- Hardcover: 254 pages
- Publisher: Us Book Club (1969)
- Language English
- ASIN: B0007GMJXI
- Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 14.5 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,165,782 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an excellent collection of Harlan Ellison's short stories, ranging in publication date from 1957 to 1969.
The book itself also contains an introduction from Neil Gaiman (from 1993) and Ellison's own introduction from March 1969. Both these are interesting in their own right (though Neil Gaiman is quite correct to point out the slightly cringe-inducing reference to grooving to Hendrix in Ellison's own introduction). Ellison, and rightly I think, decries the practice of pigeon-holing genre authors ("Golden Age" SF or "New Wave" - which Ellison found himself described as).
A lot of the stories in this book are in some ways, admittedly, very much of their time. Some of the concerns are very obviously that mankind may destroy itself in a nuclear war and so forth. Having said that though, even when some of the stories set these stories up to deliver a pay-off in the last line (in, I feel, the way that a lot of SF short stories did - I don't think that makes them less sophisticated, but I've been reading a lot of more recent anthologies lately and that doesn't seem to be something that happens *quite* so much. It's just an observation of mine - I could be wrong!) they are still enjoyable in their own right. Ellison is always an interesting and skilful writer.
The stories are:
"Introduction: The Waves in Rio"
"The Beast that Shouted Love at the Heart of the World"
"Along the Scenic Route"
"Phoenix"
"Asleep: With Still Hands"
"Santa Claus vs. S.P.I.D.E.R."
"Try a Dull Knife"
"The Pitll Pawob Division"
"The Place With No Name"
"White on White"
"Run for the Stars"
"Are You Listening?"
"S.R.O."
"Worlds to Kill"
"Shattered Like a Glass Goblin"
"A Boy and His Dog"
The first Story, the titular "The Beast that Shouted Love at the Heart of the World" won the Hugo for the best short story in 1969 and "A Boy and His Dog," which later became a film of the same name, was nominated in 1970 for the Hugo for best novella.
Not all are great; there are one or two that feel a little bit one note; but where it is good, it is amongst the best SF short fiction published. The two stories mentioned above, fo example are worthy of their accolades ("A Boy and His Dog" being an excellent, grim, piece of post-apolayptic SF). There are also some good-humoured stories in this: "Santa Claus vs. S.P.I.D.E.R." being a case in point. Though there's a Spiro Agnew joke that I *think* I got from a little knowledge of that history and context...
The book itself also contains an introduction from Neil Gaiman (from 1993) and Ellison's own introduction from March 1969. Both these are interesting in their own right (though Neil Gaiman is quite correct to point out the slightly cringe-inducing reference to grooving to Hendrix in Ellison's own introduction). Ellison, and rightly I think, decries the practice of pigeon-holing genre authors ("Golden Age" SF or "New Wave" - which Ellison found himself described as).
A lot of the stories in this book are in some ways, admittedly, very much of their time. Some of the concerns are very obviously that mankind may destroy itself in a nuclear war and so forth. Having said that though, even when some of the stories set these stories up to deliver a pay-off in the last line (in, I feel, the way that a lot of SF short stories did - I don't think that makes them less sophisticated, but I've been reading a lot of more recent anthologies lately and that doesn't seem to be something that happens *quite* so much. It's just an observation of mine - I could be wrong!) they are still enjoyable in their own right. Ellison is always an interesting and skilful writer.
The stories are:
"Introduction: The Waves in Rio"
"The Beast that Shouted Love at the Heart of the World"
"Along the Scenic Route"
"Phoenix"
"Asleep: With Still Hands"
"Santa Claus vs. S.P.I.D.E.R."
"Try a Dull Knife"
"The Pitll Pawob Division"
"The Place With No Name"
"White on White"
"Run for the Stars"
"Are You Listening?"
"S.R.O."
"Worlds to Kill"
"Shattered Like a Glass Goblin"
"A Boy and His Dog"
The first Story, the titular "The Beast that Shouted Love at the Heart of the World" won the Hugo for the best short story in 1969 and "A Boy and His Dog," which later became a film of the same name, was nominated in 1970 for the Hugo for best novella.
Not all are great; there are one or two that feel a little bit one note; but where it is good, it is amongst the best SF short fiction published. The two stories mentioned above, fo example are worthy of their accolades ("A Boy and His Dog" being an excellent, grim, piece of post-apolayptic SF). There are also some good-humoured stories in this: "Santa Claus vs. S.P.I.D.E.R." being a case in point. Though there's a Spiro Agnew joke that I *think* I got from a little knowledge of that history and context...
0 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this novel to read A boy and his dog.
A boy and his dog is an interesting story. However, the story is short and the rest of the stories are not as engaging. I feel I could have written some of them when I was in puberty and regret the purchase.
A boy and his dog is an interesting story. However, the story is short and the rest of the stories are not as engaging. I feel I could have written some of them when I was in puberty and regret the purchase.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Eleven stories and a lousy introduction.
28 Mar 2001
Format:Paperback
A lot of people skip introductions to books which is just as well in the case of this one but the contents really do not need an introduction.
The eleven stories here, first published between 1957 and 1969, can stand up and speak for themselves very well indeed. From the opening shot of the title story to the close with "A boy and his dog" the author delivers a fine selection of his work.
There are no weak stories in this book, every one is a good read. The title story, "Try a Dull Knife", "Santa Claus VS. S.P.I.D.E.R." and "A boy and his dog" are my favourites and they show the range of Ellison's talents from horror to science fiction and also display his characteristic cynical humour.
"A boy and his dog" is the best known story here largely because it has been made into a very controversial film. It also happens to be one of Ellison's finest stories and that is praise indeed. It tells the story of fifteen year old Vic and his telepathic dog Blood in a post apocalypse America. Even though it is a brutish story, Ellison's wit and lucid writing style make it a compelling read.
The stories here will appeal to almost any SF fan though, if you are new to Ellison, the book "The Essential Ellison" is a better first buy. If you like this author and wonder what else you might like to read, I'd suggest short story collections by Bruce Sterling and Eric brown.
Although this book is out of print, it is available together with the anthology "Love ain't nothing but sex misspelled" as volume four of the Edgeworks series. I note though that the contents of the Edgeworks version are not the same as the contents of my copy of this book.
Uniquely dark and clever speculative fiction
21 May 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Almost worth the price of purchase for the short story 'A Boy And His Dog' alone, although the rest of the content is of the same concentrated brand of visceral, spectacularly imaginative fiction. The inimitable Harlan Ellison does not disappoint, with a collection of vivid and thoughtful tales which linger in the reader's mind. The dark and outlandish work is also liberally sprinkled with doses of Ellison's customary wry humour.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Mostly 60's-era Ellison, and very good
17 July 2000
Format:Paperback
This is one of the stronger Ellison collections I've come across. The keepers include the late 50's science-fiction adventure nasty "Run For the Stars" and the classic "A Boy and His Dog."
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