science fiction

Spider Kiss - Harlan Ellison Book Review

Enter a review
of your own!
Other books by
author Harlan Ellison

"Spider Kiss"
Message Board

Click here for free online dating advice!

Review Summary
It's a kind of rock'n'roll fantasy, or rockabilly fantasy, about a boy from the sticks with the golden charisma, voice (the title refers to the feeling of his voice in your ear), and moves who makes it to the top (and the bottom) on the strength of his amoral appetites. The protagonist might remind you of Elvis, but Ellison said he based it more on Jerry Lee. _Spider Kiss_ is not a highly skilled piece of writing -- it's messy and at times sophomoric -- but it's a dynamite piece of storytelling.
David Loftus, Resident Scholar


Detailed literary breakdown of Spider Kiss
Our unique search engine breaks down books and movies into
dozens of literary elements, all of which are searchable.

New movie search (click here) New book search (click here)
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - artist
Age: - 20's-30's
Eccentric: Yes - eccentric - wild
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Setting
Earth setting: - 20th century
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog
Most similar books to Spider Kiss
Once Upon a Spring Morn by Dennis L. McKiernan
Dragon Avenger by E.E. Knight
Dragon Champion by E.E. Knight
One Good Knight by Mercedes Lackey
The Chalice of Life by Karen Anne Webb




Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Try our new Star Wars & Star Trek puzzle pictures! Click here

Advertise with us
Feedback
Star Wars Revenge of the Sith plot spoilers
Hobbits
The politics game
The lawyer game

3 Book search options!
1) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
2) Detailed book search
(click here)
or

3) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot below!

Animal Story

Clones

Coming of age

Cultural problems, alien culture

Explore/1st contact/ enviro story

Family relations

GIANT monster(s)

Horror story?

Inner Struggle

Lifeform altered?

Mental/magical powers focus

Parody

Political power play

Religious overtones?

Repressive society story

Robots, Computers, VR

Romance

Spying & Investigations

Tech./$$$/Info hunt

Time Travel story?

Training/Apprent.

War or Invasion


Games:
Trivia Masters!

Rescue your favorite
scifi characters from
slavery!


Talk to your favorite
scifi characters!


Eating New Yorkers
Computer Game


Pomeranians

Most recent TV & Movie discussions:

Xena: 37 reasons why Xena and Gabrielle are... you know.... 5/9/2008 5:20:09 PM

A Boy and His Dog: A Boy and His Dog 5/8/2008 8:17:30 PM

Blade Runner: Blade Runner 5/6/2008 12:23:07 PM

The Space Explorers: The Space Explorers 5/6/2008 10:16:13 AM

2010: Exactly why was 2010 a lame movie? 5/4/2008 10:19:38 PM

Star Trek Classic: "Mark of Gideon"--A pitch for family planning 5/4/2008 10:15:47 PM

Star Trek Classic: Star Trek's dim view of earth-hugging hippies 5/4/2008 10:10:06 PM

Star Trek Classic: Nancy Crater a bisexual monster? 5/4/2008 10:02:29 PM

Blade Runner: Was Harrison Ford on Tranquilizers or an Actor's Strike When Filming Blade Runner? 5/4/2008 10:01:32 PM

2010: 2010 5/3/2008 3:54:29 PM


Newest slaves:
Mariah Carey 11:05:48 PM
Stormtrooper 11:03:49 PM
Eowyn 11:03:43 PM
Arwen Evenstar (Liv Tyler) 11:03:43 PM
Wedge Antillies 11:03:27 PM
Qui Gon (Liam Neeson) 11:02:59 PM
Sushi Skywalker 11:01:54 PM
Jennifer Aniston (Friends) 11:01:38 PM
Tina Turner 11:00:04 PM
Oompa Loompa 11:00:04 PM
All slaves
(click here)


Celebrity interviews:
President George W. Bush 6:32:00 PM
Jan-Michael Vincent 2:16:51 PM
Captain Kathryn Janeway 3:47:46 PM
Jack ONeill (Richard Dean Anderson) 1:39:22 PM
Jennifer Aniston (Friends) 5:01:07 PM
All celebrities
(click here)