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City on the Edge of Forever
City on the Edge of Forever | Harlan Ellison
7 posts | 8 read | 5 to read
The original teleplay that became the classic Star Trek episode, with an expanded introductory essay by Harlan Ellison, The City on the Edge of Forever has been surrounded by controversy since the airing of an "eviscerated" version-which subsequently has been voted the most beloved episode in the series' history. In its original form, The City on the Edge of Forever won the 1966-67 Writers Guild of America Award for best teleplay. As aired, it won the 1967 Hugo Award. The City on the Edge of Forever is, at its most basic, a poignant love story. Ellison takes the reader on a breathtaking trip through space and time, from the future, all the way back to 1930s America. In this harrowing journey, Kirk and Spock race to apprehend a renegade criminal and restore the order of the universe. It is here that Kirk faces his ultimate dilemma: a choice between the universe-or his one true love. This edition makes available the astonishing teleplay as Ellison intended it to be aired. The author's introductory essay reveals all of the details of what Ellison describes as a "fatally inept treatment" of his creative work. Was he unjustly edited, unjustly accused, and unjustly treated? Harlan Ellison has been called "one of the great living American short story writers" by the Washington Post. In a career spanning more than fifty years, he has won more awards than any other living fantasist. Ellison has written or edited seventy-four books; more than seventeen hundred stories, essays, articles, and newspaper columns; two dozen teleplays; and one dozen motion pictures. He has won the Hugo Award eight and a half times (shared once); the Nebula Award three times; the Bram Stoker Award, presented by the Horror Writers Association, five times (including the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996); the Edgar Allan Poe Award of the Mystery Writers of America twice; the Georges Melies Fantasy Film Award twice; two Audie Awards (for the best in audio recordings); and he was awarded the Silver Pen for Journalism by PEN, the international writers' union. He was presented with the first Living Legend Award by the International Horror Critics at the 1995 World Horror Convention. Ellison is the only author in Hollywood ever to win the Writers Guild of America award for Outstanding Teleplay (solo work) four times, most recently for "Paladin of the Lost Hour," his Twilight Zone episode that was Danny Kaye's final role, in 1987. In 2006, Ellison was awarded the prestigious title of Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Dreams With Sharp Teeth, the documentary chronicling his life and works, was released on DVD in May 2009.
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belacat
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Having recently viewed the award-winning episode of Star Trek with my daughters, I decided to read the master's original script while the show was still fresh in my mind. Yes, his script was much better and more intriguing.

I knew Ellison had a reputation for being volatile, but WOW, I almost stopped reading his side of the story. He was so eloquent and folksy at the same time I could not put the book down. Yes, I was under his spell.

TheBookDream Ellison was something else 5y
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tournevis
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#Bookhaul part 2: The Motherload!!! I am so giddy about those. I have City on the Edge of Forever (not the one tagged, though I have that one too), so my collection grows! 😁😁😁😁😁😁

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Yossarian
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True words to learn from and contemplate, from a classic science fiction writer.

tournevis My fav quote from him is "The most common things in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity." ? 7y
Spiderfelt More coincidences! I'm was just listening to Neil Gaiman read his two pieces about Harlan Ellison. Moments ago. There are so many great quotes. 7y
Thedrunkstrawberry I've been trying to read this but his diatribe of an intro has really turned me off, and i can't seem to get through it. 7y
Sydsavvy I once had a law professor say that to a our class after a fellow student gave a Weird sex scenario and then asked if was porn 😂😂😂. I can't ever hear that expression without thinking of that moment. Great answer, great quote. 7y
Bette ❤️ Harlan 7y
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Thedrunkstrawberry
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Dear sir, if you're going to write a bitter, angry, novella length diatribe of an intro accusing everyone around you of half truths and out right lies, please at least get your facts straight. 😖🙄(trek premiered in 66). Perhaps if this was the only error, but he continues to screw things up. He claims to have started the letter writing campaign that saved Star Trek so he could see his episode produced. But City aired one year before that...

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Ksvz
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Pickpick

memoir Audio While I enjoy Star Trek, I am not a devotee nor have I ever seen the episode in question. I got the book because of the cover and thought it was a sci fi story. instead it is a magnificent tale of lies, deceit, and creative heartbreak. I am left with a deeper understanding of how stories are created, a script reads, and how Hollywood's conformity is its worst enemy. very insightful and the original story is worth being told. +

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Anton
Pickpick

Not sure this counts as 'read' because I skipped the hundred page rant about how Gene Roddenberry ruined the episode, but on its own City On The Edge Of Forever is an interesting Star Trek script. I liked the takes on Kirk and Spock, and the darker side of the Federation. Fun short read.

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Anton
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I'm not sure if there's going to be a specific official celebration date for Star Trek's 50th anniversary, but since the new movie opens soon it seemed as good of a time as any to read something Trekkie. I decided on this infamous screenplay by the equality infamous Harlan Ellison. 🖖🏼📺📖