Most bitter science fiction writer?

[Orrex]

Poll question: Most bitter science fiction writer?

[baldguy]

1. Harlan Ellison would kick your ass if you said he was bitter.

[Deja Q]

2. Russell T Davies

If you can call that stuff of his "writing"

:rofl:

[philosophie_en_rose]

6. True

I can't believe how much he directly insults fans.

[Deja Q]

13. That too.

The Cult of Skaro; the names of the 4 Daleks are "Thay", "Caan", "Jast", "Sec".

If the Cult was 6 Daleks, there'd be two more - I think he was going to call them:

"Muyh". "Dokkk."

I think that sums things up...


In "The Parting of the Ways", he does compare all TV audiences to mindless sheep... Few people on the discussion boards I frequented figured the irony out right away... :( Plenty still don't, which is the saddest part of them all. (Oh, in his own ways, RTD genuinely is a genius... just more sick and twisted than I ever could hope to become... :D )

What bothers me most is that his storylines are so simplistic, and on top of that he writes fantasy that's cured by the sonic screwdriver or other piece of technology.

I'll admit, the production, acting, how pretty the actors look, and direction are superb, but the storylines (if they can be called that) are sophomoric rubbish... I wrote better stuff in college... I wrote better stuff in 8th grade... i'd say I'd have written better stuff at AGE 8, but I don't have the proof. But I digress, new WHO relies on looks and established trademarks. It's not much different from any given television or movie remake. :(

[Call Me Wesley]

3. L. Ron Hubbard.

Just sayin'.

[quip]

4. Tom Cruise will kick your ass

if you lend him a ladder, that is. :think:

[TZ]

5. No no the phrase is

He's gonna punch you in the knee !!(I should know, I hear he's about my height!!):rofl:

[Orrex]

7. Well, that would solve my financial problems.

I'd be in the "Clear."

[The Inquisitive]

20. incoming law suit in 3 ... 2 ... 1 ...

[leeroysphitz]

8. Heinlein. Trust me. n/t

[Orrex]

9. Ah--good call!

Hadn't even thought of him.

[YankeyMCC]

12. I think you nailed it

Ellison definitely gives him a run for his money but I suspect he's just makes more noise. I read "Grumbles From the Grave" and RAH definately could hold a grudge and could be at least as bitter as Ellison but whereas Ellison does things like publish his discontent in the opening of one of his books: The City on the Edge of Forever, RAH expressed his bitterness mostly in private.

[Benfea]

25. Good call.

He's bitter enough that if he lived to this day, he would probably be a libertarian making excuses for Bush.

[WilliamPitt]

10. I've been told that Orsen Scott Card is a full-bird douchebag with oak-leaf clusters.

But Ender's Game kicks ass, and besides, I'll never ever ever ever have to meet him, so it's cool.

:)

[InvisibleTouch]

22. I have met him...

...and I have to agree with your colorfully-phrased assessment. Yes, he's a good writer. As a person, not so admirable.

[Benfea]

26. Talent and personality are unrelated.

Isaac Newton was said to be a complete douche also.

[InvisibleTouch]

29. Yup, I've read that as well. n/t

[Phx_Dem]

11. Rudolph Bitter Rucker

I win.

[Aristus]

14. I've met and had dinner with Harlan Ellison. He is VERY angry, but I wouldn't call him bitter.

When he's not angry, (which, admittedly, is most of the time) his stories, non-fiction, and verbal anecdotes can be very warm, funny and enlightening. He can be life-affirming without being treacly. When you read his work, or listen to him speak, you are amazed at the breadth of his talent, and astonished by his intelligence; and it gives you hope for the human race. I've found myself thinking "Wow, look what we can do..."


Here's me with the man himself:

[Lorien]

15. Is he sitting on your lap in that photo?

;-)

I've met him too, and thought he was a bit of an asshole. But he has been a good friend to a mutual friend of ours, so maybe I caught him on a really bad day. :shrug:

[Aristus]

21. No. I'm kneeling behind his chair.

He autographs his books using an old-fashioned fountain pen. He blots his signature carefully with a paper towel so it won't smear. That's kind of cool. It shows a personal interest toward the autograph seeker that a lot of celebrities, who sign with a swirling Sharpie flourish, don't bother with.

[Rabrrrrrr]

16. I agree with others - Ellison isn't bitter, he's angry. Heinlein, I think, was bitter.

Ellison, perhaps, write out of his rage.

Some of Heinlein's works read like he writes out of whininess about the shit that enrages him.

[pokerfan]

17. Does Mark Twain count?

Certainly had a dour perspective of humankind. Thank gawd he was a funny SOB.

[CBGLuthier]

18. He wrote a couple of fantasys so it's only a little stretch

But I think his distaste for the human race was honestly earned after a lifetine of observing the species.

And yes, he was brilliant and funny.

[pokerfan]

19. Tales of Wonder is a nice collection of his speculative fiction

[Benfea]

27. I dunno

...but I do know that in the bitter category, Twain doesn't even come close to some of the other writers mentioned in this thread.

[Twillig]

23. If Kilgore Trout was real,

it'd be no contest.

[Benfea]

24. Does Alan Moore count as a sci-fi writer?

I love his work, but that guy is one hell of a curmudgeon.

[Orrex]

28. That's another good call

I'm pretty sure that I could find documentary proof that the man hasn't smiled in over 25 years.

[Benfea]

34. Ah well.

As long as his gloom doesn't interfere with his writing, who cares? :D

[mitchum]

30. Saul of Tarsus

[baldguy]

31. Does neurotic & bat-shit crazy count as bitter?

[Robb]

32. John of Patmos. nt

[China_cat]

33. Piers Anthony

Gad, what an asshole!