Harlan Ellison was a prominent literary, sci-fi (but don’t use that term! call it speculative fiction!) figure in my formative reading years. I met him at conventions and book signings many times (the first time in 1976) and always enjoyed his wit, intelligence, and fervor when he railed against something … and he always railed against something.
The same (wit, intelligence, fervor) could be said about his writing which is why his best work still resonates and deserves to be in print and reaching new (and old) audiences. I was quite sure I’d read everything Harlan had ever written (and I’m currently rereading everything I’ve got on my shelf by Ellison) but it was nice to revisit some of these great works. Some I didn’t appreciate as much when I was in my teens and early 20’s as I do now.
The works included here really stretch the length of Ellison’s career – from 1966 to 2010 – (though he was writing before and after these dates) showing that he was at the top of his game for nearly half a century.
The early works here are those that I introduced me to Ellison: “‘Repent, Harlequin,’ Said the Ticktockman,” “I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream,” “The Beast That Shouted Love From the heart of the World,” and “Pretty Maggie Moneyeyes,” but I discovered them a bit later. It was those stories in the 70’s that really hooked me when I got to read them in magazines before they were collected into books: “Jeffty Is Five,” “The Deathbird”, “From A to Z, in the Chocolate Alphabet”.
This is a great collection, which I hope will connect new readers to Ellison’s work, because it deserves to be seen, but honestly, I’m not sure how this is different from The Essential Ellison which is on my bookshelf, or Edgeworks: The Collected Ellison (which is also on my bookshelf) – other than that this has two other literary giants, J. Michael Straczynski and Neil Gaiman behind it (Straczynski as editor and Gaiman providing a Foreword). And of course a new book will hit the bookshelves, whereas Ellison’s backlist is relegated to used bookstores and websites.
While the jacket cover isn’t something from the Leo and Diane Dillon catalog (Ellison’s favorites, I believe), the art by Max Loeffler is definitely eye-catching.
This book contains the following:
Foreword – Neil Gaiman
Introduction – Cassandra Khaw
ANGRY GODS
“”Repent Harlequin,” Said the Ticktockman”
“I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream”
The Deathbird”
Chatting With Anubis”
“The Whimper of Whipped Dogs”
LOST SOULS
“Jeffty is Five”
“Pretty Maggie Moneyeyes”
“Shatterday”
“Mefisto in Onyx”
“On the Downhill Side”
THE PASSAGE OF TIME
“Paladin of the Lost Hour”
“The Beast That Shouted Love at the heart of the World”
“I’m Looking For Kadak”
“How Interesting: A Tiny Man”
THE LIGHTER SIDE
“Djinn, No Chaser”
“How’s The Night Life on Cissalda?”
“From A to Z, in the Chocolate Alphabet”
“Eidolons”
THE LAST WORD
“All the Lies That Are My Life”
Looking for a good book? Greatest Hits by Harlan Ellison is a must-read for anyone who hasn’t already experienced Harlan Ellison.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
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Greatest Hits
author: Harlan Ellison
editor: J. Michael Straczynski
publisher: Union Square & Co.
ISBN: 9781454953371
paperback, 496 pages
Looking For a Good Book 
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