Well I had a long comment about how much I like it that you are using Harlan Ellison as inspiration but it did not post properly so trying again. I'm missing the contest this time due to time but hopefully can participate if you do it again :)
I recently picked up 2 Harlan Ellison books due to Neil Gaiman announced on his twitter that Harlan won't be signing books anymore in person appearances due to ill health. So he had a link to Harlan's online shop and I bought these two:
I remembered "A Boy and His Dog" from when I was a teenager and a bit googly eyed about Don Johnson so figured why not get the book. Well the graphic novel is pretty grim I'll tell ya.
Then when thinking about it I realized that time period kind of had a spate of cannibalism dystopia/sci-fi/apoc themed films (Soylent Green, etc.) so now I'm curious what was happening at that time period to spur that genre?
Anyhow sorry for the long comment and take it easy!
Great purchases! I was unaware of his health issue.
I was introduced to Ellison from Dean Wesley Smith, as he kept referring to him as the guy who wrote in bookstore windows. Which just fascinated me. So I looked him up and saw that not only would write a short story there in the store, he would post the pages as they finished. Not only were the pages unedited, they were clean. Which completely throws out that whole, you must edit in order for it to be good idea.
He was showing that writing isn't some pie in the sky thing, it can be just like a plumber or wood worker going to work. He would argue they don't wait for inspiration, they just go to work, and writers should be the same.
I appreciate your comment.