Harlan Jay Ellison was a prolific and influential American writer, known for his work in New Wave speculative fiction and his outspoken, combative personality. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Ellison moved to Painesville, Ohio, and then back to Cleveland after the death of his father. His tumultuous childhood included performing in minstrel shows and frequently running away from home.

Ellison attended Ohio State University but was expelled for hitting a professor who criticized his writing ability. In 1955, he moved to New York City to pursue a career as a science fiction writer, publishing over 100 short stories and articles in just two years. He joined a street gang in Brooklyn as research for his novel "Web of the City" and the short story collection "The Deadly Streets."

His career extended to Hollywood, where he wrote screenplays and television scripts, including for "The Outer Limits," "Star Trek," and "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." Ellison is perhaps best known for his award-winning work on the "Star Trek" episode "The City on the Edge of Forever" and his short stories "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream" and "'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman."

He was an editor and anthologist for "Dangerous Visions" (1967) and "Again, Dangerous Visions" (1972), and his contributions to speculative fiction earned him numerous awards, including multiple Hugos, Nebulas, and Edgars. Ellison's works also made it to the big screen, with adaptations such as "A Boy and His Dog."

Throughout his life, Ellison's writing continued to challenge and inspire, marked by his fervent advocacy and critique of contemporary social and political issues. He spent his final years writing in Los Angeles, California, with his fifth wife, Susan.