On the passing of the Golden Age...

[ursangnome]

So, with Bradbury's passing, I was considering the list of Golden Age authors who are still with us, and how long until they were all gone.

Then I considered Harlan Ellison - the most ornery man in science fiction. Death itself probably doesn't want to deal with Ellison. Ellison may be immortal. The other Golden Age authors could move in with Ellison, and get protection from the Spectre of Death just by proximity! They could all live forever!

Except, that'd be a forever living with Harlan Ellison. You pick your poison, I suppose.

Then I thought that, you know, if Ellison saw this, he might well just kick off tomorrow just to show me. Ellison would do that, just to prove a point. He's that ornery.

Comments

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

I always thought of Ellison as post-golden-age. He was a fan during the golden age, but didn't really appear as an author until after.

[umbran.livejournal.com]

I know, some folks would call "Golden Age" to specifically be between, say, 1940 and 1960. I'm not really that picky.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

So, when do you define as the "Golden Age" -- because until you define it, it is hard to note when the passing of it has occurred or is occurring. And, I'm not giving it a hard-edge year boundary either. Just, especially stylistically and thematically, Ellison isn't a golden age writer -- "'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman", "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream", "The Whimper of Whipped Dogs", etc.

[umbran.livejournal.com]

Dude, you're busy counting the jellybeans.

I was being descriptive, not prescriptive. The dude is certifiably an Old Coot (TM), and that is sufficient.

[etherial.livejournal.com]

The other possibility is that Harlan is hunting down Sci Fi authors and draining them of their vital essence.

[citabria]

<3

[citabria]

::snortle:: Teem suspects this might require too much of a plan. ::ducking::

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

He is, definitely, and old coot -- and as ornery as you describe.

[autographedcat.livejournal.com]

The Golden Age of science fiction is 14.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

*snicker* yes.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Hee!