Another publishing reminiscence: Horror novelist Thomas Tessier, a good friend of mine, was once Harlan Ellison’s UK publisher. Some 35 years ago we were in Los Angeles at the ABA Convention and went to lunch at Harlan’s house. He seemed a little edgy, but perfectly well mannered, given his volcanic reputation. Then I spotted he had a pair of Quad Electrostatic speakers, and I raved about them. He mellowed immediately and we chatted enthusiastically about British hi-fi units. Then he invited us into his den, leading the way.

Now I am 6’2″, and Harlan isn’t. To compensate for his lack of inches Harlan had deliberately had the doorway into his den built some 3 feet high. It was impossible for anyone of normal size to enter other than on hands and knees, and as Harlan had gone first he was already seated on a throne in the room as the ‘supplicant’ entered. A touch arrogant, wouldn’t you say? I saw Thom crawling in on hands and knees, and sussed what was going on. So I dropped to my hands and knees and entered the room backwards, with my great British bum waving in his face. To his credit, Harlan did laugh.

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