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Vrchol vulkánu
Vše nové, čerstvé a odlišné je ve vypravěčském řemesle velevzácné, ale Harlan Ellison jako rozený vypravěč vytvářel povídky odvážné, nebojácné a pokaždé znovu překvapivé; svou prózu dováděl na pokraj drzosti a podivnosti, psal zkušeně i s neomalenou přízemností – a vždy se postaral, aby jeho slova i v našem slovy předávkovaném světě byla až nečekaně plná života a vášně. Od převratných padesátých a šedesátých let, kdy svět nacházel svou novou dynamickou identitu, až po přítomnost plnou klišé a povrchnosti, psal stále elegantně a neotřele, přesto vždy živelně, a pořád byl s to dostat se čtenářům pod kůži.
A teď je to konečně tady. Nemám ústa a musím křičet je právě ta sbírka, ve kterou jsme dlouho jen doufali. Třiadvacet nejlepších povídek, které od první do poslední vyhrály významné ceny, vychází v jediném svazku a spolu s tím se v českém překladu poprvé šířeji představuje vskutku neobyčejný prozaik. Jsou to texty plné světla a ohně od autora, jenž měl vždy co říct a přesně věděl jak. V jednom svazku přichází to nejlepší od jednoho z nejvýraznějších hlasů nejen fantastického žánru. Povídky vhodné jak pro nováčky, tak i pro dlouholeté fanoušky science fiction – ba i pro protřelé profesionály; všem připomenou, jakých kvalit může literatura dosahovat.
V americké literatuře nikdo takový nebyl – a ani nebude. Zuřivý, zábavný, výmluvný, obrovsky nadaný. Pokud existuje nějaký posmrtný život, Harlan teď všechno bere hákem i tam.“
Stephen King
A teď je to konečně tady. Nemám ústa a musím křičet je právě ta sbírka, ve kterou jsme dlouho jen doufali. Třiadvacet nejlepších povídek, které od první do poslední vyhrály významné ceny, vychází v jediném svazku a spolu s tím se v českém překladu poprvé šířeji představuje vskutku neobyčejný prozaik. Jsou to texty plné světla a ohně od autora, jenž měl vždy co říct a přesně věděl jak. V jednom svazku přichází to nejlepší od jednoho z nejvýraznějších hlasů nejen fantastického žánru. Povídky vhodné jak pro nováčky, tak i pro dlouholeté fanoušky science fiction – ba i pro protřelé profesionály; všem připomenou, jakých kvalit může literatura dosahovat.
V americké literatuře nikdo takový nebyl – a ani nebude. Zuřivý, zábavný, výmluvný, obrovsky nadaný. Pokud existuje nějaký posmrtný život, Harlan teď všechno bere hákem i tam.“
Stephen King
510 pages, Hardcover
First published December 31, 2014
40 people are currently reading
613 people want to read
About the author
Harlan Ellison
1,082 books2,811 followersHarlan Jay Ellison (1934-2018) was 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/writer to the science fiction TV series The New Twilight Zone and Babylon 5.
Several of his short fiction pieces have been made into movies, such as the classic "The Boy and His Dog".
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/writer to the science fiction TV series The New Twilight Zone and Babylon 5.
Several of his short fiction pieces have been made into movies, such as the classic "The Boy and His Dog".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 6, 2021
Lidi, tohle je skvost.
Že to bude zážitek, prozradila už první povídka „Kaj se, Harlekýne!“ řekl Tiktátor. A jelikož tohle není klasická povídková sbírka se 2-3 výbornými a zbytkovou výplní, ale v podstatě Ellisonovo "Best of", bylo to dál pořád lepší a lepší. Že tomu dám plný počet, mi bylo jasné už po přečtení dalších tří či čtyř kousků.
Je to plné fantazie a neuvěřitelně pestré, najdete tu klasické scifi, horror i humor, prostě pro každého něco a pokaždé je to něčím překvapivé a zvláštní. Každá ta povídka má něco do sebe, těžko něco vyzdvihovat. Některé z nich by si možná těch hvězdiček zasloužily šest, třeba Mefisto z Onyxu, Jeffinovi je pět, Kluk a jeho pes, Měkká opička ... a vlastně všechny ostatní :)
Že to bude zážitek, prozradila už první povídka „Kaj se, Harlekýne!“ řekl Tiktátor. A jelikož tohle není klasická povídková sbírka se 2-3 výbornými a zbytkovou výplní, ale v podstatě Ellisonovo "Best of", bylo to dál pořád lepší a lepší. Že tomu dám plný počet, mi bylo jasné už po přečtení dalších tří či čtyř kousků.
Je to plné fantazie a neuvěřitelně pestré, najdete tu klasické scifi, horror i humor, prostě pro každého něco a pokaždé je to něčím překvapivé a zvláštní. Každá ta povídka má něco do sebe, těžko něco vyzdvihovat. Některé z nich by si možná těch hvězdiček zasloužily šest, třeba Mefisto z Onyxu, Jeffinovi je pět, Kluk a jeho pes, Měkká opička ... a vlastně všechny ostatní :)
January 8, 2021
Mohutný sborník povídek toho nejlepšího z legendárního Harlana Ellisona. Od šedesátých let do těch devadesátých. Přes pět set stran povídek, včetně těch nejlegendárnějších. Tak proč z toho nejsem nadšenější?
Může být trochu problém v tom, že ve sborníků jsou jen jeho oceněné věci. Je to podobné, jako byste si dělali názor na Spielberga jen podle jeho filmů, co získali Oscara – budete mít pocit, že je to čistě režisér temných snímků z druhé světové války. Indiana Jones, 1941, Duel, Blízká setkání nebo Čelisti vám navždy uniknou. Při udělování cen mají ambiciózní díla s přesahem vždycky výhodu – a tak z téhle knihy vychází Harlan Ellison trochu jako takový Oliver Stone fantastiky. Lehce hysterický a při delším čtení spíš únavný rebel, který si víc potrpí na ornamenty než na příběh. Postavy jsou tu čistě jen vypravěči, zcela ve službách Ellisonových obrazů. A to s těmi obrazy je to občas doslovné označení.
Město je zlé, válka je zlá, potraty jsou zlé, bůh je zlý, smrt je zlá, lidé jsou zlí… Ellisonova naštvanost je téměř konstantou. To si člověk uvědomí ve chvíli, kdy se objeví povídka, která je trochu jiná (jako Jeffinovi je pět, která je sice až kýčovitě nostalgická, ale působí jako příjemná změna, stejně jako spíš úsměvná povídka Džin, protřepat, nemíchat). Zase ta zuřivost a zápal, se kterými to píše, dodávají jeho povídkám energii.
Pořád jsou tu povídky, které zaujmou. Hned Čiň pokání harlekýne, řekl Tiktátor je skvělá věc, vyprávěná s dynamickou úsporností a přiznanou inspirací 1984. Chlapec a jeho pes pořád má ještě šmrnc… byť třeba Nemám ústa a musím křičet trochu zastaralo. (Harlan Ellisen je recenzentův sen – stačí mu napsat jména pár povídek a už má splněnou kvótu nutných znaků.) Čím pozdější věci, tím převažují obrazy nad příběhem, i když se pořád ještě objeví klasičtější povídky, jako je Mefisto z onyxu či překvapivě klasičtí Lidští údržbáři (které ovšem psal s Van Vogtem).
Pokud se vám líbí Mieville či věci od Lairda Barron či Fracassiho, tak je velká šance, že se vám bude líbit i tohle. Mladší já, opojený slovy, by z toho byl taky unešený. Starší já, který akceptuje slova jen když slouží vtipu či příběhu, usuzuje, že tohle není pro něj – ale i tak je rád, že si to mohl přečíst, že tahle kniha u nás vyšla. A klobouk dolů před překladateli. (Ale kdo ještě dneska nosí klobouky.)
Může být trochu problém v tom, že ve sborníků jsou jen jeho oceněné věci. Je to podobné, jako byste si dělali názor na Spielberga jen podle jeho filmů, co získali Oscara – budete mít pocit, že je to čistě režisér temných snímků z druhé světové války. Indiana Jones, 1941, Duel, Blízká setkání nebo Čelisti vám navždy uniknou. Při udělování cen mají ambiciózní díla s přesahem vždycky výhodu – a tak z téhle knihy vychází Harlan Ellison trochu jako takový Oliver Stone fantastiky. Lehce hysterický a při delším čtení spíš únavný rebel, který si víc potrpí na ornamenty než na příběh. Postavy jsou tu čistě jen vypravěči, zcela ve službách Ellisonových obrazů. A to s těmi obrazy je to občas doslovné označení.
