I’ve read some good things about the recent documentary, “Harlan Ellison: Dreams With Sharp Teeth,” that I’m eager to watch one day. I didn’t realize that his house is supposedly full of crap like my house, but probably better crap. Film Junk should package some video versions of Cantankerous with “Reed’s House The Video Tour” and call it, “Reed Farrington: Dreams with Dull Mind.” I wonder if Mr. Ellison would sue.

I’m still waiting to read about what Mr. Ellison thinks of the latest Star Trek movie. And yes, I’m looking for some validation regarding my negative opinion of the movie. Mr. Ellison would no doubt be more incisive in his criticisms. If anyone does come across this, please let me know.

More vitriol! More lambasting! More hyperbole!

H.G. Wells’ estate should sue Ellison!

Although I’m surprise Harlan didn’t sue the makers of the most recently filmed version of “The Time Machine” because they used his name, spoken by a computer avatar [in an early scene in the New York City Library] without HE’s permission.

The man from Painville, Ohio. (A city that should sue him for using part of its name in his story “Paingod” without their permission.)

Rodenberry improved Ellison’s original “City” script, which was a non-Star Trek-oriented story, and made it an iconic tale instead of the cranky squirt of edginess that Harlan wanted.

Don’t write for established characters if you don’t respect their perameters.

It would be as absurd as writing a “The Flying Nun” episode (which Ellison did, under a pseudonym) and making the sister a pole dancer or cat burglar (which he didn’t).

Harlan has a mouth, and it usually screams.

Project Genesis, I just reread the section in Joan Collins’ book about Star Trek. (The index just lists actors, so the Star Trek stuff is actually under William Shatner.) She’s mistaken on two accounts. In the episode she is in, she thinks her character was on Hitler’s side, but she was involved in a pacifist movement that allowed Hitler to win the war. Her character would have been less sympathetic if the audience had thought she sympathized with Hitler. And she said this episode was the only episode where Kirk fell in love. Kirk fell in love with an android woman in “Requiem for Methuselah.” (Out of compassion at the end, Spock used a mind-meld to wipe the memories of her from his brain.) She said that she had heard rumors that Shatner tried to bed most of the leading ladies, but she said she did not succumb to his charms. She didn’t say anything about a toupee, but she did say that he must have worn 3″ lifts in his boots to make him taller on Star Trek.

Paul, thx for your correction although technically, they do disintegrate when you remove the necklace so it’s still stupid in my opinion. I’ll have to rewatch Soldier. I think you’re right about that episode being mentioned in the lawsuit. In my opinion, Ellison’s Outer Limits’ episodes were somewhat terrible.

Like him or hate him, Ellison has stood up for writer’s rights and I actually have to agree with a lot of what he has to say. His main argument is that a writer should be paid for their work even if it’s just a little bit.

“He even dislikes the habit of people allowing interviews to be used as DVD extras without being paid.” When he spoke about this, he made the good point that Warner Brothers isn’t so hard up for cash that they can’t afford to give you a little something for your work.