"This 1982 collection is not one of Ellison's strongest. It came during a quiescent period when he was struggling with health problems, so roughly half of the stories are rescued and updated from the 1950s -- much more classic sci-fi stories than much of his other work: hunting alien game, rescues and mysteries in mountain wilds, a desperate killer trying to escape incarceration in a future civilization, etc. However, the book also contains several essays which are dynamite: Ellison's wide-eyed commentary on the Voyager flyby of Saturn in November 1980, the saga of his failed "Starlost" series for Canadian television, his experiences with a traveling carnival after running away from home at 13, and especially "The 3 Most Important Things in Life" -- which are sex, violence, and labor relations (including the half-day he was employed by Disney Studios)."
David Loftus, Resident Harlan Ellison Scholar
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Overall Review
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dozens of literary elements, all of which are searchable.
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- part earth & part fantasy world
Romance
Yes
Romance plotlets:
- love among disparate social classes
Spying & Investigations
Yes
What is main char. doing?
- rescue mission/escape from confinement
War or Invasion
Yes
Major kinds of combat:
- hand to hand
- guns
- magical battles
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional 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
Terrain
- Mountains
Earth setting:
- 20th century
- medium future 22-24th century
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a futuristic society
- humans in a contemporary society
- primitive aliens
- very controlled society
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- some scientific explanation
How much dialogue?
- significantly more descript than dialog
