The Whimper of Whipped Dogs
Encyclopedia
"The Whimper of Whipped Dogs" is a speculative fiction
short story
by Harlan Ellison
. It was first published in the 1973 anthology Bad Moon Rising: An Anthology of Political Forebodings
edited by Thomas M. Disch
. It was also published in several other anthologies such as Deathbird Stories
. The story is partly inspired by accounts of the Kitty Genovese
murder and the associated "bystander effect
", some aspects of which have come into question.
, which was serialised in Ellison's Los Angeles Free Press
television critique column at the time, The Glass Teat
. At the end of the serialisation, Ellison wrote two more columns expressing his extreme frustration with what the ABC
network, Paramount Pictures
, producer, director and cast members (especially co-star Lee J. Cobb
) had done to his teleplay during production. The columns, including the complete teleplay, were published in 1975 in the collection The Other Glass Teat
.
As Ellison was particularly proud of creating the title "The Whimper of Whipped Dogs," but the title was not used onscreen in the Young Lawyers
episode, the author decided to use the title again for this short story over three years later.
, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction editor Joanna Russ
said The Whimper of Whipped Dogs is "a passionate, fully-detailed, well-written New York paranoia story by Harlan Ellison
which puts forward (to my mind) untenable view that violence is caused by Satan or maybe Original Sin" and David Hartwell of Locus
calls it "one of his best, a dark fantasy
about New York and New Yorkers."
for Best Short Story.
Speculative fiction
Speculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in literature as well as...
short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by Harlan Ellison
Harlan Ellison
Harlan Jay Ellison is an American writer. His principal genre is speculative fiction.His published works include over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, teleplays, essays, a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media...
. It was first published in the 1973 anthology Bad Moon Rising: An Anthology of Political Forebodings
Bad Moon Rising: An Anthology of Political Forebodings
Bad Moon Rising: An Anthology of Political Forebodings was a science fiction short story anthology edited by Thomas M. Disch, published in 1973. The title is taken from the 1969 song Bad Moon Rising by the folk band Creedence Clearwater Revival....
edited by Thomas M. Disch
Thomas M. Disch
Thomas Michael Disch was an American science fiction author and poet. He won the Hugo Award for Best Related Book – previously called "Best Non-Fiction Book" – in 1999, and he had two other Hugo nominations and nine Nebula Award nominations to his credit, plus one win of the John W...
. It was also published in several other anthologies such as Deathbird Stories
Deathbird Stories
Deathbird Stories: A Pantheon of Modern Gods is a 1975 collection of short stories written by Harlan Ellison over a period of ten years; the stories address the theme of modern-day "deities" that have replaced the older, more traditional ones. The collection, with its satirical, skeptical tone, is...
. The story is partly inspired by accounts of the Kitty Genovese
Kitty Genovese
Catherine Susan "Kitty" Genovese , was a New York City woman who was stabbed to death near her home in the Kew Gardens section of Queens, New York on March 13, 1964....
murder and the associated "bystander effect
Bystander effect
The bystander effect or Genovese syndrome is a social psychological phenomenon that refers to cases where individuals do not offer any means of help in an emergency situation to the victim when other people are present...
", some aspects of which have come into question.
Origin of the story's title
The first use of the title The Whimper of Whipped Dogs was a teleplay for a 1970 episode of the TV series The Young LawyersThe Young Lawyers
The Young Lawyers is an American legal drama that was aired on the ABC network as part of its 1970-71 lineup.-Plot:Aaron Silverman is part of a group of young, idealistic students at a top Boston law school who open a legal aid center, the "Neighborhood Law Office," to help the poor...
, which was serialised in Ellison's Los Angeles Free Press
Los Angeles Free Press
The Los Angeles Free Press , also called “the Freep”, was among the most widely distributed underground newspapers of the 1960s. It is often cited as the first such newspaper...
television critique column at the time, The Glass Teat
The Glass Teat
The Glass Teat: Essays of Opinion on Television is a compilation of television reviews and essays written by Harlan Ellison as a regular weekly column for the Los Angeles Free Press from late 1968 into early 1970, discussing the effects of television upon society. The title implies that TV...
. At the end of the serialisation, Ellison wrote two more columns expressing his extreme frustration with what the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
network, Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
, producer, director and cast members (especially co-star Lee J. Cobb
Lee J. Cobb
Lee J. Cobb was an American actor. He is best known for his performance in 12 Angry Men his Academy Award-nominated performance in On the Waterfront and one of his last films, The Exorcist...
) had done to his teleplay during production. The columns, including the complete teleplay, were published in 1975 in the collection The Other Glass Teat
The Glass Teat
The Glass Teat: Essays of Opinion on Television is a compilation of television reviews and essays written by Harlan Ellison as a regular weekly column for the Los Angeles Free Press from late 1968 into early 1970, discussing the effects of television upon society. The title implies that TV...
.
As Ellison was particularly proud of creating the title "The Whimper of Whipped Dogs," but the title was not used onscreen in the Young Lawyers
The Young Lawyers
The Young Lawyers is an American legal drama that was aired on the ABC network as part of its 1970-71 lineup.-Plot:Aaron Silverman is part of a group of young, idealistic students at a top Boston law school who open a legal aid center, the "Neighborhood Law Office," to help the poor...
episode, the author decided to use the title again for this short story over three years later.
Reception
In reviewing Bad Moon Rising: An Anthology of Political ForebodingsBad Moon Rising: An Anthology of Political Forebodings
Bad Moon Rising: An Anthology of Political Forebodings was a science fiction short story anthology edited by Thomas M. Disch, published in 1973. The title is taken from the 1969 song Bad Moon Rising by the folk band Creedence Clearwater Revival....
, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction editor Joanna Russ
Joanna Russ
Joanna Russ was an American writer, academic and feminist. She is the author of a number of works of science fiction, fantasy and feminist literary criticism such as How to Suppress Women's Writing, as well as a contemporary novel, On Strike Against God, and one children's book, Kittatinny...
said The Whimper of Whipped Dogs is "a passionate, fully-detailed, well-written New York paranoia story by Harlan Ellison
Harlan Ellison
Harlan Jay Ellison is an American writer. His principal genre is speculative fiction.His published works include over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, teleplays, essays, a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media...
which puts forward (to my mind) untenable view that violence is caused by Satan or maybe Original Sin" and David Hartwell of Locus
Locus (magazine)
Locus, subtitled "The Magazine Of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Field", is published monthly in Oakland, California. It reports on the science fiction and fantasy publishing field, including comprehensive listings of all new books published in the genre. It is considered the news organ and trade...
calls it "one of his best, a dark fantasy
Dark fantasy
Dark fantasy is a term used to describe a fantasy story with a pronounced horror element.-Overview:A strict definition for dark fantasy is difficult to pin down. Gertrude Barrows Bennett has been called "the woman who invented dark fantasy". Both Charles L...
about New York and New Yorkers."
Awards
The Whimper of Whipped Dogs won the 1974 Edgar Allan Poe AwardEdgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
for Best Short Story.