[.ca] The Essential Ellison: A 50 Year Retrospective (ISBN 1883398606)

Remarkably good:
This is an exhaustive collection packed with short fiction of very high quality. Ellison writes with authority about the shadows and their denizens. However, his stories are best digested in small doses as the disturbing and powerful prose deserves reflection. Highly recommended. The only discernible weakness to Ellison's fiction is his insistence on creating only worlds of unremitting darkness. One would hope such a talent could sprinkle some beauty into his horror.

Tour de Force Ellison Compilation:
This is simply the most thorough and compelling compilation of Ellison's works. Period. It runs the gamut of all his works, from the early days, until the date of the compilation's publication. By far, its a must have for anyone who appreciates Ellison. PERIOD.

HARLAN ELLISON speculative fiction at its best.:
This collection of stories and other items by the famous writer Harlan Ellison is NOT to be missed by his hardcore fans. Stories of great passion and emotion. So great that when they asked Asimov what he thought of Ellison's work he stated 'too emotional'. But Asimov failed to understand the genius of Ellison, who uses language like a swordsman uses his weapon: he gets to the heart of the matter and theme. There is no use giving you a summary of the plot of the stories, it would miss the point. What you need to do is experience Ellison. One of the greats.

Essential reading!:
Ellison is, continues to be one of the hardest-hitting American writers we have. He hits hard, and he pulls no punches, literary or otherwise. Go back, read some of the early stories; read his essays. And then read what he's been doing in recent years--a master whose writing instrument is tuned to the times, a powerhouse writer whose subject is nothing less than the human heart, dark as it may be.

A necessity for those who value wit, vision, & individuality:
This truly is a godsend for those folks who always heard about Ellison's work, but were thwarted upon realizing that 90% of his written output is out-of-print. This tome was long-delayed \o...\c but thankfully delivered into the eager hands of any who wish to experience the vivid freedom of HE's pen. Ellison remains the classic "angry young man" of speculative fiction, even after all these years, and this compendium harbors so many of the highlights that make him, quite possibly, America's greatest living short-story writer. There really is no way to put an exacting finger on what Ellison writes. It is certainly not your run-of-the-mill sci-fi, not cheap-shock horror, and not suspense dreck. It's thoughtful, highly engaging, sometimes allegorical, and always thought-provoking stuff that you just don't find in modern writers anymore. Almost like a prickly cross between George Orwell and Lewis Carroll. He is most certainly still ahead of his time, and will most likely require decades after his passing for the world to truly catch up to him and realize what a treasure he is. So start here if you're curious about Ellisonia, then after your appetite is whetted and your curiosity piqued, track down the stuff in its original form so you can experience all of the good stuff, not merely highlights from a superb & lengthy career. This is vital American literature.