Město je zlé, válka je zlá, potraty jsou zlé, bůh je zlý, smrt je zlá, lidé jsou zlí… Ellisonova naštvanost je téměř konstantou. To si člověk uvědomí ve chvíli, kdy se objeví povídka, která je trochu jiná (jako Jeffinovi je pět, která je sice až kýčovitě nostalgická, ale působí jako příjemná změna, stejně jako spíš úsměvná povídka Džin, protřepat, nemíchat). Zase ta zuřivost a zápal, se kterými to píše, dodávají jeho povídkám energii.
Pořád jsou tu povídky, které zaujmou. Hned Čiň pokání harlekýne, řekl Tiktátor je skvělá věc, vyprávěná s dynamickou úsporností a přiznanou inspirací 1984. Chlapec a jeho pes pořád má ještě šmrnc… byť třeba Nemám ústa a musím křičet trochu zastaralo. (Harlan Ellisen je recenzentův sen – stačí mu napsat jména pár povídek a už má splněnou kvótu nutných znaků.) Čím pozdější věci, tím převažují obrazy nad příběhem, i když se pořád ještě objeví klasičtější povídky, jako je Mefisto z onyxu či překvapivě klasičtí Lidští údržbáři (které ovšem psal s Van Vogtem).
Pokud se vám líbí Mieville či věci od Lairda Barron či Fracassiho, tak je velká šance, že se vám bude líbit i tohle. Mladší já, opojený slovy, by z toho byl taky unešený. Starší já, který akceptuje slova jen když slouží vtipu či příběhu, usuzuje, že tohle není pro něj – ale i tak je rád, že si to mohl přečíst, že tahle kniha u nás vyšla. A klobouk dolů před překladateli. (Ale kdo ještě dneska nosí klobouky.)
January 27, 2016
A Boy and His Dog--Sweet holy Moses is this one bleak.
A 15 year old scavenger and his telepathic dog eke out a living in an apocalyptic post-WW3 landscape. It is extremely jarring to have a gleeful rapist as protagonist, and his one brief pang of conscience doesn't change that a whit. The story is excellent though...I meant to just read Boy + Dog; I now might have to read the whole mammoth tome. Five stars.
”Repent, Harlequin!” said the Ticktockman--An unusual dystopia. Society has enslaved itself to the schedule, to punctuality. Tardiness is a capital crime. The Ticktockman is the enforcer, the government boogeyman who tracks tardiness and “shuts people off” when they’ve been late too often. The Harlequin is the revolutionary, the Guy Fawkes who throws wrenches into the system and makes fools of the authorities. For a time. It’s like 1984 in miniature. Five stars.
Croatoan--The father of numerous abortions is forced by his girlfriend to retrieve her terminated embryo from down in the sewer system. Which is just as impossible as it sounds, but he gives it a go. (This is NOT what I expected based on the story title). He finds:
Croatoan reminds me of why I tend to dislike shorts. Two stars, and I'm returning the book to the library.
A 15 year old scavenger and his telepathic dog eke out a living in an apocalyptic post-WW3 landscape. It is extremely jarring to have a gleeful rapist as protagonist, and his one brief pang of conscience doesn't change that a whit. The story is excellent though...I meant to just read Boy + Dog; I now might have to read the whole mammoth tome. Five stars.
”Repent, Harlequin!” said the Ticktockman--An unusual dystopia. Society has enslaved itself to the schedule, to punctuality. Tardiness is a capital crime. The Ticktockman is the enforcer, the government boogeyman who tracks tardiness and “shuts people off” when they’ve been late too often. The Harlequin is the revolutionary, the Guy Fawkes who throws wrenches into the system and makes fools of the authorities. For a time. It’s like 1984 in miniature. Five stars.
Croatoan--The father of numerous abortions is forced by his girlfriend to retrieve her terminated embryo from down in the sewer system. Which is just as impossible as it sounds, but he gives it a go. (This is NOT what I expected based on the story title). He finds:
Croatoan reminds me of why I tend to dislike shorts. Two stars, and I'm returning the book to the library.
March 23, 2022
Konečně…
Harlan Ellison mě pronásleduje celý život. Jeho povídky si mě pravidelně nacházely jako naváděné rakety, vždy bezchybně trefily a zůstal po nich kráter. A já stál na jeho dně a říkal si, sakra, od toho Ellisona bych si měl přečíst něco dalšího. A nepřečetl. Až za nějaký čas se zase ozvalo, všššš bum! Proto je pro mě tenhle sborník jako kobercový nálet. Ellison, který se podílel nebo byl inspirací pro fenomény jako Fallout, Star Trek, Terminator a napsal takové klenoty jako postapo Kluk a jeho pes nebo kyberpunkový horor Nemám ústa a musím křičet, se tu předvádí v 23 povídkách od roku 1965 do 2009. I ty starší kusy jsou ostré jako žiletka.
Čtěte. Sborník je vyvážený od jednoduchých a přístupných kousků (Lidští údržbáři), přes složitější experimenty (Muž, který dovezl veslicí na břeh Kryštofa Kolumba a Vydán na pospas větru...) až po komedie typu Džin, protřepat, nemíchat a buřičské kousky ("Kaj se, Harlekýne!" řekl Tiktátor). I když to má přes 500 stránek, měl jsem jen málo výkyvů směrem k nudě. Je to dáno i tím, že prakticky za každou zveřejněnou povídku dostal Ellison ocenění Hugo, Nebula nebo Locus. Kvalita výběru je jedna věc, další pak možnost sledovat, jak soustředěně Ellison pracuje s motivy sadistické umělé/cizácké inteligence a také, jak skrz své postavy bojuje s větrnými mlýny nezastavitelného času a stárnutí. Místy to ujíždí až do hororu. Přesto nejde o brakovou literaturu. Ellison se nebál reflektovat svoji současnost, obracet ji na ruby a nemilosrdně se v ní rýpat. Chtěl a uměl provokovat a vysmívat se. A i když pošlape to, co máte rádi a čemu věříte, nakonec udělá filozofickou nebo uličnickou koncovku a všechno mu odpustíte.
Čtěte. Ellison nesnášel škatulkovalní do scifi ("Zajdu za každým, kdo o mě řekne, že píšu scifi a přitluču hlavu jeho domácího mazlíčka ke stolu."), namísto toho se řadil prostě a jednoduše mezi spisovatele. A ono to tak bude. Když je čtete dneska, jsou témata některých povídek uvěřitelnější až aktuální a zdaleka nepůsobí tak fantasticky jako před dekádami. Tohle je prostě a jednoduše must have v knihovně, sorry Harlane, SF pozitivních. Ale ti to tam už dávno mají. Já teda taky, ale teprve teď jsem to konečně dočetl.
Harlan Ellison mě pronásleduje celý život. Jeho povídky si mě pravidelně nacházely jako naváděné rakety, vždy bezchybně trefily a zůstal po nich kráter. A já stál na jeho dně a říkal si, sakra, od toho Ellisona bych si měl přečíst něco dalšího. A nepřečetl. Až za nějaký čas se zase ozvalo, všššš bum! Proto je pro mě tenhle sborník jako kobercový nálet. Ellison, který se podílel nebo byl inspirací pro fenomény jako Fallout, Star Trek, Terminator a napsal takové klenoty jako postapo Kluk a jeho pes nebo kyberpunkový horor Nemám ústa a musím křičet, se tu předvádí v 23 povídkách od roku 1965 do 2009. I ty starší kusy jsou ostré jako žiletka.
Čtěte. Sborník je vyvážený od jednoduchých a přístupných kousků (Lidští údržbáři), přes složitější experimenty (Muž, který dovezl veslicí na břeh Kryštofa Kolumba a Vydán na pospas větru...) až po komedie typu Džin, protřepat, nemíchat a buřičské kousky ("Kaj se, Harlekýne!" řekl Tiktátor). I když to má přes 500 stránek, měl jsem jen málo výkyvů směrem k nudě. Je to dáno i tím, že prakticky za každou zveřejněnou povídku dostal Ellison ocenění Hugo, Nebula nebo Locus. Kvalita výběru je jedna věc, další pak možnost sledovat, jak soustředěně Ellison pracuje s motivy sadistické umělé/cizácké inteligence a také, jak skrz své postavy bojuje s větrnými mlýny nezastavitelného času a stárnutí. Místy to ujíždí až do hororu. Přesto nejde o brakovou literaturu. Ellison se nebál reflektovat svoji současnost, obracet ji na ruby a nemilosrdně se v ní rýpat. Chtěl a uměl provokovat a vysmívat se. A i když pošlape to, co máte rádi a čemu věříte, nakonec udělá filozofickou nebo uličnickou koncovku a všechno mu odpustíte.
