'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman - Harlan Ellison Book Review

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"'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman"
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Review Summary

This parable of individual freedom versus social control is one of Ellison's most famous stories, and indeed one of the most famous and anthologized of science fiction/fantasy stories ever. Everett C. Marm, a nobody who dubs himself the Harlequin (the resemblance to the author's name is entirely intentional), is perpetually late -- or heedless of the necessity for being on time -- in a society where timeliness has become an absolute value. He is in rebellion against the office of the Master Timekeeper, also known as the Ticktockman, who possesses the ability to subtract hours, days, and years from the Harlequin's life if the Ticktockman's minions can identify and capture him. The story achieves a marvelous combination of textual joy and dry doom.
David Loftus, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of 'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 30%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%

Tone of book - cynical or dry-wit
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Repressive society story Yes
Repressive because: - controls your mind - kills without good reason
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Who's a slave/repressed? - humans are slaves of other humans

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - unemployed
Age: - 20's-30's
Eccentric: Yes - eccentric
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - mastermind
Has magical powers? Yes
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Setting
Earth setting: - medium future 22-24th 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
How much dialogue? - little dialog

Most similar books to 'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman
Infinity Hold by Barry B. Longyear
The White Mountains - Tripods Trilogy 1 by John Christopher
Anthem by Ayn Rand
Air by Geoff Ryman
The Prisoner by Thomas M. Disch

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

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