"This is perhaps Ellison's most powerful collection of stories. There are some clunkers, but many mind-blowing originals. Two losers (male and female) meet and intermingle over a Vegas slot machine that invariably hits the jackpot. Lawrence Talbot, the Wolfman, goes to Victor Frankenstein for help in locating his soul so that he can die peacefully. A former POW-Vietnam vet returns to his Midwestern hometown to face the music among his neighbors who believe him a traitor for talking to the Vietcong under torture. Two cars engage in a duel on a near-future freeway. A man goes to confront God with the help of Snake, the hero who got the shaft in the inaccurate account of Genesis. This is a stark and startling collection, with little humor and much vivid storytelling."
David Loftus, Resident Harlan Ellison Scholar
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Overall Review
Our unique search engine breaks down books and movies into
dozens of literary elements, all of which are searchable.
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- fantasy world/fantasy past
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story
Yes
Time Travel:
- largely forwards/future
- largely backwards/past
Plotlets:
- surviving a post environmental/nuclear disaster
- preventing an ecological disaster
Romance
Yes
Mental/magical powers focus
Yes
Inner Struggle
Yes
Plotlet:
- search for identity/new understanding
- change of heart
War or Invasion
Yes
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Time Travel story?
Yes
Cultural problems, alien culture
Yes
Culture clash-
- one human from different culture of other humans
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
Earth setting:
- 20th century
- medium future 22-24th century
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references only
- descript of kissing
- actual description of sex
How much dialogue?
- little dialog