Čtěte. Ellison nesnášel škatulkovalní do scifi ("Zajdu za každým, kdo o mě řekne, že píšu scifi a přitluču hlavu jeho domácího mazlíčka ke stolu."), namísto toho se řadil prostě a jednoduše mezi spisovatele. A ono to tak bude. Když je čtete dneska, jsou témata některých povídek uvěřitelnější až aktuální a zdaleka nepůsobí tak fantasticky jako před dekádami. Tohle je prostě a jednoduše must have v knihovně, sorry Harlane, SF pozitivních. Ale ti to tam už dávno mají. Já teda taky, ale teprve teď jsem to konečně dočetl.
July 17, 2023
Unfortunately I wasn't able to read the whole thing before having to return it to the library but I was able to read the stories I had wanted to and a few others. Because Ellison writes mostly short stories, they're spread out across several different books and printings; some are out of print, some are available but have a limited selection, etc. This book contains most of his well known stories and was a great place to jump in. The main reason I wanted to read this was because his stories are referenced in lots of other science fiction media. Even the title "I have no mouth and I must scream" has become a meme on the internet.
There are lot of dark themes and content in these stories so fair warning for anyone interested. Overall, I enjoyed what I had read and hope to go back to the rest another time.
There are lot of dark themes and content in these stories so fair warning for anyone interested. Overall, I enjoyed what I had read and hope to go back to the rest another time.
June 10, 2021
Poviedky sú majstrovský žáner. Je to literatúra v kryštalickej podobe, zbavená tuku, slová odmeriavané ako dávky lieku či drogy. Bez pátosu verím tomu, že práve poviedky stáli na úsvite ľudstva - krátke, kondenzované rozprávanie, ktoré neštiepi pozornosť, ako stvorené k ohňu. Poviedky sú majstrovský žáner a Harlan Ellison bol majster poviedky. Nič iné nepísal (a ako sa hovorí, keby písal, podmanil by si rovnako aj iné žánre, ba ešte viac). Najúžasnejšia je jeho variabilita: v histórii žánru SF (a vari aj literatúry ako takej, keďže nemá zmysel to deliť, lebo Harlan bol majster, aj keď sa na to pozriete mimo pohľadu F/SF ghetta) snáď nenájdete väčšieho literárneho chameleóna. Dokázal napísať všetko. On tvrdil, že je duševne spätý s magickými realistami, ja tvrdím, že na inom mieste, v inom čase mohol byť pokojne modernista - a ešte aký. Jeho poviedky sú inteligentné, bystré, prelomové, očiotvárajúce, hrôzostrašné, nechutné, citlivé, hlboko ľudské, humorné i vážne. Vyvolávajú údiv, strach, pocit úžasu i bázne, prekvapia, ani po bezmála päťdesiatich rokoch nestrácajú takmer nič z toho, čo ich robilo veľkými, a naozaj stojí za to ich čítať, pretože sú to práve práce ako tieto, ktoré ukazujú, že v tých správnych rukách nie je medzi mainstreamom a "žánrom" žiaden kvalitatívny rozdiel. Neručím za to, že vám sadne všetko, ale pre ktorú takto monumentálnu zbierku to platí? A je toho toľko. "Croatoan" vo mne svojou premisou vyvoláva mrazenie už roky. "Jeffinovi je pět" ma pred vyše polživotom naučil lekciu o tom, čo som vtedy ešte nechápal, a síce že čas plynie. "Muž, který dovezl veslicí na břeh Kryštofa Kolumba" hovorí o jednom záškodníkovi, ktorý sa vymanil z okov času. "Smrtorel" predostiera úchvatné polomýtické putovanie s priam geniálnym využitím náboženských motívov. "Paladin ztracené hodiny" prináša originálne vysvetlenie príčiny vzniku gregoriánskeho kalendára na pozadí citlivého príbehu. "Mefisto z Onyxu" obsahuje asi trojnásobný zvrat. "Počítám, jak zvon odbíjí čas" pôsobivým spôsobom ukazuje, kam sa podeje premárnený čas. A nech je premisa akákoľvek, vždy viete, že ste v rukách nadmieru schopného spisovateľa, ktorého snáď ani nie je možné prechváliť.
April 12, 2021
Pěkný sborník s těmi nejlépe hodnocenými povídkami Harlana Ellisona mě přesvědčil o tom, že science fiction nemusí být bezpodmínečně technické, ale že rovněž může nabízet různé filozoficko-existenční úvahy, které s vámi v určitých chvílích dovedou souznit.
April 8, 2017
These stories won awards, so they're good. Either that, or they're experimental enough that they were interesting to the people who give awards.
I'll call Ellison's language "poetic," in the sense that it can be beautiful and it has some tendency to obscure its own meaning. Mostly, he got out of his own way often enough to communicate intriguing stories.
In general, gimmicks like printing some lines of text perpendicular to the rest, or letting the words spiral out from the center of the page, just make me roll my eyes. [In derision, that is, not just in reorientation.] But these gimmicks are much more frustrating on an e-reader: when you turn it, the screen reorients. Protip: On my Kindle, that feature can be shut off -- or one could simply skip to a story whose author hasn't sabotaged it.
I'll call Ellison's language "poetic," in the sense that it can be beautiful and it has some tendency to obscure its own meaning. Mostly, he got out of his own way often enough to communicate intriguing stories.
In general, gimmicks like printing some lines of text perpendicular to the rest, or letting the words spiral out from the center of the page, just make me roll my eyes. [In derision, that is, not just in reorientation.] But these gimmicks are much more frustrating on an e-reader: when you turn it, the screen reorients. Protip: On my Kindle, that feature can be shut off -- or one could simply skip to a story whose author hasn't sabotaged it.
December 11, 2024
this book was incredible. i came for IHNMAIMS and stayed for everything else. the absolutely unhinged take on boy and his dog. the insanity with the intergalactic war. i'm writing this review literal months after i finished it because i never check my goodreads but i remember so many of the stories in this collection so vividly. if you like any stories that anyone's ever written, you should at the very least skim through this book. the ticktockman. the fucking FUNCTION OF DREAM SLEEP. oh my god the whimper of whipped dogs broke me. this collection has a very unique brand of just taking the stories and making them gritty and unpredictable and at risk of sounding like a book reviewer *human*. please i NEED someone to talk about this novel to i am frothing at the mouth i need to be put down
September 5, 2015
Harlan Ellison is simply one of the greatest writers of our day. Since the 1960s, Ellison has been churning out mind boggling, thought provoking, and
award winning fiction. Not just science fiction, not just fantasy, but *fiction* in general. Much of what he has written has fallen into the speculative fiction arena, and we claim him as one of our own. He certainly is one of the most decorated writers in speculative fiction, and The Top of the Volcano collects all his award winning fiction into one massive volume. The awards include the Hugo, Nebula, Locus Poll, Edgar, Bram Stoker, Writers Guild of Canada, and inclusion in the Best American Stories of 1993.
So yeah, he's pretty good.
It's interesting to note that even with all the stories that are included in The Top of the Volcano, the collection is not necessarily a "best of", as there are another few dozen or more stories from his catalog that could be included in a book with that title. In fact, there are any number of collections of Ellison's works that include many of the stories that are here as well as many other memorable stories.
So, what's here? Well, there are 23 stories in all, starting with 1966 Hugo and Nebula winning "Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman", and ending with
the 2011 Nebula Award winning "How Interesting: A Tiny Man". That's right - 45 years after that first Nebula, he won his latest for a story he wrote when
he was 76 years old. In fact, in this day and age of the internet anyone can find out what stories are in this book without me having to list them out for
you. What's more interesting is the variation and evolution of his writing style, what he chose to write about, and how he chose to go about writing it.
Ellision is, and never was, afraid to take risks. The early stories here, such as "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream", about a sadistic computer that has trapped the last of humanity within itself and is torturing them, but not to death - a sort of metaphor for hell, I suppose - or "A Boy and His Dog", are relatively straightforward tales that can be taken on multiple levels, but they really don't make you work that hard. Later stories, like "Deathbird", or "Croatoan", have layers upon layers; "Deathbird" is about the end of the world, but there's so much there that when it's done the reader finally
realizes there was a lot more going on there than is obvious, at least at first, and "Croatoan" clears up a colonial legend in a heart wrenching fashion.
