C C Harrison

Harry Max Harrison, born Henry Maxwell Dempsey, was an American author celebrated for his contributions to science fiction, particularly his humorous and adventurous works. He is widely recognized for the 'Stainless Steel Rat' series and the novel 'Make Room! Make Room!', which served as the basis for the film 'Soylent Green'. Harrison's career began in illustration for EC Comics before transitioning to writing, where he developed a distinctive style often characterized by satire, adventure, and an anti-military stance. He was also known for his engaging personality and significant involvement in the science fiction community, including co-founding the Irish Science Fiction Association and co-presiding over the Birmingham Science Fiction Group. His life was marked by extensive travel and a deep engagement with the Esperanto language.

Harrison's science fiction is largely defined by its blend of fast-paced adventure, humor, and sharp satire. His most popular works, such as the 'Deathworld' series, the 'Stainless Steel Rat' books, and 'Bill, the Galactic Hero', often parodied or reconstructed traditional space opera narratives. Despite their seemingly unpretentious action-oriented nature, these novels carried a strong satirical edge, consistently expressing anti-military, anti-authority, and anti-violence sentiments. Harrison's writing, though sometimes employing the idiom of conservative pulp writers, was underpinned by a liberal conscience and a keen awareness of literary values. His work often explored themes of overpopulation and resource consumption, as seen in 'Make Room! Make Room!', which highlighted serious societal issues within an engaging narrative framework.

Beyond his writing, Harrison was a prominent and well-liked figure in the science fiction community. He played a key role in establishing the Irish Science Fiction Association and served as co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group. Alongside Brian Aldiss, he was instrumental in elevating the critical discourse within the genre, co-founding the journal 'SF Horizons' and editing numerous anthologies that explored major SF themes. Their collaborative efforts also extended to creating 'World SF', an organization aimed at fostering international science fiction writing. Harrison was also a dedicated advocate for the constructed language Esperanto, which he learned during his military service and frequently incorporated into his novels, notably the 'Stainless Steel Rat' and 'Deathworld' series. He held honorary positions in several Esperanto organizations.

Harrison's initial foray into the science fiction field was as an illustrator, working with EC Comics on their science fiction titles 'Weird Fantasy' and 'Weird Science', often collaborating with Wally Wood. He also utilized pseudonyms to edit magazines and publish fiction. His first short story, "Rock Diver," appeared in 'Worlds Beyond' in 1951. His experiences during World War II, where he served as a gunsight technician and instructor, instilled in him a profound distrust of the military, which became a recurring theme in his writing. He was part of the vibrant New York science fiction scene, socializing with notable writers at the Hydra Club.

“His friend Michael Carroll said of Harrison's work: "Imagine Pirates of the Caribbean or Raiders of the Lost Ark, and picture them as science-fiction novels. They're rip-roaring adventures, but they're stories with a lot of heart."”

“Aldiss called him "a constant peer and great family friend".”

“Priest wrote in an obituary: "Harrison was an extremely popular figure in the SF world, renowned for being amiable, outspoken and endlessly amusing. His quickfire, machine-gun delivery of words was a delight to hear, and a reward to unravel: he was funny and self-aware, he enjoyed reporting the follies of others, he distrusted generals, prime ministers and tax officials with sardonic and cruel wit, and above all he made plain his acute intelligence and astonishing range of moral, ethical and literary sensibilities."”

“Priest wrote: "His most popular and best-known work is contained in fast-moving parodies, homages or even straight reconstructions of traditional space-opera adventures."”

“Adi Robertson agreed: "His books toed the line between science fiction adventure, humor, and satire, often with a strong anti-military bent informed by his time in the U.S. Army Air Forces."”