Information AboutHarry Harrison |
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in Glasgow , August 2005]] Harry Harrison (born '''Henry Maxwell Dempsey''', March 12 1925 ) is an American Science Fiction Author best known for his character the Stainless Steel Rat and the novel '' Make Room! Make Room! '' (1966), the basis for the film '' Soylent Green '' (1973). CAREER Before becoming an editor, Harrison started in the science fiction field as an Illustrator , notably with EC Comics ' two science fiction comic books, '' Weird Fantasy '' and '' Weird Science ''. A large number of his early short stories were first published under house pseudonyms such as 'Wade Kaempfert'. Harrison also wrote for syndicated comic strips, creating the 'Rick Random' character. Harrison is now much better known for his writing, particularly his humorous and Satirical science fiction, such as the '' Stainless Steel Rat '' series and the novel '' Bill, The Galactic Hero '' (which satirises Robert A. Heinlein 's '' Starship Troopers ''). During the 1950s and 60s he was the main writer of the Flash Gordon newspaper strip. One of his Flash Gordon scripts was serialized in Comics Revue magazine. Harrison drew sketches to help the artist be more scientifically accurate, which the artist largely ignored. Not all of Harrison's writing is comic, though. He has written many stories on serious themes, of which by far the best known is the classic novel about overpopulation and consumption of the world's resources '' Make Room! Make Room! '' which was used as a basis for the science fiction film '' Soylent Green '' (though the film changed the plot and theme). Harrison for a time was closely identified with Brian Aldiss and the pair collaborated on a series of anthology projects. Harrison and Aldiss did much in the 1970s to raise the standards of criticism in the field. Harrison is a writer of fairly liberal worldview. Harrison's work often hinges around the contrast between the thinking man and the man of force, although the "Thinking Man" often needs ultimately to employ force himself. PERSONAL LIFE Harrison was born in Stamford, Connecticut , but has lived in many parts of the world including Mexico , England , Ireland , Denmark and Italy . He is an advocate of Esperanto (the language often appears in his novels, particularly in his Stainless Steel Rat and Deathworld series) and was formerly the honorary president of the Esperanto Association of Ireland , as well as holding memberships in other Esperanto organizations such as the Esperanto League For North America , of which he is an honorary member, and the Universala Esperanto-Asocio ( World Esperanto Association ), of whose Honorary Patrons' Committee he is a member. He served in the United States Army Air Forces during WWII as a gunsight mechanic and gunnery instructor. He currently lives in the Republic Of Ireland and maintains a flat in Brighton for visits to England . Harrison married Joan (''nee'' Merkler) in 1954 in New York, a marriage that would last until her death of cancer in 2002. They have two children, Todd (b. 1955) and Moira (b. 1959), to whom he dedicated the book "Make Room, Make Room." BIBLIOGRAPHY Novellas
Novels
Bill, The Galactic Hero series #'' Bill, The Galactic Hero '' (1965) #''Bill, the Galactic Hero on the Planet of Robot Slaves'' (1989) #''Bill, the Galactic Hero on the Planet of Bottled Brains'' (1990, with Robert Sheckley ) #''Bill, the Galactic Hero on the Planet of Tasteless Pleasure'' (1991, with David Bischoff ) #''Bill, the Galactic Hero on the Planet of Zombie Vampires'' (1991, with Jack C. Haldeman II ) #''Bill, the Galactic Hero on the Planet of Ten Thousand Bars'' (1991, with David Bischoff . vt. ''...Planet of Hippies from Hell'') #''Bill, the Galactic Hero: the Final Incoherent Adventure'' (1991, with David Harris ) Brion Brandd Series
Deathworld series The planet Pyrrus is a literal deathworld. The human colonists have fought a centuries-old war with the native life forms, which adapt to human tactics and technology, evolving new species so rapidly that natives returning from even brief trips offplanet must be carried in protective armor canisters from their ship to the safe buildings, where they will learn of the latest deadly threats. The first three stories were initially published as serials in Analog Magazine under the names given below.
To the Stars trilogy
The Stainless Steel Rat series Listed according to internal chronology. #''A Stainless Steel Rat is Born'' (1985) #''The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted'' (1987) #''The Stainless Steel Rat Sings the Blues'' (1994) #''The Stainless Steel Rat'' (1961) #''The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge'' (1970) #''The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World'' (1972) #''The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You'' (1978) #''The Stainless Steel Rat for President'' (1982) #''The Stainless Steel Rat Goes to Hell'' (1996) #''The Stainless Steel Rat Joins the Circus'' (1999)
=Stainless Steel Rat Short stories:
Eden series
The Hammer and the Cross series In collaboration with John Holm ( Tom Shippey )
Stars And Stripes Trilogy
Short story collections (as author)
Short story collections (as editor)
Comics
Essays
EXTERNAL LINKS
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