New York ( CNN ) -- Popular science-fiction author Harry Harrison , whose book `` Make Room ! Make Room ! '' was the basis for the 1973 film `` Soylent Green , '' about a futuristic society and its fictional food , has died , his publisher said Wednesday . He was 87 . Born in 1925 in Stamford , Connecticut , Harrison was best known for his 12 novels about the futuristic character `` Slippery Jim '' DeGriz , also known as the Stainless Steel Rat . Harrison also was the main writer for the `` Flash Gordon '' comic strip during the 1950s and '60s , according to his publisher , Tor Books . Harrison started his career as an illustrator before switching to writing . He is a member of the Science Fiction Hall of Fame . `` He believed science fiction was important , that it caused people to think about our world and what it could become , '' Tor Books ' publisher Tom Doherty wrote in a blog post . On learning of his death , fiction author Harlan Ellison said , `` It 's a day without stars in it . '' Ellison , who says he knew Harrison since 1952 , said the author was one of the funniest guys who ever lived . `` Harry was one of those who you thought would go on forever like a wind-up toy , '' Ellison told CNN . Harrison 's death comes after notable science fiction author Ray Bradbury passed away in June . Tributes to Harrison poured in on Twitter after his death was announced . `` Thank you for sharing your mind , kind sir ! '' wrote @ hijadecano on Twitter . `` Heaven has to make room , make room for Harry Harrison , '' wrote @ petdance . Tor Books will be publishing Harrison 's memoir in December , according to a spokesperson for the publisher .
Harrison 's book `` Make Room ! Make Room ! '' inspired the movie . He authored 12 novels about the `` Stainless Steel Rat '' He started as an illustrator and wrote for `` Flash Gordon ''