But those aren't the only heart wrenching stories here. How about "Jeffty is Five", about a boy that remains five for his entire life - and no, that's not
a spoiler, or one of my all time personal favorites, "The Paladin of the Lost Hour", which is about as gut wrenching as it gets. If you want another kind
of gut wrenching, this time the kind in which terror is involved, try "The Function of Dream Sleep", wherein our protagonist wakes up one day to find something on his body that really shouldn't be there, which eventually leads him to find out what the function of dream sleep really is: or "Mefisto in Onyx", another one of my personal favorites, which has such a nasty double twist at the end that the reader ends up blinking once or twice and shaking his or her head in
disbelief.
And yet, there is whimsy, too. "Djinn, No Chaser", is as amusing a story as the title suggests, wherein a young newlywed couple comes into possession of
a magic lamp - and all the trouble that entails, until the young bride comes up with a clever solution to the problem. There is melancholy, followed by joy, in the story "Count the Clock That Tells the Time", about 34 year old Ian Ross who wasted his life, but is given a second chance. And, one of my other
favorite stories in this collection, "Adrift Just Off the Islets of Langerhans: Latitude 38° 54' N, Longitude 77° 00' 13" W" about Lawrence Talbot (yeah, that Lawrence Talbot, the Wolfman), a man, unable to die, enlisting the help of his friend and scientist Victor (yeah, I'm guessing THAT Victor, but it's never stated in the story) to find his soul and thereby maybe find peace.
There are other stories here that are experimental, such as "The Region Between", or "The Man Who Rowed Christopher Columbus Ashore" (which I guess in
retrospect may not be too experimental) that I had a bit of difficulty with. But that's okay, because if I wanted easy reading this collection wouldn't
be the place to go to find it, I don't think.
I continue to look back at the table of contents and I keep thinking to myself that I would love to comment on "The Whimper of Whipped Dogs" or "The Beast
That Shouted Love at the Heart of the World", or "With Virgil Oddum at the East Pole", or....well, you get the idea. I could go on for a very long time
and still not be finished with comments about this book. It's just that good. And it's a great place to start if you want an introduction to Harlan
Ellison's work. Just imagine how good the stories are that *didn't* win any awards.
award winning fiction. Not just science fiction, not just fantasy, but *fiction* in general. Much of what he has written has fallen into the speculative fiction arena, and we claim him as one of our own. He certainly is one of the most decorated writers in speculative fiction, and The Top of the Volcano collects all his award winning fiction into one massive volume. The awards include the Hugo, Nebula, Locus Poll, Edgar, Bram Stoker, Writers Guild of Canada, and inclusion in the Best American Stories of 1993.
So yeah, he's pretty good.
It's interesting to note that even with all the stories that are included in The Top of the Volcano, the collection is not necessarily a "best of", as there are another few dozen or more stories from his catalog that could be included in a book with that title. In fact, there are any number of collections of Ellison's works that include many of the stories that are here as well as many other memorable stories.
So, what's here? Well, there are 23 stories in all, starting with 1966 Hugo and Nebula winning "Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman", and ending with
the 2011 Nebula Award winning "How Interesting: A Tiny Man". That's right - 45 years after that first Nebula, he won his latest for a story he wrote when
he was 76 years old. In fact, in this day and age of the internet anyone can find out what stories are in this book without me having to list them out for
you. What's more interesting is the variation and evolution of his writing style, what he chose to write about, and how he chose to go about writing it.
Ellision is, and never was, afraid to take risks. The early stories here, such as "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream", about a sadistic computer that has trapped the last of humanity within itself and is torturing them, but not to death - a sort of metaphor for hell, I suppose - or "A Boy and His Dog", are relatively straightforward tales that can be taken on multiple levels, but they really don't make you work that hard. Later stories, like "Deathbird", or "Croatoan", have layers upon layers; "Deathbird" is about the end of the world, but there's so much there that when it's done the reader finally
realizes there was a lot more going on there than is obvious, at least at first, and "Croatoan" clears up a colonial legend in a heart wrenching fashion.
But those aren't the only heart wrenching stories here. How about "Jeffty is Five", about a boy that remains five for his entire life - and no, that's not
a spoiler, or one of my all time personal favorites, "The Paladin of the Lost Hour", which is about as gut wrenching as it gets. If you want another kind
of gut wrenching, this time the kind in which terror is involved, try "The Function of Dream Sleep", wherein our protagonist wakes up one day to find something on his body that really shouldn't be there, which eventually leads him to find out what the function of dream sleep really is: or "Mefisto in Onyx", another one of my personal favorites, which has such a nasty double twist at the end that the reader ends up blinking once or twice and shaking his or her head in
disbelief.
And yet, there is whimsy, too. "Djinn, No Chaser", is as amusing a story as the title suggests, wherein a young newlywed couple comes into possession of
a magic lamp - and all the trouble that entails, until the young bride comes up with a clever solution to the problem. There is melancholy, followed by joy, in the story "Count the Clock That Tells the Time", about 34 year old Ian Ross who wasted his life, but is given a second chance. And, one of my other
favorite stories in this collection, "Adrift Just Off the Islets of Langerhans: Latitude 38° 54' N, Longitude 77° 00' 13" W" about Lawrence Talbot (yeah, that Lawrence Talbot, the Wolfman), a man, unable to die, enlisting the help of his friend and scientist Victor (yeah, I'm guessing THAT Victor, but it's never stated in the story) to find his soul and thereby maybe find peace.
There are other stories here that are experimental, such as "The Region Between", or "The Man Who Rowed Christopher Columbus Ashore" (which I guess in
retrospect may not be too experimental) that I had a bit of difficulty with. But that's okay, because if I wanted easy reading this collection wouldn't
be the place to go to find it, I don't think.
I continue to look back at the table of contents and I keep thinking to myself that I would love to comment on "The Whimper of Whipped Dogs" or "The Beast
That Shouted Love at the Heart of the World", or "With Virgil Oddum at the East Pole", or....well, you get the idea. I could go on for a very long time
and still not be finished with comments about this book. It's just that good. And it's a great place to start if you want an introduction to Harlan
Ellison's work. Just imagine how good the stories are that *didn't* win any awards.
June 13, 2019
Top of the Volcano
- [ ] Repent Harlequin
About humans becoming slaves of time, the Harlequin rebels by creating silly disruptions, get caught but infects others
Hard language to read
2
- [ ] I have no mouth and I must scream
Post apocalyptic , ai destroys humanity, but leaves a group of people alive to torment
The protagonist who thinks he is hated by others, saves them, but punished by AI for eternity
Strange and twisted, phantasmagorical imagery
3+
- [ ] The beast that shouted love
Some aliens, back to earth
Something happens
2
- [ ] A boy and his dog
Post apocalyptic, the humanity survived as mutants above ground and as orderly communities below
A boy must choose between his telepathic dog and his girl, chooses dog
4
- [ ] The region between
Bailey dies in euthanasia center, but his soul is stolen by Succubus to be placed in different bodies. Bailey sabotages the missions, eventually becomes God and destroys everything.
Vast in scope, not always coherent
3+
- [ ] The Basilisk
In Vietnam war soldier is bitten by basilisk, captured, tortured, turns basilisk himself, kills his captors, returns home, charged with war crimes, acquitted, goes home, kills townspeople, killed himself
Nice, but not very coherent
3+
- [ ] The Deathbird
The story about meaning of god, raises all the interesting questions about faith and existence
Nathan Stake awakened after quarter million years, journeys with Satan to confront God
5
- [ ] The whimper of whipped dogs
Beth witnesses a murder together with other tenants of her apartment block and creature in the sky. Understands soulesness of the city. Calls to the God creature when assaulted herself
Nice
4
- [ ] Adrift just of the islets
Larry Talbot wants to die, finds some company that do staff, they provide him a map to his soul, goes to his friend Victor, who minimizes him and sends him on a journey inside his own body
Strange, don’t understand all the symbolism3+
- [ ] Croatoan
The protagonist leads a promiscuous life, disposing of his unborn children
Nauseating, tries to drive a point that everything has its consequences
3
- [ ] Jefty
Jefty is stuck at age 5 without change
Really nice till the ending, full of reminiscence for lost childhood and past in general that we can’t come back to
4+
- [ ] Count the clock
Ian Ros passes through life without leaving any sign, decides to go to Scotland and than fades away to the world of lost time to find love there
About meaninglessness of our lives and about love, sad and heartwarming
4+
- [ ] Djinn, no chaser
Djinn story
Nice
4
- [ ] Paladin of the lost hour
- [ ] Gaspar is a keeper of the lost hour, he befriends Billy Kineta to pass his responsibilities to
Nice
4
- [ ] With Virgil...
On icy planet William Pogue doing penance by studying local inhabitants. He meets Virgil Oddum who creates an art masterpiece in ice, Pogue finishes the work
Nice, invents interesting alien planet
4
- [ ] Soft Monkey
Annie is a black woman living on the streets, she has a doll which substitutes the child she lost. She witnesses a crime and pursued by the criminals later.
