Troublemaker, Malcontent, Desperado: A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Harlan Ellison

Harlan Ellison book cover

The Ohio Center for the Book, in collaboration with Cleveland State University and Celebrating Cleveland’s Past Masters*, are honoring the life and legacy of Harlan Ellison: speculative fiction author, screenwriter, social critic, and self-described “troublemaker, malcontent, desperado” on Saturday, Sept. 17, 1:00 pm at Cleveland Public Library’s Louis Stokes Wing, 2nd floor, 525 Superior Avenue in downtown Cleveland.

The event commemorates the 15th anniversary of Ellison’s last public appearance in his hometown of Cleveland when he participated in the 2007 Midwest premiere of the biographical documentary Dreams with Sharp Teeth in the auditorium of Cleveland Public Library.

Click here to download a high-resolution PDF of the 2007 program booklet, A Tribute to Harlan Ellison, with appreciations, congratulations, and “short stories” from Daniel Pinkwater, Stuart Kaminsky, Marv Wolfman, Michael Moorcock, Leonard Maltin, Eric Shanower, Leo and Diane Dillon, Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due, Richard Matheson, David Twohy, and many, many others!

Ohio Center for the Book Coordinator Don Boozer, who assisted with the 2007 event as a new librarian in the Literature Department at the time, will introduce the panel of esteemed speakers.

Author, journalist, and scholar Mark Dawidziak will provide personal reflections on Ellison and a remembrance of his 2007 Cleveland appearance. You can read Mark’s obituary of Ellison online at Cleveland.com.

Comics creator Tony Isabella will speak about “a man who was an inspiration and a good friend.” Isabella also participated in the 2007 event.

Cleveland State University faculty members Dr. Jeff Karem and Dr. James Marino will discuss the significance of the work of this unique talent and his continuing legacy.

Ellison’s niece, Lisa Rubin, will share memories of her uncle.

A Q&A session will follow presentations.

No registration is required. We look forward to seeing you there!

Call 216-623-2881 or email ohiocenterforthebook@cpl.org with questions or for additional details.

  • Saturday, September 17
  • 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
  • Cleveland Public Library, Louis Stokes Wing, 525 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44114
  • Learning Commons, 2nd floor

*Celebrating Cleveland’s Past Masters is a joint initiative of Cleveland Arts Prize and the Western Reserve Historical Society.