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Approaching Oblivion
Approaching Oblivion is a collection of short stories by author Harlan Ellison. The short stories had appeared in various magazines throughout the early '70s with the exceptions of "Paulie Charmed the Sleeping Woman" which originally appeared in '62 & "Ecowareness," previously unpublished.
According to the introduction, the book was originally conceived in '70 as a cal...more
According to the introduction, the book was originally conceived in '70 as a cal...more
Mass Market Paperback, 164 pages
Published
1977
by Pan
(first published January 1st 1974)
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Harlan Ellison is my homeboy. I want that on a T-shirt, a la all those trendy celebrities who have "Jesus Is My Homeboy" shirts.
I found this in a dusty old used bookstore on the north side of town here, and it appears to be a first edition, tattered dust jacket and all. There are eleven stories herein, all of which contain a negative futuristic element of some sort. True to Ellison's usual form, he managed to be terrifying, misanthropic, achingly human, outrageously funny, and heartbreaking, som...more
I found this in a dusty old used bookstore on the north side of town here, and it appears to be a first edition, tattered dust jacket and all. There are eleven stories herein, all of which contain a negative futuristic element of some sort. True to Ellison's usual form, he managed to be terrifying, misanthropic, achingly human, outrageously funny, and heartbreaking, som...more
There is no such thing as a bad Ellison collection. The man rocks. However there is one story here that would be worth the price of admission even if all the others sucked (they don't). "I'm Looking for Kadak" is a very funny tale about Jewish aliens trying to form a Minyan for worship. It helps to know more than a little Yiddish to read this story. But never fear. Ellison provides a glossary. How thoughtful!
Dec 30, 2012
Charles Dee Mitchell
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
late-20th-century-sf
This was my first and is likely to be my only encounter with the writing of Harlan Ellison. It's not as though I didn't know what I letting myself in for. Ellison's reputation as an old crank, which he wears a a badge of honor, precedes him. I have watched Dreams with Sharp Teeth, the 2008 documentary on him and actually rather enjoyed it. (It might have been very late at night) But this anthology dates from the mid-1970's, so he was at most a forty-year-old crank. Old cranks can have undeniable...more
1 like · like · see review
Without getting in the weeds of praise, I'll go ahead and break my normal rule, to wait until I've traversed an artistic work no less than two times before I name it a favorite out of fresh enthusiasm, and laud "Hindsight: 480 Seconds" as the best sci-fi story I've ever read.
I'm more of a horror guy. Science fiction isn't normally my bag because science, well, I'm not a "how" guy. The "what if?" game doesn't appeal to me in the practical sense. Me being a horror guy and not a sci-fi guy, I stil...more
I'm more of a horror guy. Science fiction isn't normally my bag because science, well, I'm not a "how" guy. The "what if?" game doesn't appeal to me in the practical sense. Me being a horror guy and not a sci-fi guy, I stil...more
Hard as it can be to describe an Ellison story, you feel you must try if only to say something else to a friend besides, “You must READ this book!”
No. That’s not quite true. I would hesitate to recommend this book to a friend. There’s a palpable chill lying over these tales and visible traces of anger in quite a few. Even in “I’m Looking for Kadak”, a tale that strives for humor in every Yiddish-inflected sentence, there is a decided grimness as alien Jews prepare to sit shivah to a dying planet...more
No. That’s not quite true. I would hesitate to recommend this book to a friend. There’s a palpable chill lying over these tales and visible traces of anger in quite a few. Even in “I’m Looking for Kadak”, a tale that strives for humor in every Yiddish-inflected sentence, there is a decided grimness as alien Jews prepare to sit shivah to a dying planet...more
Aug 06, 2012
James
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone interested in speculative fiction
One of the lesser known Ellison collections, it remains a favorite that I recommend to everyone. the dedication itself is thought provoking, but the stories are what Ellison is known for and in this book we find the ideas coming fiercely and at fever pitch. One story, short enough to maintain a significant sting and relevant to all, is the work "Ecowareness" - a story of the Earth waking up from a nap to find that we have disturbed its slumber, so it starts relentlessly wiping us out so it can h...more
Feb 24, 2011
Erik Graff
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Ellison fans
Recommended to Erik by:
no one
Shelves:
sf
Harlan Ellison is usually a safe bet. The two Dangerous Visions volumes he edited are superior collections of short science fiction and representative of the kind of taboo-tweaking characteristic of his own writing as demonstrated in this sampling of his work.
Ah, I enjoyed this collection of Ellison better than the last. These were some consistently fresh and clever stories one after another. There was a strange marketing disconnect, however, in the marketing for the book.
Ellison gives one of his trademark introductions about his contempt and sadness for the state of the world that are like blood spraying from an open chest wound -- so unbelievably raw -- that ends with something like "and if you see me weeping sometimes, it's because you killed me...more
Ellison gives one of his trademark introductions about his contempt and sadness for the state of the world that are like blood spraying from an open chest wound -- so unbelievably raw -- that ends with something like "and if you see me weeping sometimes, it's because you killed me...more
This is a good collection of mostly 70's-era Ellison stories. Devoted Ellison fanatics will love it--Ellison's vehemence and creativity are always on. This one is worthwhile for "Knox," a disturbing tale dealing with race hatred, and the poignant (and classic) "One Life Furnished in Early Poverty."
First story 'Knox' almost made me put the book away, final story 'Hindsight: 480 Seconds' made me want to crave for more. That's how it's done! First Ellison I've ever read, certainly not the last! If you're looking for a diverse collection of crazed tales, Ellison is the man for you!
Harlan is an incredible writer, and I'd put his non-fiction up against anyone who's ever written non-fiction. With that being said, I'm usually hit or miss with the short story collections. Some of his stuff has such an effect on me that I'm almost afraid to read them again, simply because I can remember the feelings they brought forth, or the things they made me feel. Or remember. Harlan is great about making me remember things I've carefully buried away. But some of his stories make me want to...more
A favorite collection particularly for the spectacularly funny "I'm Looking For Kadek" -- alien Jews trying to form a minyan on a dying planet -- complete with a glossary!
Dec 31, 2009
Frank Taranto
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
science-fiction,
short-stories
Ellison is always different.
10
read
I really enjoyed reading some of the stories, including "Knox," "Paulie Charmed the Sleeping Woman," and "I'm Looking For Kadak." The collection is worth reading, but I didn't find it as engaging as I was expecting it to be.
The foreword to this book, entitled "Reaping The Whirlwind", touched a deep and lonely space in me as a kid. The stories are masterfully told--the sadness, rage and passion contained within these pages is absolutely palpable.
I loved this book when I first read it, and I love it still.
Recommended wholeheartedly.
I loved this book when I first read it, and I love it still.
Recommended wholeheartedly.
Out of print. Ellison's imagination is stunning. Disturbing but wickedly fun.
Jul 02, 2008
Valerie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Valerie by:
Jeff
The only short story writer whose work I enjoy.
As with most Ellison there's some good, some so-so.
Approaching Oblivion by Harlan Ellison (1981)
*note to self.copy from Al.
I'm saving this for Florida!
May 14, 2013
Melbourne Bitter
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
sci-fi-short-stories
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Harlan Jay Ellison is a prolific American writer of short stories, novellas, teleplays, essays, and criticism. His literary and television work has received many awards. He wrote for the original series of both The Outer Limits and Star Trek as well as The Alfred Hitchcock Hour; edited the multiple-award-winning short story anthology series Dangerous Visions; and served as creative consultant/writ...more
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