Science fiction satirist Harry Harrison has died

[Fumesucker]

http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2012/08/15/sci_fi_writer_harry_harrison_dies_in_britain/

LONDON—American author Harry Harrison, whose space-age spoofs delighted generations of science fiction fans, has died, a friend said Wednesday. He was 87.

Irish sci-fi writer Michael Carroll said in a telephone interview that he learned of Harrison's passing from the author's daughter, Moira, earlier in the day. He said Harrison died in southern England, but didn't have much further detail.

Harrison was a prolific writer whose works ranged from tongue-in-cheek inter-galactic action romps to dystopian fantasies, with detours through children's stories and shambolic crime capers. Carroll said most of the works delivered a stream of sly humor with a big bucket of action.

"Imagine `Pirates of the Caribbean' or `Raiders of the Lost Ark,' and picture them as science fiction novels," he said. "They're rip-roaring adventures, but they're stories with a lot of heart."

Harrison was best known for his "The Stainless Steel Rat" series, starring the free-spirited anti-hero Slippery Jim DiGriz, a quick-witted conman who travels the universe swindling humans, aliens and robots alike. His 1966 work, "Make Room! Make Room!" -- a sci-fi take on the horrors of overpopulation -- inspired the 1973 film "Soylent Green" starring Charlton Heston.

[FSogol]

1. I just finished "The Stainless Steel Rat Joins the Circus" last month at the beach.

Rest in Peace, Harry.

[Ohio Joe]

2. Nooooooooo

HH was a favorite, The Stainless Steel Rat books were always a fun read. RIP.

[Egalitarian Thug]

3. 87, Good run, Harry. Thank you so much. n/t

[NashvilleLefty]

4. No! Not Harry!

He was one of the funniest writers I have ever read!

If you're not familiar with him or any of his works, read one. You won't be disappointed.

RIP, Harry.

[NashvilleLefty]

7. If you're not familiar or a big Sci-fi fan, I HIGHLY recommend

Technicolor Time Machine. About a Movie Producer who has a friend who discovers time travel and the Producer uses it to ... oh, I'll stop there.

I especially loved how they "paid" the star in Jack Daniels, when one of the biggest mysteries about the site was a bunch of bottles that looked like Jack Daniels bottles.

And... oh, just buy the book! It's great!

[DavidDvorkin]

5. "Bill the Galactic Hero" was my favorite of his

So cynical.

[Fumesucker]

6. Smile when you say that, bowb..

[nolabear]

8. I adored that book. I have to go read it now.

God, I remember laughing till I cried at the scene where the recruiter becomes a one-man (or thing) parade and Bill joins up. Of course that was before that dark humor kicked in.

RIP to a guy who was what sci-fi is all about.

[SQUEE]

13. "Every Day is Bowb your Buddy Day"

Had this written on my camo band during Desert Shield/ Storm, and "Chinger for Hire" in Somalia. He was right up there with Douglas Adams.

Gods Speed, Harry.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. And advocate of Esperanto

BBC article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19270109

It took me a bit of time to work out, reading Deathworld 2, that the 'local language' he was inserting words from was Esperanto.

[randome]

10. "Plague From Space" gave me nightmares.

It was an awesome read.

[Vidar]

11. RIP, Harry.

[hobbit709]

12. Damn, another one of the greats. R.I.P. Harry