Harry Harrison, the creator of the Stainless Steel Rat, Bill the Galactic Hero, and the Deathworld trilogy, died today, August 15, aged 87.

An illustrator and editor as well as writer, one of Harrison’s first published novels was a ghost-written adventure for Leslie Charteris’ Saint, Vendetta for the Saint, which was filmed starring Roger Moore as Simon Templar. His various series extended throughout his writing career, and although he was primarily known for lighter fare, he also wrote serious novels including Make Room! Make Room! the basis for the 1972 movie Soylent Green.

In 2009, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America gave him the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award.

His official website simply now shows his dates of birth and death, and the inscription “Ad Astra”.

2 Comments »

  1. I have just heard of the death of Harry Harrison. He was not only an advocate of an international language, but spoke Esperanto fluently. I first met him at the London Esperanto Centre in 1987. And, yes, we did converse in that language as well!

    Esperanto owes Harry a great debt of gratitude, due to the “Stainless Steel Rat” books as well as his support to the online course http://www.lernu.net

    His memory will live on for many years, including now, on the internet.

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