Very unusual main protagonist. Hard to choose what is the meaning here, maybe that even for idea of the child we would do anything we can to save him.
4
- [ ] Eidolons
Didn’t finish it, some powerful imagery, but not clear what is it about
- [ ] The function of dream sleep
After passing of his friend a man wakes up with a mouth opening at his side and he goes on a quest to understand it
Generally, the idea is that to deal with a loss you need to let the departed go
3
- [ ] the man who rowed Christopher Columbus ashore
About a guy with godlike powers that every day did something awesome
Funny and entertaining
5
- [ ] Mefisto in Onyx
A man who can read minds goes to meet serial killer on death row, finds out he is like him
Not bad, interesting idea and written well, can’t understand his metaphors
4+
- [ ] Chatting with Anubis
The protagonists find a shrine guarded by Anubis in which Moses lies
Nice, but short, well written
4
- [ ] The Human Operators
About conscious starships that keep human operators
Nice, but fill a little unfinished, maybe because it is a short story
4
- [ ] How interesting: a tiny man
The protagonist creates a tiny man, a satire on a world accepting scientific breakthroughs
4-
- [ ] Repent Harlequin
About humans becoming slaves of time, the Harlequin rebels by creating silly disruptions, get caught but infects others
Hard language to read
2
- [ ] I have no mouth and I must scream
Post apocalyptic , ai destroys humanity, but leaves a group of people alive to torment
The protagonist who thinks he is hated by others, saves them, but punished by AI for eternity
Strange and twisted, phantasmagorical imagery
3+
- [ ] The beast that shouted love
Some aliens, back to earth
Something happens
2
- [ ] A boy and his dog
Post apocalyptic, the humanity survived as mutants above ground and as orderly communities below
A boy must choose between his telepathic dog and his girl, chooses dog
4
- [ ] The region between
Bailey dies in euthanasia center, but his soul is stolen by Succubus to be placed in different bodies. Bailey sabotages the missions, eventually becomes God and destroys everything.
Vast in scope, not always coherent
3+
- [ ] The Basilisk
In Vietnam war soldier is bitten by basilisk, captured, tortured, turns basilisk himself, kills his captors, returns home, charged with war crimes, acquitted, goes home, kills townspeople, killed himself
Nice, but not very coherent
3+
- [ ] The Deathbird
The story about meaning of god, raises all the interesting questions about faith and existence
Nathan Stake awakened after quarter million years, journeys with Satan to confront God
5
- [ ] The whimper of whipped dogs
Beth witnesses a murder together with other tenants of her apartment block and creature in the sky. Understands soulesness of the city. Calls to the God creature when assaulted herself
Nice
4
- [ ] Adrift just of the islets
Larry Talbot wants to die, finds some company that do staff, they provide him a map to his soul, goes to his friend Victor, who minimizes him and sends him on a journey inside his own body
Strange, don’t understand all the symbolism3+
- [ ] Croatoan
The protagonist leads a promiscuous life, disposing of his unborn children
Nauseating, tries to drive a point that everything has its consequences
3
- [ ] Jefty
Jefty is stuck at age 5 without change
Really nice till the ending, full of reminiscence for lost childhood and past in general that we can’t come back to
4+
- [ ] Count the clock
Ian Ros passes through life without leaving any sign, decides to go to Scotland and than fades away to the world of lost time to find love there
About meaninglessness of our lives and about love, sad and heartwarming
4+
- [ ] Djinn, no chaser
Djinn story
Nice
4
- [ ] Paladin of the lost hour
- [ ] Gaspar is a keeper of the lost hour, he befriends Billy Kineta to pass his responsibilities to
Nice
4
- [ ] With Virgil...
On icy planet William Pogue doing penance by studying local inhabitants. He meets Virgil Oddum who creates an art masterpiece in ice, Pogue finishes the work
Nice, invents interesting alien planet
4
- [ ] Soft Monkey
Annie is a black woman living on the streets, she has a doll which substitutes the child she lost. She witnesses a crime and pursued by the criminals later.
Very unusual main protagonist. Hard to choose what is the meaning here, maybe that even for idea of the child we would do anything we can to save him.
4
- [ ] Eidolons
Didn’t finish it, some powerful imagery, but not clear what is it about
- [ ] The function of dream sleep
After passing of his friend a man wakes up with a mouth opening at his side and he goes on a quest to understand it
Generally, the idea is that to deal with a loss you need to let the departed go
3
- [ ] the man who rowed Christopher Columbus ashore
About a guy with godlike powers that every day did something awesome
Funny and entertaining
5
- [ ] Mefisto in Onyx
A man who can read minds goes to meet serial killer on death row, finds out he is like him
Not bad, interesting idea and written well, can’t understand his metaphors
4+
- [ ] Chatting with Anubis
The protagonists find a shrine guarded by Anubis in which Moses lies
Nice, but short, well written
4
- [ ] The Human Operators
About conscious starships that keep human operators
Nice, but fill a little unfinished, maybe because it is a short story
4
- [ ] How interesting: a tiny man
The protagonist creates a tiny man, a satire on a world accepting scientific breakthroughs
4-
April 22, 2022
Mám rád knihy, které jsou chytřejší než já. Tohle je jedna z nich.
May 4, 2019
I read quite a lot of sci-fi, and the name of Harlan Ellison always loomed large above the genre as one of its giants. I had never read a single line by him before this anthology of award-winning stories, and now that I did, I can say this: a giant he was, but of much more than just sci-fi. He was erudite and versatile, both in style and topics, he wrote in an amazing English (if, at times, a little too self-satisfied), and, most importantly, he wrote stunning tales.
I don't know if the short stories in this book are a good sample of his work, but they are one hell of a reading; just to name three: I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream is one of the bleakest, most distressing ones I have ever read, Jeffty Is Five one of the saddest and most nostalgic, Djinn, No Chaser one of the darkest and funniest (yes, both).
I don't think I will deal again with Ellison shortly: he's not an easy reading, and my to-read list is starting to tend to infinite, but I'm glad I got to know him. He was, simply put, unforgettable.
//
Leggo parecchia fantascienza, e avevo sempre sentito descrivere Harlan Ellison in termini entusiastici, come uno dei giganti del genere. Prima di questa raccolta di racconti (tutti vincitori di qualche premio letterario) non avevo mai letto neppure una riga scritta da lui, e ora che l'ho fatto mi sento di dire una cosa: un gigante lo era senz'altro, ma non solo per la fantascienza. Era uno scrittore erudito e poliedrico, sia stilisticamente che tematicamente, scriveva in un inglese sensazionale (a volte, forse, un tantino troppo compiaciuto), e, cosa fondamentale, scriveva storie sbalorditive.
Non so se i racconti in questo libro siano un buon campione del suo lavoro, ma sono una lettura strepitosa; per citarne solo tre: I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream è uno dei più desolanti e angoscianti che abbia mai letto, Jeffty Is Five uno dei più tristi e nostalgici, Djinn, No Chaser uno dei più cupi e più divertenti (esatto, entrambe le cose).
Non credo che affronterò di nuovo Ellison a breve: non è una lettura semplice, e la mia lista di libri in attesa di essere iniziati comincia a tendere a infinito; ma sono contento di averlo conosciuto. Non lo dimenticherò.
I don't know if the short stories in this book are a good sample of his work, but they are one hell of a reading; just to name three: I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream is one of the bleakest, most distressing ones I have ever read, Jeffty Is Five one of the saddest and most nostalgic, Djinn, No Chaser one of the darkest and funniest (yes, both).
I don't think I will deal again with Ellison shortly: he's not an easy reading, and my to-read list is starting to tend to infinite, but I'm glad I got to know him. He was, simply put, unforgettable.
//
Leggo parecchia fantascienza, e avevo sempre sentito descrivere Harlan Ellison in termini entusiastici, come uno dei giganti del genere. Prima di questa raccolta di racconti (tutti vincitori di qualche premio letterario) non avevo mai letto neppure una riga scritta da lui, e ora che l'ho fatto mi sento di dire una cosa: un gigante lo era senz'altro, ma non solo per la fantascienza. Era uno scrittore erudito e poliedrico, sia stilisticamente che tematicamente, scriveva in un inglese sensazionale (a volte, forse, un tantino troppo compiaciuto), e, cosa fondamentale, scriveva storie sbalorditive.
Non so se i racconti in questo libro siano un buon campione del suo lavoro, ma sono una lettura strepitosa; per citarne solo tre: I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream è uno dei più desolanti e angoscianti che abbia mai letto, Jeffty Is Five uno dei più tristi e nostalgici, Djinn, No Chaser uno dei più cupi e più divertenti (esatto, entrambe le cose).
