neil-gaiman: Kyle Cassidy’s Image Stream: RIP...

neil-gaiman:

Kyle Cassidy’s Image Stream: RIP Harry Harrison

kylecassidy:

I heard with great sadness that I learned today of the passing of Harry Harrison, one of the titans of science fiction. He was a charming man who I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to know. I wrote some things down about him in May of 2009, I’ll reprint that here.

Goodbye Harry.

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I first knew Harry Harrison from reading “A Transatlantic Tunnel, Hurrah!” in my youth. Lots more people know him as the author of the extraordinarily popularStainless Steel Ratbooks and those who don’t know him fromthatknow him as the author ofSoylent Greenthe classic movie starring that guy who played Moses (cue Burns shouting “Soylent Green est Menchenflesh!)

NowIknow him astotally charming. Harry Harrison, who was just awarded the Nebula Grandmaster award, is just a ball of joy to be around. He’s loquacious, captivating, and engaging. When I did his portrait forWhere I Writehe was nothing short of useful, wrapped around successful, stuffed inside gregarious. He’s been a graphic designer (back when they did everything with pencils and razors), a comic book artist, a soldier, and a novelist, and he learned Great Things from all of them.

I could listen to him all day. was quoting something thatFrederick Pohlmentioned in his autobiography. It was very similar to something that Harry Harrison told me that day I was sitting on his sofa, trying to out drink him, — I think it’s useful for more than just people who write or draw, so I’ll post it here:

When I write, I just sit down and I write. If you can’t do that, you can’t be a writer. Even when you’re sick. Sometimes I’d be very sick, coughing, with a fever and I’d be going down the stairs to work and my wife would say “You’re sick, don’t work today” — but really, if you don’t work, who else is going to do it?

— Harry Harrison

Wisdom from a titan. Work hard, everyone.

Work hard. That’s how you fill the dream gulch.

I will post something myself, soon.

Harry Harrison was so kind to a 23 year old journalist. He and his wife, Joan, offered kindness and hospitality, and a glorious cranky wisdom, and it was a wonderful thing. We never stopped being friends…