Wed 26 Mar 2008
Harlan Ellison on L. Ron Hubbard
Posted by Digit under Books, Celebrities, History, Religion, Scientology, audio, stories, youtube
Sadly, this seems to be a radio interview, so there’s just a static picture. However, Harlan Ellison is such a hyperactive speaker you hardly notice.
Now, first off, Harlan Ellison is the only person in the fucking UNIVERSE who can out-talk Robin Williams to the point that Robin seems sedate and boring by comparison.
But more importantly, it’s absolutely fascinating to hear about the origin of Scientology. It was a goof! A bunch of pulp authors getting together to get wasted and trade stories results in the wackiest of the wacky religions, care of L. Ron Hubbard, money hungry pulp novelist.
March 26th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Wow! Thank you for that!
1. Harlan Ellison is flat out insane, but in a very awesome, twigged-out sort of way. He’d be one of those invites to the ultimate dinner party, as long as he was in a straightjacket so he didn’t grope the serving girls;
2. I’ve never read LRH (nor am I particularly inclined), but I’ve read a lot of the Ellison short stories. The guy is without a doubt a master, if a mad one. Loved the brief sketch of his early writer-life (however true or embellished it might’ve been. Have you ever read one of his dustjacket bios? Talk about inventing your own past!)
March 26th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Ellison is, indeed, a master of the highest caliber.
March 27th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I have a Harlan Ellison story. Many years ago (more and more is many years ago with me) I went to Norwescon with a whole party of people. This was in the days when it was as much an orgy as a SF con, e.g., people fucking under stairwells, scantily clad girls running up and down hallways, some of this fueled by Larry’s atomic cherries (marschino cherries that have been soaking in Everclear for a year) and other controlled substances. I knew this girl, Claudia - she was working hospitality that year, and somehow or another, she ended up going into Harlan Ellison’s suite without knocking. And man, did he ever go off on her. Like: “You fucking filthy slut whore, you skanky cunt, you vile dirty ditchpig, HOW DARE YOU!” Really colorful. Made her cry.
That’s my Harlan Ellison story. It’s pretty clear, judging by this, and certain events in a “A Boy and His Dog,” that H.E. doesn’t have the highest opinion of women.
March 27th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I should clarify. I think he was supposed to be in a panel, and so hospitality sent her up with a fruit basket, or something to that effect, to drop off in his absence, and she just walked in, thinking that he wouldn’t be there.