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From: lasko@regina.DEC
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: RE: Yes, *H*A*R*L*A*N* *E*L*L*I*S*O*N*
Message-ID: <4106@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 3-Nov-84 02:08:38 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.4106
Posted: Sat Nov  3 02:08:38 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 3-Nov-84 22:26:21 EST
Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP
Organization: DEC Engineering Network
Lines: 27

"nasty, evil, sadistic horror?"

Nonsense.  Ellison's stories admittedly deal with the darker effects of our
actions ("Croatoan"), our inner demons ("In Fear of K"), our inner apathies
and fears ("The Whimper of Whipped Dogs", but he also talks about
how we have brought things upon ourselves ("Repent Harlequin..." and "I Have
No Mouth..." are cautionary tales).  But he can also speak of triumph
("Wanted in Surgery", "Life Hutch"), and sometimes he can even be funny.

But since even Yahweh would have spared Sodom and Gomorrah, had Lot been
able to find one worthy person, even Ellison should not be consigned to
morbidity and sadism.  Here are five of his stories that I guarantee
not to be depressing:

    "Mom" - Strange Wine  
    "From A to Z, In the Chocolate Alphabet"  -  Strange Wine
    "How's the Night Life on Cassida?"  -  Shatterday
    "Working With the Little People"  -  Strange Wine
    "Deeper than the Darkness"  -  Paingod and other Delusions

I also highly recommend The Glass Teat/The Other Glass Teat for biting,
hilarious, and thought-provoking commentary about 1968 through 1971.  And,
if you can't take full doses of Ellison, try his Partners in Wonder
collection of collaborations.

tim lasko {decvax,ihnp4,allegra,et.al.}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-regina!lasko