amirxtreme (December 31, 1969 at 3:59 pm)

He just doesn't want to be pigeonholed into being just a sci-fi writer. That is all.

jennyrgar (December 31, 1969 at 3:59 pm)

whats wrong with sci fi?

PleiadesSeven (December 31, 1969 at 3:59 pm)

She is soooooo flirting with him!

PleiadesSeven (December 31, 1969 at 3:59 pm)

Damn! Trash like Judith Krantz and Sidney Sheldon! Ruff-ruff, he's got balls to say it! This is what I've been saying! Genre -labeling good writers as sci-fi rips them out of the proper literature kudos alot of writers deserve.

suhuso59 (December 31, 1969 at 3:59 pm)

"really plays no part in it."

suhuso59 (December 31, 1969 at 3:59 pm)

I absolutely adore the man - he can call himself whatever, his stories are usually a wild ride: Introduce yourself to the anthologies first - "Paingod and Other Delusions" "Repent Harlequin! said the ticktockman"; The closest to sci-fi is "I have no mouth but I must scream" only because of the presence of the all-knowing computer. And that was SI-I-ICK! By his reasoning, though, Heinlein's "Job" is also Speculative fiction, since science rally plays no pat in it.

suhuso59 (December 31, 1969 at 3:59 pm)

But isn't that the very point he is making, though ... the majority of his work is MIS-LABELLED as science fiction when technically, it isn't - it is more speculative than purely scientific - what-ifs that may or may not include elements that touch on the futuristic. If you never read Ellison and are looking for pure Sci-Fi, you may not get him.

newt0830 (December 31, 1969 at 3:59 pm)

can she be the dumbest host ever made?

reptomicus (December 31, 1969 at 3:59 pm)

There's the story of Philip Dick and Ellison in a bookstore. Ellison keeps pointing himself out on the shelf loudly to the annoyance of everyone in the store. Philip tells him to knock it off, but Ellison refuses. Philip picks up mini-Harlin and carries him off to the street.

rygel52 (December 31, 1969 at 3:59 pm)

I don't think the term "sci-fi writer" is really what is peturbing to Ellison. I think, in this interview, he is irritated with the lack of respect given to writers and the way that some people try to "categorize" the work and the readers. I think Ellison is talking about how his work, and similiar writers, gets written off in some category and deemed not as important or influential because it's sci-fi. The same could be said for the horror genre. There are some real talents in both.