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Mefisto in Onyx - Harlan Ellison Book Review

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Review Summary
I came across this dark jewel of a book a couple of years ago, hidden on the shelf in a local library, with an introduction and illustration by Frank Miller which only emphasizes the story's starkness. The novella concerns a telepath who is asked to investigate a killer on Death Row about whether or not they're guilty. In so, doing, he learns a dismaying fact about the killer, relating to himself. Hard to find, but highly recommended!
Diana, Resident Scholar


Detailed literary breakdown of Mefisto in Onyx
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Plot
Tone of book - very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Spying & Investigations Yes
What is main char. doing? - spying/espionage in enemy territorry - finding a killer (criminal)
Mental/magical powers focus Yes
magical powers: - Jedi powers
Inner Struggle Yes
Plotlet: - coping with mental/magical powers
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Cultural problems, alien culture Yes
Culture clash- - one human from different culture of other humans

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - unemployed
Age: - 40's-50's
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - mind reading
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - accused criminal - killer
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - mind reading
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

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

Style
Person? - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog - little dialog
Most similar books to Mefisto in Onyx
Candle by John Barnes
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein
Bikini Planet by David Garnett
Merchanter's Luck by C.J. Cherryh
Heart of Gold by Sharon Shinn




Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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