RIP, Harry Harrison

Aug. 15th, 2012 at 11:20 AM

We have lost another Grand Master, I fear. I've just learned that Harry Harrison has died.

I did not know Harry well, but I always liked him, and enjoyed his writing. BILL THE GALACTIC HERO, THE TECHNICOLOR TIME MACHINE, DEATHWORLD (the first one is the best), THE STAINLESS STEEL RAT (ditto)...

He was a hard-drinking, fun-loving guy. I remember him tending bar at the SFWA suite. When you asked Harry for a gin and tonic, you got a tumbler of gin with a splash of tonic. He kept his money on the Isle of Man, and would tell anyone who would listen that they should move their money there as well. And back before the Brits reformed their currency, he was famous for insisting that all his UK contracts be paid in guineas rather than pounds.

Farewell, Harry. It was good reading you.

Current Location:santa fe
Current Mood: sad

Comments

( 27 comments )

brend_archer

Aug. 15th, 2012 05:34 pm (UTC)

Harry was the first American author of science fiction that I read. Kingdom of Heaven to him, as we say.

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tanhorn

Aug. 15th, 2012 06:44 pm (UTC)

Really sad

Too lot emotions, that I can write here
Deathword was written at the year when I was born
Great Master.
But, I think, his books its books will long live
as well as memory of him

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brend_archer

Aug. 15th, 2012 08:06 pm (UTC)

Harry will live as long as people read his books.

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forcewatcher

Aug. 15th, 2012 05:55 pm (UTC)

Sad news indeed! I love Mr. Harrison's work, ever since I discovered The Stainless Steel Rat back in grade school. He's going to be missed.

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uncle_twitchy

Aug. 15th, 2012 05:57 pm (UTC)

What a week -- first Joe Kubert and now Harry Harrison. May they both rest in peace.

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superscienceser

Aug. 15th, 2012 06:45 pm (UTC)

Bah, another great leaves us for Glory. I was Seven-teen when I first read him.

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miko_york

Aug. 15th, 2012 06:51 pm (UTC)

So sad.
RIP

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kylecassidy

Aug. 15th, 2012 07:15 pm (UTC)

He was a delight to be around.That's for sure. Your bar tending experiences with him echo my own, which was a delight as well. He was a funny guy. I'll miss him.

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dajamieson

Aug. 15th, 2012 07:25 pm (UTC)

Dammit! I loved the Stainless Steel Rat books.

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theentwife

Aug. 15th, 2012 08:57 pm (UTC)

I loved his "Hammer and Cross" trilogy and his "Stainless Steel Rat" series -- I read every book I could find of the latter. So sorry to hear that he is gone. I'm glad you have good memories of him -- I wish I had met him myself.

Persephone

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nadingo

Aug. 17th, 2012 05:15 pm (UTC)

I too loved the Hammer and Cross trilogy -- why can't we get more historical fantasy (aside from King Arthur stories)?

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Alexander Yefremov

Aug. 15th, 2012 09:02 pm (UTC)

He was among the first wave of Western scifi writers, published in Russia back in 90s. His books always sparkle with humor, and it was a great pleasure to read about adventures of Slippery Jim, or Bill, or Jason.

Adiaŭ, Majstro! You will be missed!

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Clay James

Aug. 15th, 2012 09:26 pm (UTC)

Dang! He was a good 'un! I spent many a long night as a kid reading Stainless Steel Rat and Deathworld, with school looming in the morning...Well, there are plenty of young writers ready to step up to the plate, so we won't run out of great scifi!

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just_jenni

Aug. 15th, 2012 09:37 pm (UTC)

Oh no, I am very sad to hear that news. I liked his stories as well. R.I.P. Harry. :(

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nicholsml

Aug. 15th, 2012 10:18 pm (UTC)

gonna miss him :(

I grew up reading the stainless steel rat series. I also enjoyed "West of Eden" as a teenager.

Gonna miss his work :(

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ravenclaw_eric

Aug. 16th, 2012 01:36 am (UTC)

I remember talking to him at a con...when he found out I'm interested in Volapuk, he all but grabbed me by the arm and pointed me toward a panel on Esperanto (which I later learned was one of his pet causes.)

Fun guy.

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biguglymandoll

Aug. 16th, 2012 02:15 am (UTC)

Damn. He was probably the first to teach me that there was a low-brow, just plain fun side to SciFi. I just counted, sitting here – there are 13 of his books directly above this monitor; Stainless Steel Rats and Galactic Heros, and I enjoyed every one of them many times. I still quote some of the Jim DiGriz lines. He'll be missed.

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materpenitentia

Aug. 16th, 2012 03:42 am (UTC)

I'm a Manx Citizen (and Canadian and US); Manx banks are great and their money shows the history on the island (I'm a prof who writes about historical archaeology on the Isle of Man.)

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apostle_of_eris

Aug. 16th, 2012 04:30 am (UTC)

How do you say ave atque vale in Esperanto?

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Stellar Generali

Aug. 16th, 2012 12:50 pm (UTC)

Deathworld

Deathworld is actually a good description of what is going on today in America. It describes a group of people who fight an alien world with increasing violence, which is responded by increasing violence in turn. This seems to me an accurate description of Repukkkelican't policies.

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fanoffun

Aug. 17th, 2012 08:11 pm (UTC)

WOW!! GRRM pays tribute to the life and works of brilliant author and you insert politics.

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encarmencita

Aug. 17th, 2012 05:15 am (UTC)

I have a special spot in my ribcage for all things Stainless Steel Rat.

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guessingo

Aug. 17th, 2012 03:19 pm (UTC)

Harry Harrisons books

Thank you for listing his best books. I have not read any of his books so far. I really didn't know who he was. When you have someone who has written for so long it is often hard to figure out which books to try first. Thank you for listing some.

It sounds like the SFWA community are basically a group of fun people. I'll have to try to get 3 mediocre short stories published just so I can join and hang out with you guys.

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attilathepbnun

Aug. 17th, 2012 10:48 pm (UTC)

The first books of his I read were, I think, a Slippery Jim book and Star Smashers of the Galaxy Rangers. I laughed my glasses off over the latter, even though I didn't get the jokes. I was almost 30 before I got most of them .... and I wouldn't be surprised to discover there's some I'm still missing. You know an author's good if they can make you laugh with jokes you don't get ....

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xwho

Aug. 19th, 2012 12:13 am (UTC)

I never met Harry in person but I think I knew him. Bob Shaw used to tell great stories about Harry. Bob, Harry and Brian Aldiss(according to Bob) were a riot when together.
I will never forget a story about Harry where he (according to Bob) signed a Bible in a hotel with: With compliments of the Author...Needless to say all hell broke loose...Alas, only Brian left to tell the whole story.
Bon Voyage Harry...your input will be missed.

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emgarf

Aug. 21st, 2012 01:53 am (UTC)

I think his Eden trilogy is a masterpiece.

Edited at 2012-08-21 01:54 am (UTC)

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80thsentry

Aug. 21st, 2012 12:33 pm (UTC)

no, please!! Not Harrison!!!! :_( I grew with his novels!!
I have a place of honor in my library for Deathworld and the mighty Steel Rat!!
Why in Italy I tere was no info about it?? desperation...

Edited at 2012-08-21 12:36 pm (UTC)

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( 27 comments )

RIP, Harry Harrison

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