FORGET DICKENS, RE-READ ELLISON!

 

Harlan Ellison’s “Santa Claus Vs. S.P.I.D.E.R.” kept coming up onmy social media (who sez it doesn’t do any good?) It was always one of myfavorites, so I re-read it. Ahhhh! Just what the doctor ordered and in thesetroubled times.

For those of you who never read the story, Santa Claus is not justhimself, but a James Bondian secret agent. S.P.I.D.E.R. is an evil organizationthat has taken control of some high-ranking U.S. government officials circa1968. It’s outrageous, wildly imaginative, and hilarious. 

It’s also the sort of thing I’d like to recommend to people bornpost-Star Wars who think all his work is depressing and don’t understand how hebecame a big deal. For me, it’s Harlan at his best, having fun throwing wordsand ideas around, and targeting those who drive him into his legendary rages.Depressing stories win awards—they’re considered more “literary”—but he couldbe funnier than Douglas Adams and more gonzo than Hunter S. Thompson in hismanic mood.

My idea of a great read.

Dare I suggest a new tradition? Instead of dragging out CharlesDickens’ “A Christmas Carol” re-read “Santa Claus Vs. S.P.I.D.E.R.” It's morein keeping with the way the world is going.

It would be fun to read it aloud.

I’d also like to see adaptations, graphic novels, animated holidayspecials, movies!

Sure, the actual politicians skewered are now forgotten (some ofyou reading this have probably never heard of Richard Nixon), but now they comeoff as amusing grotesques. If any kids are curious, that’s why Quetzalcoatlgave Google.

Also, even though Harlan may have objected, it would be fun toreplace the Forgotten Ones with modern equivalents. Who is the 21st centuryRonald Reagan? Lyndon Jonson? George Wallace? 

I’ve found that with satire, these things don’t get old. All youhave to do is change the names to expose the guilty. What goes around comesaround, unfortunately.

Meanwhile, make merry while you can!

What if in a few decades, people think of Ellison rather thanDickens?

 

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