Harlan Ellison, a prolific writer who was lauded for his science fiction, fantasy, crime fiction, horror and television scripts, but who had such a penchant for pugnacity that his own book jackets called him “possibly the most contentious person on Earth,” died June 27 at his home in Sherman Oaks, California. He was 84.
Ellison began publishing stories in the 1950s, writing in part to spite a college professor who told him he had no literary talent. He became one of the most popular and influential writers of science fiction of his generation — yet was willing to take a swing at anyone who limited him to the sphere of science fiction.