Non credo che affronterò di nuovo Ellison a breve: non è una lettura semplice, e la mia lista di libri in attesa di essere iniziati comincia a tendere a infinito; ma sono contento di averlo conosciuto. Non lo dimenticherò.
January 21, 2020
Bill Schaffer (probably) writes in the flaps that "these stories are full of the light and life of someone with things worth saying and the skills to do it". It's a brilliant turn of phrase and the book, one of those wondrous signed, limited editions, Subterranean Press specializes in, is the usual beautiful, even if in the case a bit unwieldy, object (I mostly read it in the ebook version, on the phone). The texts themselves, from the man who "briefly mattered", as he himself puts it, I didn't particularly enjoy.
Harlan Ellison can write. I mean: "Thousands of years later, when he saw how it was destined to go, when there was no doubt left how it would end, he understood that was the reason he had been chosen to stay behind." Or: "Let them throw their best against me, whoever they may be, and they will find me sinewed of steel and muscled of tortured atoms. I know no fear. I know no retreat. I am the land of my body, the country of my existence, and even in defeat I am noble. If this is all, I will not cower." Also, he has things to say, I mean: "He said to them, “What’s astonishing is not that there is so much ineptitude, slovenliness, mediocrity and downright bad taste in the world…what is unbelievable is that there is so much good art in the world. Everywhere.” One of the attendees raised her hand and asked, “Are you good, or evil?” He thought about it for less than twenty seconds, smiled, and replied, “Good, of course! There’s only one real evil in the world: mediocrity.” They applauded sparsely, but politely." Or, on the same bandwagon: "I woke at three in the morning, bored out of sleep by dreams of such paralyzing mediocrity that I could not lie there and suffer my own breathing." One gets the point.
I wouldn't classify Ellison's work herein as "mediocre". Some of it is objectively good, some was clearly influencial, some is innovative and daring. It's just that I didn't really like anything here, which is amazing, really. It felt viscerally "white middle class boomer from the United States" stuff. Very strange in a awkward way. Also, lots of it felt just cruel or insensitive.
I would not recommend the reading of this for the attainment of any kind of literary artistic pleasure.
Harlan Ellison can write. I mean: "Thousands of years later, when he saw how it was destined to go, when there was no doubt left how it would end, he understood that was the reason he had been chosen to stay behind." Or: "Let them throw their best against me, whoever they may be, and they will find me sinewed of steel and muscled of tortured atoms. I know no fear. I know no retreat. I am the land of my body, the country of my existence, and even in defeat I am noble. If this is all, I will not cower." Also, he has things to say, I mean: "He said to them, “What’s astonishing is not that there is so much ineptitude, slovenliness, mediocrity and downright bad taste in the world…what is unbelievable is that there is so much good art in the world. Everywhere.” One of the attendees raised her hand and asked, “Are you good, or evil?” He thought about it for less than twenty seconds, smiled, and replied, “Good, of course! There’s only one real evil in the world: mediocrity.” They applauded sparsely, but politely." Or, on the same bandwagon: "I woke at three in the morning, bored out of sleep by dreams of such paralyzing mediocrity that I could not lie there and suffer my own breathing." One gets the point.
I wouldn't classify Ellison's work herein as "mediocre". Some of it is objectively good, some was clearly influencial, some is innovative and daring. It's just that I didn't really like anything here, which is amazing, really. It felt viscerally "white middle class boomer from the United States" stuff. Very strange in a awkward way. Also, lots of it felt just cruel or insensitive.
I would not recommend the reading of this for the attainment of any kind of literary artistic pleasure.
May 11, 2015
Incredibly, considering the vitality, controversy and length of his career, there has never been a volume labelled as the best of Harlan Ellison. Numerous anthologies exist but all have some theme and so include essays and commentaries as well as fiction. This massive and beautifully produced tome from Subterranean Press compiles all his major works which have won awards across the speculative and crime fiction spectrum.
To dive into the first few pieces covering the late 60’s and culminating in the legendary A Boy and His Dog (1970) is to be shot in the literary brain with an adrenalin spike. The ideas and language are so fluorescent as to burn the reader’s imagination. Additionally, two are now considered classics of the genre and inform all writers of horror and SF for the past few decades. Even the titles themselves are legendary: “Repent, Harlequin! “said the Ticktockman and I have no mouth, and I must scream. Both resonate half a century later examining themes of natural justice and a hellish view of an AI dominated existence.
The output continued across the years, so much so that the later story The Man who rowed Christopher Columbus ashore was included in the anthology of Best American Short Stories of the 20th century. Always you are reminded that Ellison is using incredible craft to say something, to illuminate the human condition and there is not much more you can ask of a writer.
To dive into the first few pieces covering the late 60’s and culminating in the legendary A Boy and His Dog (1970) is to be shot in the literary brain with an adrenalin spike. The ideas and language are so fluorescent as to burn the reader’s imagination. Additionally, two are now considered classics of the genre and inform all writers of horror and SF for the past few decades. Even the titles themselves are legendary: “Repent, Harlequin! “said the Ticktockman and I have no mouth, and I must scream. Both resonate half a century later examining themes of natural justice and a hellish view of an AI dominated existence.
The output continued across the years, so much so that the later story The Man who rowed Christopher Columbus ashore was included in the anthology of Best American Short Stories of the 20th century. Always you are reminded that Ellison is using incredible craft to say something, to illuminate the human condition and there is not much more you can ask of a writer.
July 6, 2015
This was a surprising book for me. It was included with a bundle of books that I purchased from Humble Bundle. I knew nothing about Harlan Ellison, and I was struck by the range of stories that were present int he book. Many different styles, many different voices. A good book.
October 17, 2024
Obskurní texty. Harlan byl nerd, ale taky měl ostrej jazyk, odmalička četl tisíce komiksů, knih a pohyboval se okolo všeho možného (žánrově) a jeho imaginace je tak bezbřehá, jak jen může být, najetá, jak po lajně kokainu. Nebál se říkat a psát o čemkoliv s děsně nabubřelým sebevědomím a taky hodně kecat o tom, proč je to tak dobrý. Texty, co tvoří tuhle sbírku, jsou koncipované jako takové akademické 'best of', ale jak říkám, velmi obskurního charakteru. Něco z toho se dá sledovat, chápat, něco vás bude určitě i bavit.... spousta z toho ale končí v takové šedé zóně, kde sice cítíte originální námět, cítíte ambice textu, atmosféru, zápal, ale zároveň marně hledáte nějaké pravé literární kvality, nebo něco, čeho se skutečně chytit. Jde cítit takové autorské honimírství, co se snaží znít cool víc, než být cool... to psaní se mnohdy snaží momenty spíše lacině dramatizovat a efektně nastínit (a neříkám, že úplně blbě, to ne, ale stejně...), jakoby to jen "nahazuje" a pak to končí tak, že Harlan žaloval řadu lidí, že mu obšlahli námět, což byla pravda, pokud vím třeba u Cameronova Terminátora (nicméně myslím si, že jistou homage, nebo parafrázi něčí cizí myšlenky, coby v jádru fanoušci, dělají přece všichni velcí umělci, jde jen o to, jak... když jste velmi doslovní, je