hidden in the shadow of the soul. From our shameful indifference and distraction to the overwhelming din and pall of homogeneous, race lunacy, no other author was or is more aptly suited to chronicle our perceived time...the approaching the end of a millennium, or, perhaps more likely(and to borrow a title from Ellison) approaching oblivion. I have some twenty-five books of his, collected over many years. Some purchased new, many found in little hole-in-the-wall used book shops. But those twenty-five or so are merely a drop in the bucket when considering the totality of his work. Most of his books are long out of print, making this comprehensive tome, "The Essential Ellison", a true necessity for those seeking Harlan's work. I've had the old Morpheus addition for fifteen years, however, I'm glad to see this vital compilation of Harlan's writing hasn't disappeared as mankind slowly circles the drain. The revised and expanded retrospective assembles several pieces not found in former additions. Also noteworthy is the recently re-issued and long sought after "Strange Wine". Next to "Deathbird Stories", it's one of my favorites. However, "The Essential Ellison" is a fine place to start. Harlan's words leave a lasting impression.

I have been reading Harlan Ellison's work for years and can't recommend this book highly enough. Not only is his work enormously entertaining, but also illustrative of the social landscape from where it finds its meaning. The Essential Ellison does more than provide a retrospective of the author's work: it allows the reader to appreciate the social influences that infiltrate the fabric of the prose. Clearly, Ellison's great talent is marrying cultural and personal significance to the most arcane subject matter. Though this ability is more clearly seen in his nonfiction, it also exists perforce in his fiction, where the fantastic settings and narratives tend to divert the reader's attention from the deeper influences that may be seen in the work. I believe that Ellison's supporters have neglected this literary attribute, as well as his critics, who should know better. Ellison, like most of us, is a product of American culture and its influences, beginning with his early experiences with anti-Semitism, his love for radio drama and comic books, and his early fascination with science fiction, and leading to more mature experiences with racism, political corruption and social irresponsibility. That these experiences influenced his life is very human; that they converted his art from ordinary narrative to meaningful literature is to the credit of the artist, who, despite working in the terribly debilitating media of television and motion pictures, retained his ability to examine human subjects with affinity and insight. Even while working inside the entertainment industry, he was able to understand the corruptive elements of it and translate these symptoms into often painful stories of human neglect and shallow intent. Though much of Ellison's fiction is fantastic and otherworldly, it is also acutely human and introspective. A book such as this allows the reader to appreciate the artistic and intellectual growth of the artist as well as enjoy the best of that artist's efforts. Ellison's work is part of Americana, and often powerfully illustrates the failure of America idealism. He is one of the best, if not the best, living American fantasists.

This truly is a godsend for those folks who always heard about Ellison's work, but were thwarted upon realizing that 90% of his written output is out-of-print. This tome was long-delayed [...] but thankfully delivered into the eager hands of any who wish to experience the vivid freedom of HE's pen. Ellison remains the classic "angry young man" of speculative fiction, even after all these years, and this compendium harbors so many of the highlights that make him, quite possibly, America's greatest living short-story writer.There really is no way to put an exacting finger on what Ellison writes. It is certainly not your run-of-the-mill sci-fi, not cheap-shock horror, and not suspense dreck. It's thoughtful, highly engaging, sometimes allegorical, and always thought-provoking stuff that you just don't find in modern writers anymore. Almost like a prickly cross between George Orwell and Lewis Carroll. He is most certainly still ahead of his time, and will most likely require decades after his passing for the world to truly catch up to him and realize what a treasure he is.So start here if you're curious about Ellisonia, then after your appetite is whetted and your curiosity piqued, track down the stuff in its original form so you can experience all of the good stuff, not merely highlights from a superb & lengthy career.This is vital American literature.

Harlan Ellison is likely one of the most influential living authors of what he likes to call "speculative fiction" though most would call Sci Fi. More than any other living author, he is sited by the likes of Gaiman, Strazinski, Spinrad and other current greats as the writer who inspires them. For that reason alone, he should be more widely read.Ellison has, over his 50 years of writting, covered the gamut of topics, from aliens to vampires, androids to Xenobiology in every medium. However, what makes this author great is that he understands that these topics are also an opportunity to hash out deeper topics of religon, science, and philosophy. His work is thoughtful, well written, and almost always pervocative. This collection gives you the chance to work your way through his tremendous and often sureal mind though his work. Trust me, it is a journey that you will not want to miss.