Harlan Jay Ellison was a prolific American writer, known for his influential work in speculative fiction, and as an editor. He was born on May 27, 1934, in Cleveland, Ohio, and passed away on June 28, 2018. Ellison's career spanned more than half a century, during which he wrote over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, comic book scripts, teleplays, essays, and critiques.

Ellison's work has received numerous awards, including multiple Hugo Awards, Nebula Awards, and Edgar Awards. His notable works include the short story collections I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream and Shatterday. He also served as the editor for the groundbreaking science fiction anthology Dangerous Visions.

Known for his outspoken and sometimes controversial opinions, Ellison was a passionate advocate for writers' rights and was involved in many public disputes in defense of intellectual property. Beyond writing, Ellison was known for his work in television, contributing to series such as The Outer Limits and Star Trek.