to špatně), ale často jsem si připadal, že z těch příběhů se dalo vykrojit tak nějak, co se mu zrovna hodilo, o čem to je. Problém bylo, že Harlan byl vždy na stráži, nachystanej, jak přítelkyně, která chce udělat partnerovi ten den prostě peklo, protože jednoduše může. Kdyby kokain byl člověk, byl by to Harlan Ellison - tak nějak se na něj dívám. Je tam toho hodně, hodně se toho děje, spád, žádný ukecaný rozepisování, což je fajn, ale chrlí se to na vás, jak kdyby se vás to o něčem skutečně snažilo přesvědčit (bro bro). V každé povídce/novele ale zároveň člověk úplně nechápe co a proč je za tím a můžou to být desítky věcí (opět, co se zrovna hodí) - ta silná nejednoznačnost a nekonzistentní povaha povídek na jednu stranu dělá knihu jaksi pestrou, na stranu druhou mi přijde, že povídky jsou často víc o atmosféře a tom, že chtějí znít cool, jakoby se autor snažil zachytit genius loci (Genius Noci, mimochodem, dobrý pivo, doporučuju), ale člověk tak nějak často neví, krčí rameny, čumí jak péro z gauče a pak si musíte najít, že podle (velikýho) Harlana je to o tom a o onom a to chvástání je v jeho případě tak nějak nekonečný, až začne být otravný. Neviděl jsem člověka, co by nikdy nedělal chyby tolik, jak Harlan, co by dokázal tolik konstantně nesouhlasit s ostatníma... současně, když se mu to ale hodilo "jsem taky jen člověk". Eee, c'mon. To psaní, protože já se nenechám chytit jen na dobrej příběh a hotovo... ale to psaní, přijde mi jako děsně uspěchaná práce, která se snaží v divokém tempu (což někdy i sedne, líbí se mi, že Harlan se s úvody nějak nejebe, to zase jo) vždycky navodit určitý, většinou scifi, nebo postapo motiv, ale vlastně jen chrlí spoustu informací, kterýma se snaží zabalit a odvést pozornost od toho, že je to vlastně častěji takový nic víc, než průměr. Naroubuje tam pár myšlenek, pár nejasných motivů, zmíní něco z minulosti, nebo nastíní pofidérní (často chmurnou) budoucnost, čím tomu dá hlubší a hutnější omáčku, ale já tak nějak skrz tenhle trik vidím, nemůžu se zbavit pocitu, že Harlan podle mě umí psát (ale jen občas) a s přihlédnutím k faktu, že byl velmi plodným autorem povídek bych řekl, že jel hodně na kvantitu a "něco se chytilo". Když se na to snažení vykašle a věnuje se něčemu, co působí vlastně dost civilně a obyčejně, vrací se k tomu, co ho ze srdce bavilo a trochu to zamíchá ('Jefftymu je pět'), dokáže to fungovat. Ta jeho hardcore filozofická scifi není úplně můj šálek kávy, prostě se, jak už jsem řekl, "moc snaží přesvědčit". Ještě to asi budu chvíli číst, ale jak jsem se postupně posledních pár dní prokousával tím "nejlepším z nejlepšího" (i podle fanouškovské obce), tak zajímavý texty určitě, nechci znít, že to zase úplně dissuju, něco z toho se mi líbilo... ale spíš mě to nebaví. Jakoby když Harlan začal používat sci-fi kulisy, křuplo mu vždycky v kukuřici a musel to mermoci prostě zaplácat co nejvíc obskurním psaním, chaos, který má zamlžit, jakoby nestačilo "být originální", ale muselo to být "zběsile pře-originální" (je to jako dojezd na LSD, když chcete jít spát a ono vám to hází sekvenci obrazů, jeden za druhým). Pak se ale nemůže divit, že adaptace jeho děl, v rukou béčkových tvůrců, nedosáhly výše a že se jim to až na pár výjimek, nepovedlo. Ale asi je hlavní problém ten, že Harlan se viděl výš, než byl, taková ta Amerika v kostce, mamutí sebevědomí spíše decentního a plodného pisálka. Nemyslím si, že si zasluhoval větší, nebo menší uznání, myslím si, že byl přesně tam, kde měl být. Chystal jsem se na Harlana dlouho. Úplně to nedopadlo. 6.8-9/10
December 6, 2023
Harlan Ellison... přiznejme si na rovinu, nepíše zrovna lehce. Ne, že by se jeho dílo vyloženě špatně četlo - ač si myslím, že někteří mohou mít problémy se zvolenou formou narativu či větnými konstrukcemi, nebo třeba s užitím opakování k navození atmosféry, případně s jistou... hm, roztříštěností, dejme tomu, některých povídek - ale kolikrát čtenář narazí na skryté proudy a některá témata a nosné myšlenky nutí k zamyšlení.
Povídky v této knize (každá z nich oceněná, některé i vícenásobně, a troufám si tvrdit, že po právu) jsou plné imaginace a nádherných obrazů, ale i násilí a vzteku a sexu, v různých kombinacích. V některých je nepředpokládaná hloubka, až si říkám, jestli je tohle opravdu aluze na něco konkrétního, nebo jestli to já jenom předpokládám. A kolikrát vám po přečtení doslova vyrazí dech - nebo spíš vám podkopnou nohy a pro jistotu vás vezmou po hlavě ocelovou trubkou.
Sbírka je žánrově značně pestrobarevná, asi tak jako samotná tvorba páně Ellisona. A sci-fi prvky jsou opravdu cizí a jiné, na což jsem upřímně dlouho nenarazila. Za mě to byla radost číst.
Můj hlubokosklon českým překladatelům.
„Kaj se, Harlekýne!“ řekl Tiktátor - 5/5
Nemám ústa a musím křičet - 4/5
Bestie, která řvala láskou v srdci světa - 3/5
Kluk a jeho pes - 4/5
Na pomezí - 4/5
Bazilišek - 5/5
Smrtorel - 4/5
Kňučení spráskaných psů - 2/5
Vydán napospas větru a vlnám poblíž ostrůvků Langerhansových; 38°54’ s.š., 77°00’13” z.d. - 3/5
Croatoan - 2/5
Jeffinovi je pět - 5/5
Počítám, jak zvon odbíjí čas - 4/5
Džin, protřepat, nemíchat - 4/5
Paladin ztracené hodiny - 5/5
S Virgilem Oddumem na východním pólu - 5/5
Měkká opička - 3/5
Eidóla - 5/5
Účel REM spánku - 5/5
Muž, který dovezl veslicí na břeh Kryštofa Kolumba - 3/5
Mefisto z onyxu - 5/5
Na slovíčko s Anúbisem - 5/5
Lidští údržbáři - 4/5
Jak zajímavé: Človíček - 3/5
Povídky v této knize (každá z nich oceněná, některé i vícenásobně, a troufám si tvrdit, že po právu) jsou plné imaginace a nádherných obrazů, ale i násilí a vzteku a sexu, v různých kombinacích. V některých je nepředpokládaná hloubka, až si říkám, jestli je tohle opravdu aluze na něco konkrétního, nebo jestli to já jenom předpokládám. A kolikrát vám po přečtení doslova vyrazí dech - nebo spíš vám podkopnou nohy a pro jistotu vás vezmou po hlavě ocelovou trubkou.
Sbírka je žánrově značně pestrobarevná, asi tak jako samotná tvorba páně Ellisona. A sci-fi prvky jsou opravdu cizí a jiné, na což jsem upřímně dlouho nenarazila. Za mě to byla radost číst.
Můj hlubokosklon českým překladatelům.
„Kaj se, Harlekýne!“ řekl Tiktátor - 5/5
Nemám ústa a musím křičet - 4/5
Bestie, která řvala láskou v srdci světa - 3/5
Kluk a jeho pes - 4/5
Na pomezí - 4/5
Bazilišek - 5/5
Smrtorel - 4/5
Kňučení spráskaných psů - 2/5
Vydán napospas větru a vlnám poblíž ostrůvků Langerhansových; 38°54’ s.š., 77°00’13” z.d. - 3/5
Croatoan - 2/5
Jeffinovi je pět - 5/5
Počítám, jak zvon odbíjí čas - 4/5
Džin, protřepat, nemíchat - 4/5
Paladin ztracené hodiny - 5/5
S Virgilem Oddumem na východním pólu - 5/5
Měkká opička - 3/5
Eidóla - 5/5
Účel REM spánku - 5/5
Muž, který dovezl veslicí na břeh Kryštofa Kolumba - 3/5
Mefisto z onyxu - 5/5
Na slovíčko s Anúbisem - 5/5
Lidští údržbáři - 4/5
Jak zajímavé: Človíček - 3/5
July 21, 2017
Um, wtf.
I might be reacting to my state of mind in 2017 (where mass shootings happen constantly in the US, government is a complete joke, and the social safety net is crumbling-- cruelty is rampant), recently losing a family member, and being a feminist.
I'm skipping around in these stories, and everything is bleak as other reviewers note and celebrate. Nothing wrong with that! The problem is that it feels gratuitous and insubstantial, and honestly NOT WELL WRITTEN. I'm not taken in by its "poetic" quality - it's masking incomplete and shoddy sci fi world-making. If you've read any of Samuel Delany's richly detailed writing, how can this compare?
But, my hugest problem is that so far the stories are like the subconscious brain-splatter of a chauvinist who just hates women. Virulently. Case in point: the story "CROATOAN" in which the main character fucks a lot of women and routinely forces them to have abortions, and then descends into a sewer underworld that is basically a metaphoric hellish vagina. Populated by weird men, and *surprise!* a race of children who want him to be their daddy. BARF
I might be reacting to my state of mind in 2017 (where mass shootings happen constantly in the US, government is a complete joke, and the social safety net is crumbling-- cruelty is rampant), recently losing a family member, and being a feminist.
