backyardjake's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Frightful future becoming more and more plausable as countries move towards using Super Intelligent AI for purposes of war. Personal interpretation altered to Ellison's words on the story in his accompaning memoir. I indeed did not notice Ellen was specifically black nor did I come away hopeful with the ending, but his words on the matter did change my outlook for the better.
The other stories:
All equally disparging to the human race and it's lowness. I would find it hard to see the bright side in these stories as the author means for the reader to in the first one. Except perhaps for the space circus, which is more sad than it is messed up like the others.
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual content, and Suicide
Minor: Misogyny and Sexism
ruslan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Torture, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Murder, Rape, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, War, and Suicide
pabi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Genocide, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit
luckygriffin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Bullying, Confinement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Genocide, Racism, Addiction, Death, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Torture, Toxic relationship, War, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Do not read unless you can handle extreme psychological horror. The plot is driven by the torture of the main characters, and is disturbing to read.kevin_brane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Death, Body horror, Gore, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
ikillsunflowers's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
A couple of them fell in to that sci fi thing of having made up words for 50% of the things but the stories aren't long enough to really explain what most of it is.
The main issue I had with most of these stories was the misogyny. In the first story it kind of worked with the horror but after that it was just straight up sexism. Did not enjoy.
Graphic: Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual violence, and Death
Moderate: Suicide and Ableism
revolutionfrommybed's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Slavery, Murder, Emotional abuse, Death, Cursing, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Torture, Sexism, Body horror, Violence, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Grief, and Gore
This story is a hard read in general. It may well be one of the bleakest things I have ever read. The video game adaptation is worse. However, i truly believe if you are able to stomach the sensitive content, this book is definitely worth giving a chance.elsina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Body horror, Murder, Torture, War, and Suicide
Minor: Blood and Genocide
darththought's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Full Disclosure I did not finish Little Maggie Moneyeyes the last story of this collection. I couldn't because that was the point where the blatant misogyny got the best of me. I could not finish
That being said, I will give Harlan Ellison one thing. He can write for the most part I enjoyed the first three stories of the collection even if they left me with a gaping hole of darkness in my chest. Where it started to all go wrong was around World of the Myth this was where the full misogyny was on display. Victim blaming, and the like. I can forgive some things I forgave a lot for this book because I wanted to enjoy it. And hell I enjoyed the titular story and the two stories after it Big Sam was My Friend was a heart wrenching but all too familiar tale of how money can drive us to forget our morals.
Eyes of Dust was.... OK a little too bleak but i got the point he was going for, that is one thing i can say about the author I get why he writes what he writes, however i can not in good faith say that I enjoyed the stories after that it just went down hill and i could not finish the last one
I would not recommend the full book, I would recommend the titular story and if that was all I was reviewing this review would have been glowing, but it is not because I wanted to read all of them
I will also say if Mr. Ellison was still alive I'd probably have a drink with him, because outside of his stories in the little in betweens I could see a genuine if very cynical human.
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Violence