Sunday 28 June 2020

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28-6-2020: Harlan Ellison.

28th June, 2020.


Hmmm … 

I have to say, the puzzle I got sent, the other day — the one I got sent, instead of the one I wanted — does have a mild up-side.

If nothing else, I can twiddle it around and make some entertaining arrow type shapes.



Which is lovely … 

If you’re bored, first thing on a Sunday morning … and an ex-smoker who still needs something to fiddle with … 

~≈≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Olga*, Trevor† and Debbi‡ putting in their answers: with all three scoring five out of five.

Let’s see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video … 

Q1) 28th June, 2018, saw the death of Harlan Ellison.   He was the editor of a 1967 short story collection, called Dangerous what?
Q2) He was born in which year of the 1930s?
Q3) When Ellison wanted to take his name off of a TV script, he’s call himself ‘Cordwainer’ … what?
Q4) He didn’t use the pseudonym on the one script he wrote Star Trek he wrote: a script that got extensively re-written.   That script was for which episode … ?
Q5) Ellison’s first novel was originally published as Rumble.   But is better known as Web of thewhat: Spider, City or Creature?
Q6) Soldier was a Harlan Ellison episode of which series: The Twilight Zone, Star Trek or The Outer Limits?
Q7) The other episode he wrote for the series?   Was called Demon with a Glasswhat
Q8) The Hugo Awards are handed out at the World Science Fiction Convention.   Not counting film or TV scripts — Harlan won two ‘Best Dramatic Presentation Hugos’ — how many Hugos has Harlan won?   (This is going to be one of those contentious questions!)
Q9) Vic and his dog, Blood, appear in a set of Ellison stories collectively called what?
Q10) Finally … ?   Blood’s a Rover, the last Ellison novel published during his lifetime, was published in which year?
Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1) 27th June, 2019, Apple announce Jony Ive would be leaving.   What did Ive do: design things, write software or organise the finances?
Q2) 27th June is National HIV Testing Day: in which country?
A2) The USA.
Q3) 27th June, 1991, saw Yugoslav troops invade where?
A3) Slovenia.
Q4) 27th June, 1974, saw President Richard Nixon begin a visit to where: China, the USSR or the UK?
A4) The USSR.
Q5) Finally … ?   27th June, 1955, saw the birth of French actress, Isabelle Adjani.   In which 1981 til does she play the duel roles of Helen and Anna?
A5) Possession.   I have to admit, I saw Possession, a long time ago.   It’s … an acquired taste.   The subway scene is quite intense.   I was tempted to post it, here: but chose not to, as it’s something I found a little too unnerving to post.   It’s worth watching, once, though.
Here’s a thought …
“The two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity.”
Harlan Ellison.
And a song …


Today’s questions will be answered in tomorrow’s Teaser.

Have a good day.



*        Roman wall, you say, Olga?   Sounds fascinating!   You know, that reminds me: there’s an old 13th Century chapel — or the ruins of it, anyway — in the middle of Brentwood High Street.   I keep forgetting about it, but the Peasants Revolt — or bits of it — are supposed to have started near by.
But I digress … !   I think you’re right: they both tried building, inside and out.   Drat … !   There’s a famous old house — in the Lake District, I think — that’s perfect example of the same sort of idea … but I’m blowed if I can remember what it’s called!   It’s all straight lines and teak … !   That’s going to frustrate me!
That doesn’t surprise me, Olga: quizzes are cheap ways of entertaining people.   And very good radio.   (Chris Tarrant’s quiz on the radio were superb: as was his habit of … … … … … pausing … ).  At ANY rate … ?   Yes: it should be good … at least, I hope it is … !

†        My French is awful, as well, Trevor!   Either way … ?   I’ll have to look de Bergerac up, at some point: I know very little about him … other than the fact there’s a Depardieu film about him!   Best I can manage is a couple of HG Wells novels.   (I know you usually don’t go for ten question sets: but can I persuade you, given the subject … ?)

‡      I’m hoping it will go well, Debbi: although I’ve got to write the thing, first!   AND I have to get some emails done, as well: I’m planning to chase up Sky and Virgin, to see what they’re doing: AND get something from the Department of Education.   AND edit the next set of Teaser videos, together.
I think I’m going to need an extra light, a shiny umbrella and a great big microphone!
A podcast’s an idea: although the target audience may not be able to get to it … (Sorry about the amount of questions, today, Debbi: but it IS Harlan.   He’d possibly sue me …)

3 comments:

Olga said...

Q1) Visions
Q2) 1934
Q3) Bird (great idea!)
Q4) "The City on the Edge of Forever"
Q5) City
Q6) The Outer Limits
Q7) Hand
Q8) Not sure. Wikipedia says 8 and one shared for a script that he only counted as half. Then I found a list, and including novels, novelettes, and short-stories, by my count (without the best dramatic presentation awards) it makes seven, but I’m not sure how reliable is that.
Q9) A Boy and His Dog
Q10) 2018
It sounds good! Good luck with the radio, letters and everything else. I wonder if the house you refer to might not be this one
https://www.blackwell.org.uk/
I worked in the Lake District (well, in Kendal, with no lake, but that would be my luck. Although I enjoyed it there. It was close to everywhere interesting) one summer and I did manage to roam around a bit. I remember picking up a leaflet for an interesting house but I don't recall ever managing to visit. The typical thing you collect on your way home or that you check and realise it's already closed and you might have missed the chance to visit.

Debbi said...

He wouldn't sue you. He'd adore you, probably. I mean, I can understand why ten questions. Doesn't seem to really cover it, even. :)

1. Visions
2. 1934
3. Bird
4. The City on the Edge of Forever
5. City
6. The Outer Limits
7. Hand
8. Well ... 7 to 11, depending on whether you count special presentations and other stuff, but I'll say 7 *whew*
9. A Boy and His Dog
10. 2018

Nik Nak said...

For the Anonymous person who left their answers, here, on 23rd November, 2020?

I’m sorry to have deleted them … but as, effectively, I revealed the answers in the next day’s teaser, I really can’t accept your answers!

There’s also the fact you left your answers anonymously: I usually insist people leave their names, and make exceptions in very rare cases.

Thank you for coming, though: and please, have a go at today’s Teaser.