War of the Hack writers

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2003-04-04 05:47am

I was just looking at the Web site and press releases of the self proclaimed "King of the Hack Writers" Harlan Ellison. Ok, he would piss on Roddenberry's Grave if he wasn't in space, he hates B&B more then anyone else, and he used to write for the original series.

There is an old story about how he had a writing duel with Micheal Stackpoole to write a fast piece of Sci-Fi given a basic premise, and Ellison Beat Stackpoole in Speed & Quality.

So which series has better "hacks" (Or best of the worst)

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2003-04-04 05:52am

I thought that KJA is more of a hack than Stackpole??

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2003-04-04 07:25am

He is, but KJA wouldn't accept Ellison's Challenge, instead he was one of the six judges at the convention.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-04-04 09:42am

Um, Ellison only wrote "The Guardian of Forever", Bear.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2003-04-04 10:30am

Heck he even used that godawful penname(Cordwainer Bird)

But as to who has the worst hack-writer...I still give B&B that title. KJA is not quite in there league no matter how many franchises he tries to kill.

Darth Fanboy · Post by **Darth Fanboy** » 2003-04-05 12:40am

KJA can't create canon material, B&B forever mutilate a classic series beloved by millions.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-04-05 12:42am

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:Um, Ellison only wrote "The Guardian of Forever", Bear.

And was a hairbreadth from killing Roddenberry afterwards.

Lord Poe · Post by **Lord Poe** » 2003-04-06 12:44am

Ghost Rider wrote:Heck he even used that godawful penname(Cordwainer Bird)

He only used that name on material that was changed from what he wrote in protest, or material he produced just to pay the bills.

But as to who has the worst hack-writer...I still give B&B that title. KJA is not quite in there league no matter how many franchises he tries to kill.

I attended a writer's workshop these guys held at a convention (Before DS9) went on the air. Thinking back on it, it was amazing. They stand up on stage and lecture potential writers on what kind of crap stories they didn't want: no "space vampires", no family of any of the main characters, no time-travel stories, no "it was just a dream" stories, no killing off of any major or minor character, and no sudden romace between any of the major characters.

I guess they wanted to save those stories for themselves.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2003-04-06 12:53am

Lord Poe wrote:
Ghost Rider wrote:Heck he even used that godawful penname(Cordwainer Bird)
He only used that name on material that was changed from what he wrote in protest, or material he produced just to pay the bills.

I know...but it's still a screwy pen name to me.

But as to who has the worst hack-writer...I still give B&B that title. KJA is not quite in there league no matter how many franchises he tries to kill.
I attended a writer's workshop these guys held at a convention (Before DS9) went on the air. Thinking back on it, it was amazing. They stand up on stage and lecture potential writers on what kind of crap stories they didn't want: no "space vampires", no family of any of the main characters, no time-travel stories, no "it was just a dream" stories, no killing off of any major or minor character, and no sudden romace between any of the major characters.

I guess they wanted to save those stories for themselves.

Seriously

?

Huh, learn something new everyday.

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2003-04-06 04:45am

Ghost Rider wrote: I know...but it's still a screwy pen name to me.

Yep... it's one of those names which you can tell are made up.... such as "Atlas King", "Misty Raine", "Cash Flagg" and "Lewis Coates."

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-04-06 12:36pm

Simon H.Johansen wrote:
Ghost Rider wrote: I know...but it's still a screwy pen name to me.
Yep... it's one of those names which you can tell are made up.... such as "Atlas King", "Misty Raine", "Cash Flagg" and "Lewis Coates."

I'd imagine it's supposed to. It's something he did when he didn't want to associate with the material he wrote.

Admiral Johnason · Post by **Admiral Johnason** » 2003-04-07 08:32pm

Steve Allen is pretty bad. Have any of you ever read Meg?

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2003-04-08 10:01am

Admiral Johnason wrote:Steve Allen is pretty bad. Have any of you ever read Meg?

Yeah, but Steve Allen is/was first and foremost TV show host.

Admiral Johnason · Post by **Admiral Johnason** » 2003-04-08 03:06pm

I had no idea that he was a host.

Is Barbra Hannley (Children of the Jedi) bad?

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2003-04-09 11:26am

Admiral Johnason wrote:I had no idea that he was a host.

Ever heard of the Steve Allen show??

Darth Gojira · Post by **Darth Gojira** » 2003-04-09 12:17pm

Admiral Johnason wrote:I had no idea that he was a host.

Is Barbra Hannley (Children of the Jedi) bad?

If you mean her writing style, HELL YES!!! However, she cannot compete with KJA for sheer crap tonnage.

Admiral Johnason · Post by **Admiral Johnason** » 2003-04-09 09:14pm

Simon H.Johansen wrote:
Admiral Johnason wrote:I had no idea that he was a host.
Ever heard of the Steve Allen show??

*Uses Ben Kenobi voice* Should I have?

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2003-04-10 07:44am

Admiral Johnason wrote:
Simon H.Johansen wrote:
Admiral Johnason wrote:I had no idea that he was a host.
Ever heard of the Steve Allen show??
*Uses Ben Kenobi voice* Should I have?

Well, the Steve Allen show is often referenced on The Simpsons.

Admiral Johnason · Post by **Admiral Johnason** » 2003-04-10 05:58pm

Simon H.Johansen wrote:
Admiral Johnason wrote:
Simon H.Johansen wrote: Ever heard of the Steve Allen show??
*Uses Ben Kenobi voice* Should I have?
Well, the Steve Allen show is often referenced on The Simpsons.

Cool, I did not know that. Did he do Futureramia too.

Raoul Duke, Jr. · Post by **Raoul Duke, Jr.** » 2003-04-10 07:57pm

Simon H.Johansen wrote:
Ghost Rider wrote: I know...but it's still a screwy pen name to me.
Yep... it's one of those names which you can tell are made up.... such as "Atlas King", "Misty Raine", "Cash Flagg" and "Lewis Coates."

"Kieran Thorne"? lol