Logan’s Run, Planet of the Apes and other SciFi Classics

[TremblingBluStar]

It should probably be noted that there's much more to Ellison's career than being the guy who squabbled with Roddenberry over a STAR TREK script nearly five decades ago. He's had a long and distinguished career as a writer,critic, and anthologist, producing many award-winning books and short stories and scripts. He's more than just the "City on the Edge of Forever" guy. STAR TREK was just a brief chapter in his career--and maybe not even the important one.

Well, it was important in that he will be remembered for more for his Trek episode than his other stuff, sadly. But you are right, he was a very good (possibly brilliant) writer and satirist. Two of his short stories, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, and "Repent Harlequin", Said the TickTockMan were stories I remember being exposed to in reading class in grade school.

I think Ellison got overshadowed by many of his contemporaries, like Philip K Dick and Heinlein, but he was still an important voice in science fiction.

 

[Christopher]

^Ellison's still alive. He hasn't been in the best of health, and back in 2010 he was talking about how he sensed he was dying and had written his last book, but he's still around nearly five years later.

 

[Greg Cox]

I think Ellison got overshadowed by many of his contemporaries, like Philip K Dick and Heinlein, but he was still an important voice in science fiction.

The main difference is that Ellison only writes short stories, not novels. So there are no classic Ellison novels to speak of.

And on the TV front, let's not forget "Demon with a Glass Hand" on the original OUTER LIMITS, which is another classic episode. Or "Paladin of the Lost Hours" on the TWILIGHT ZONE revival.

 

[Christopher]

Or "Paladin of the Lost Hours" on the TWILIGHT ZONE revival.

Which also appeared as a prose story in Twilight Zone Magazine, a fantasy/horror anthology that was published from 1981-89. Both versions were written simultaneously.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paladin_of_the_Lost_Hour

 

[Greg Cox]

Or "Paladin of the Lost Hours" on the TWILIGHT ZONE revival.

Which also appeared as a prose story in Twilight Zone Magazine, a fantasy/horror anthology that was published from 1981-89. Both versions were written simultaneously.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paladin_of_the_Lost_Hour

Sadly, though, the TV version of "Paladin" was chopped severely when the episodes were edited down to 30 minutes in syndication.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

It was weekend and I rewatched Logan's Run. Holly wanted Logan to get dark hair. Somewhat illogical, he simply would have to dye it. Changing the hair color has nothing to do with a face lift or rather a new face......

No, it did not, but that was just her being flirtatious; I doubt it had anything to do with Logan's desire for the New You treatment, since his response about the hair was merely reaction.

I don't like anti-heroes.

How would that story work any other way? There's no threat to/with a traditional protagonist, and in that situation, such a character would be a boring straight man.

It should probably be noted that there's much more to Ellison's career than being the guy who squabbled with Roddenberry over a STAR TREK script nearly five decades ago.

While that's true, his one-time association with TOS placed him on a popular cultural platform he did not earn before TOS, and thanks to that one job, his post-ST career benefited in that the general print or TV audience was more aware of his name because of ST. Additionally, it did not help when he--decades later (and after endless interviews and appearances talking about it) hammered his Trek association home with his whin--er memoir, "The City on the Edge of Forever: The Original Teleplay that Became the Classic Star Trek Episode." For the author himself to go head first with a book about that one job only sells the perception (and possibly acknowledges) that he's best known for ST, or that is all he's worth.

 

[Marsden]

Harlan is very outspoken about things, but some of his best work he isn't remembered for at all. Very strange, but typical if you think about it.

 

[JD]

And wasn't what actually aired as City on the Edge of Forever mostly written by Roddenberry?

 

[Christopher]

And wasn't what actually aired as City on the Edge of Forever mostly written by Roddenberry?

No, mostly Fontana.

http://en.memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/The_City_on_the_Edge_of_Forever_(episode)#Story

Originally then-story editor Steven W. Carabatsos got the job to rewrite Ellison's script, but his draft was not used. Instead, Ellison agreed to make a rewrite himself, which was again deemed unsuitable. Producer Gene L. Coon also got himself into the rewriting. Finally, the new story editor, D.C. Fontana got the assignment to rewrite Ellison's script and make it suitable for the series. Fontana's draft was then slightly rewritten by Roddenberry to become the final shooting draft. Much of the finished episode is the product of Fontana, who went uncredited (as did all the other writers) for her contribution. Only two lines from Ellison's original teleplay survive in the final episode, both spoken by the Guardian: "Since before your sun burned hot in space, since before your race was born," and "Time has resumed its shape." (Inside Star Trek: The Real Story)