Original Series & Harlan Ellison - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

clovis-man · 7th April 2011, 07:14 AM

It seems most of the dialogue in this section has been about the later series. I'm interested in the original series, in large part because there was some reasonably intelligent writing behind it. Jerry Sohl and Clifford Simak are only two who come to mind as having penned an episode.

Harlan Ellison is responsible for two: The Demon With A Glass Hand and Soldier. I just watched the latter for the first time. With Lloyd Nolan as the philologist and Michael Ansara as the soldier from the future. The idea came from a 1957 Ellison short story and seems to be the first in a long line of notions about human warriors created from genetic engineering instead of human reproduction. Certainly the concept has been used by C.J. Cherryh in her Company Wars series and by George Lucas in the Clone Wars segments of Star Wars. Most blatant is the 1998 film also titled Soldier involving Kurt Russell in a similar role.

Interestingly, Ellison saw sufficient similarity to his story and James Cameron's Terminator to threaten a lawsuit. I bet there are other similar works out there that I have not remembered. Anyway, for it's time (1964), it was an advanced TV notion, if not the most elegantly executed. Still fun to see it after all these years.

JustPassingThrough · 16th July 2011, 12:01 PM

I just recorded the two episodes this weekend. Yep. Saw Demon when I was little bugger, and have never seen Soldier, but have them on the ol VCR (remember those) and plan on watching ol' Mr. Ellison at what some say is at his best.

dask · 16th July 2011, 07:11 PM

Wasn't there a cop show with Ernest Borgnine that was so close in concept to Ellison's and Ben Bova's "Brillo" that Ellison threatened a law suit?

J-Sun · 16th July 2011, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dask

Wasn't there a cop show with Ernest Borgnine that was so close in concept to Ellison's and Ben Bova's "Brillo" that Ellison threatened a law suit?

Actually, I'm not sure there's a TV show/movie and a story Ellison hasn't managed to line up and threaten to sue over.

clovis-man · 17th July 2011, 05:34 AM

Well, nobody ever said he was a mister congeniality winner. If you read some of the Star Trek bios (can't remember which), you'll soon see that he was always butting heads with the production staff over how to properly stage "City On The Edge Of Forever". It ended up much different than he had intended, but won a Hugo anyway. Go figure.

JustPassingThrough · 17th July 2011, 10:22 AM

That's right- the 'at his best' was the Star Trek episode, not the Outer Limits. Whatever, I will still watch Outer Limits- like them old sci fi shows, make me all tingly.

7th April 2011, 07:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
clovis-man Prehistoric Irish Cynic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: California Posts: 1,690	Original Series & Harlan Ellison It seems most of the dialogue in this section has been about the later series. I'm interested in the original series, in large part because there was some reasonably intelligent writing behind it. Jerry Sohl and Clifford Simak are only two who come to mind as having penned an episode. Harlan Ellison is responsible for two: The Demon With A Glass Hand and Soldier. I just watched the latter for the first time. With Lloyd Nolan as the philologist and Michael Ansara as the soldier from the future. The idea came from a 1957 Ellison short story and seems to be the first in a long line of notions about human warriors created from genetic engineering instead of human reproduction. Certainly the concept has been used by C.J. Cherryh in her Company Wars series and by George Lucas in the Clone Wars segments of Star Wars. Most blatant is the 1998 film also titled Soldier involving Kurt Russell in a similar role. Interestingly, Ellison saw sufficient similarity to his story and James Cameron's Terminator to threaten a lawsuit. I bet there are other similar works out there that I have not remembered. Anyway, for it's time (1964), it was an advanced TV notion, if not the most elegantly executed. Still fun to see it after all these years.

16th July 2011, 12:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
JustPassingThrough Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: UK: ENGLAND: Posts: 232	Re: Original Series & Harlan Ellison I just recorded the two episodes this weekend. Yep. Saw Demon when I was little bugger, and have never seen Soldier, but have them on the ol VCR (remember those) and plan on watching ol' Mr. Ellison at what some say is at his best.

16th July 2011, 07:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
dask dark and stormy knight Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Washington Posts: 2,045 Blog Entries: 22	Re: Original Series & Harlan Ellison Wasn't there a cop show with Ernest Borgnine that was so close in concept to Ellison's and Ben Bova's "Brillo" that Ellison threatened a law suit?

17th July 2011, 05:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
clovis-man Prehistoric Irish Cynic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: California Posts: 1,690	Re: Original Series & Harlan Ellison Well, nobody ever said he was a mister congeniality winner. If you read some of the Star Trek bios (can't remember which), you'll soon see that he was always butting heads with the production staff over how to properly stage "City On The Edge Of Forever". It ended up much different than he had intended, but won a Hugo anyway. Go figure.

17th July 2011, 10:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
JustPassingThrough Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: UK: ENGLAND: Posts: 232	Re: Original Series & Harlan Ellison That's right- the 'at his best' was the Star Trek episode, not the Outer Limits. Whatever, I will still watch Outer Limits- like them old sci fi shows, make me all tingly.

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