I'm skipping around in these stories, and everything is bleak as other reviewers note and celebrate. Nothing wrong with that! The problem is that it feels gratuitous and insubstantial, and honestly NOT WELL WRITTEN. I'm not taken in by its "poetic" quality - it's masking incomplete and shoddy sci fi world-making. If you've read any of Samuel Delany's richly detailed writing, how can this compare?
But, my hugest problem is that so far the stories are like the subconscious brain-splatter of a chauvinist who just hates women. Virulently. Case in point: the story "CROATOAN" in which the main character fucks a lot of women and routinely forces them to have abortions, and then descends into a sewer underworld that is basically a metaphoric hellish vagina. Populated by weird men, and *surprise!* a race of children who want him to be their daddy. BARF
May 13, 2025
Ellison is recognized as one of the best, if not the best, in genre fiction, and it's clear why. In this collection, Repent Harlequin Said the Ticktockman, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, A Boy and His Dog, and Croatoan stand out as some of the best short fiction ever written, and you must read them. A few others stand out, locking you in with his powerful writing and bringing you along with the ride, like Jeffty is Five, Soft Monkey, and The Human Operators. The thing is, very few of Ellison's stories are perfect. The endings typically fall apart, and some overdeveloped concepts in the longer works can easily lose you. Many are great promising first drafts with amazing technical accomplishments, but missteps that could easily have been solved with rewrites prevent many from having a large impact.
July 4, 2023
I am not a fan of short story collections but this is an absolutely wonderful read. With the exception of the last story, all of these stories are quite interesting and bordering on brilliant. The stories and plots are quite varied. Many of them deal with science fiction, others have settings in the past. A few of them had unexpected plot twists. None of these stories repeat the same core themes or concepts. Harlan Ellison was a highly creative and entertaining writer. I am so happy to have read this.
October 6, 2024
Musel jsem dát jen za tři, protože mi to přišlo divně nevyrovnané - jsou tam klasické sf fláky (Kluk a jeho pes), jsou tam naprosté ne SF (Měkká opička), a pak jsou tam podivnosti, o kterých neumím říct nic jiného, než že to jsou podivnosti (a obešel bych se bez nich) - Bestie, která řvala..., Na pomezí, Bazilišek apod.
Řekněme to tak, že věk, ve kterém bych se poučeně tvářil, že podivnost = genialita a opěvoval ji, už nemám, takže se klidně přiznám, že ve své prostoduchosti ocením spíše povídky povídkové (Jeffinovi je pět), než experimentální. Ale YMMV.
Řekněme to tak, že věk, ve kterém bych se poučeně tvářil, že podivnost = genialita a opěvoval ji, už nemám, takže se klidně přiznám, že ve své prostoduchosti ocením spíše povídky povídkové (Jeffinovi je pět), než experimentální. Ale YMMV.
December 20, 2016
I'll start by saying that Harlan tends to be very dark. Since this was a collection of award winners, I felt compelled to finish it. Some of the stories had a unique twist to them, but they were still dark. I suspect that I won't pick up any more Ellison.
September 27, 2022
Das Buch des Jahres. Nichts toppt dieses Buch. Ich kann es wärmstens jeden da draußen empfehlen. Harlan Ellison liebt und hasst die Menschheit gleichermaßen.
Es ist für jeden etwas dabei.
Größtes Merkmal ist die Verschrobenheit der Geschichten. Man weiss nie, was einen erwartet.
Es ist für jeden etwas dabei.
Größtes Merkmal ist die Verschrobenheit der Geschichten. Man weiss nie, was einen erwartet.
February 20, 2025
An amazing collection of stories by a huge talent. The ambition on display really humbled me. Favorites include
I have no mouth and I must scream
Mefisto in Onyx
The human operators
Soft monkey
Paladin of the lost hour
Basilisk and Croatoan
I have no mouth and I must scream
Mefisto in Onyx
The human operators
Soft monkey
Paladin of the lost hour
Basilisk and Croatoan
April 25, 2022
best:
repent harlequin
i have no mouth
jeffty is five
soft monkey
the man who rowed christopher columbus ashore
chatting with anubis
repent harlequin
i have no mouth
jeffty is five
soft monkey
the man who rowed christopher columbus ashore
chatting with anubis
July 21, 2024
Some really good stories and a few I didn’t care for. I had high expectations, which is never a good thing. I may pick up a book of his in the future but it is by no means certain.
March 27, 2018
Started as 5 stars. Ended at 3 stars. It's a real shame when fantastic writing is so consistently filled with intense cruelty, sadism, and extreme violence against women in particular, which moves so far into shock value it is like "horror porn". I had enough. Damn shame, because he is a wonderful writer able to create visions of fantasy worlds like very few authors can.
Read
August 3, 2021Stupidly cruel and (sometimes) unnecessarily over 'intelectual'. I wouldn't be surprised if some stories only author knew what they are actually about.
To be fair, the stories are written quite well (I am talking mainly about how he picture the images) and there is no doubt that Ellison handling the craft well.
However, for me, it was more exhausting then rewarding reading so I am sure I don't need to read anything else from Ellison anymore, at least anytime soon.
I read Czech translation and I am giving big respect to translators!
Overall, I am giving just 2 stars, I am not trying to be objectivite, this is just my subjective point of view. I, simply, had big problem with cruelty pictured here and the over 'intellectualism'.
EDIT:
Before week, I decided to put book aside and do not read rest of it. I was really upset by something absolutely not acceptable for me, maybe it was just last drop that I was able to accept.
True is, Harlan is provocateur (he was proud of it), and he got me (probably first time I was up to to throw book out of the window :)).
Anyway, I overcome my refusal attitude by reading some of different comments here and with stories 'Mefisto in Onyx', 'Chatting with Anubis' , 'The Human Operators ' and 'How Interesting: A Tiny Man', I decided to finish it.
It was very good decision, all of them are clever and quite enjoyable and especially last of them is very actual and important, I would say.
I am taking down my stars score completely. I think it is not much possible to express the quality of this book on scale 1-5.
Some final verdict: Worth for reading but brace your self!
To be fair, the stories are written quite well (I am talking mainly about how he picture the images) and there is no doubt that Ellison handling the craft well.
However, for me, it was more exhausting then rewarding reading so I am sure I don't need to read anything else from Ellison anymore, at least anytime soon.
I read Czech translation and I am giving big respect to translators!
Overall, I am giving just 2 stars, I am not trying to be objectivite, this is just my subjective point of view. I, simply, had big problem with cruelty pictured here and the over 'intellectualism'.
EDIT:
Before week, I decided to put book aside and do not read rest of it. I was really upset by something absolutely not acceptable for me, maybe it was just last drop that I was able to accept.
True is, Harlan is provocateur (he was proud of it), and he got me (probably first time I was up to to throw book out of the window :)).
Anyway, I overcome my refusal attitude by reading some of different comments here and with stories 'Mefisto in Onyx', 'Chatting with Anubis' , 'The Human Operators ' and 'How Interesting: A Tiny Man', I decided to finish it.
It was very good decision, all of them are clever and quite enjoyable and especially last of them is very actual and important, I would say.
I am taking down my stars score completely. I think it is not much possible to express the quality of this book on scale 1-5.
Some final verdict: Worth for reading but brace your self!
August 27, 2016
The first half (or maybe two-thirds or so) of these stories were terribly depressing: the writing was fantastic, but the bleak-horror-hopelessness-crushed feel of the stories really wasn't to my taste. Several of the early ones were full of sexist themes, and a couple reached a level of darkness and despair that I found difficult or impossible to enjoy, even with the imaginativeness and creativity of the writing.
I've heard the movie Requiem for a Dream described as "the best movie I never want to see again", and many of the stories from early in this author's career were exactly like that, to me.
As the decades progressed, though, the stories grew more varied and began to draw in happiness, adventure, promise, and even humor. The writing became a bit less jolt-to-the-brain fantastic stagger gasping desert sunshine (a neat approach which I really enjoyed) but it also developed a perfect knife's-edge balance between discord, light, misery, hope, and entertainment, with creative progressions and satisfying endings.
I'd easily give the second half of this collection 5 stars on its own (and I could understand some readers feeling similarly about the first half-or-more, even if I don't).
I've heard the movie Requiem for a Dream described as "the best movie I never want to see again", and many of the stories from early in this author's career were exactly like that, to me.
As the decades progressed, though, the stories grew more varied and began to draw in happiness, adventure, promise, and even humor. The writing became a bit less jolt-to-the-brain fantastic stagger gasping desert sunshine (a neat approach which I really enjoyed) but it also developed a perfect knife's-edge balance between discord, light, misery, hope, and entertainment, with creative progressions and satisfying endings.
I'd easily give the second half of this collection 5 stars on its own (and I could understand some readers feeling similarly about the first half-or-more, even if I don't).
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