This is Harlan Ellison’s most well-known book (outside his two Dangerous Visions anthologies, which he edited but did not write). He sets it up with an outstanding introduction citing his belief that all gods exist, but once their followers stop believing they die. These stories are offered as examinations of the new gods of contemporary society, such as the god of Urban Streets, the god of Slots, the god of Neon, the Machine God, and the Paingod.
This volume is often cited as an exemplary example of a theme-based anthology. The individual stories vary in tone and subject matter, but they all serve the primary theme in some way. Several of the stories are repeats from earlier Ellison collections.
Personally, I found this collection to be hit or miss--with more misses than hits. The experimental and stylistic excesses of the New Wave movement in the 1970's have not aged well. Plus, there are too many stories written for shock value, examples of outrage only for the sake of being outrageous.
Here are the individual story reviews, in order from most- to least-liked:
“The Whimper of Whipped Dogs”—Thirty-seven people in an apartment building watch a women get stabbed to death and do nothing to stop it. Based on a real-life incident, this haunting and poetic story won an Edgar Award and is one of the best of Ellison’s career.
"The Deathbird"--Ellison rewrites the third chapter of Genesis--and in fact all of human history--from the point of view the Snake was a member of an alien race trying to protect Earth, and God is a insane alien who views the human race as His playthings. The main narrative combines elements of fantasy, Jewish mythology, and religion. There are also compelling digressions, a flashback to the death of the main character's mother and also the death of the narrator's beloved dog. This is an experiment in surrealism, but unlike some other stories in this volume, it remains lucid and compelling all the way through. Won a 1974 Hugo Award.
“Along the Scenic Route”—Drivers are legally allowed to duel to the death on America’s highways. Think Death Race 2000.
"Pretty Maggie Moneyeyes" -- Oddly enough, when I first read it several years ago, I did not like this story about gambling and lost love. Upon rereading it here, I thought it was masterful, especially the last sentence: Some of these old games go way back.
"Adrift Just Off the Islets of Langerhans: Latitude 38O 54' N, Longitude 77O 00' 13" W" -- Here is more magical realism, a genre mashup novelette with time travelers and a Fantastic Voyage odyssey through the body of a werewolf. It was engaging, if unexpected. I learned after I finished, some of the characters were actually borrowed from the writings of Theodore Sturgeon as well as the original film versions of The Wolf Man and Frankenstein. Won a Hugo Award in 1975.
"Shattered Like a Glass Goblin"--This dated story of hippies living in a commune might be labeled magical realism, or maybe it's just Ellison writing from a point of view character inside a drug trip. This is another story I enjoyed re-reading even though I did not like it originally.
"Neon" -- A man is given mechanical implants after an accident leaves him near death. Otherworldly beings call to him via electronic messages and neon billboards. A comedic take on the idea of angels.
"Ernest and the Machine God"--A woman with a near-supernatural power to manipulate men requests help from a young, awkward car mechanic who just happens to be a prophet of the Machine God. An entertaining, unpretentious story.
"Paingod"--The story of a minor deity whose job is to bring pain to life forms across the universe. It’s a fun concept, but it feels under-developed.
"The Basilisk"--A Vietnam vet becomes an emissary for Mars, the god of war, after a visit from a mythological death-breathing basilisk lizard.
"Rock God"--A horror story wherein the god of Stonehenge, who derives his essence from the crust of the earth, has been sleeping for thousands of years. When he awakens in New York City, he finds that city of steel and skyscrapers expands his power immensely.
"Corpses"--America's obsession with cars has created a new, young, jealous god that does not tolerate unbelief
"The Face of Helene Bournouw"--The world's most desirable woman spends an afternoon spreading misery in the name of the Old Testament god Ba'al. She dumps a lover, causing him to commit suicide; she destroys a young artists' confidence in his work; she indulges a priest in a repressed pedophilia fantasy. This is a promising concept for a story, but it is marred by purple prose.
“On the Downward Side”—An overwrought New Orleans ghost story about spirits trapped in Limbo. I think Ellison is trying to say something about the fragility of relationships and the difficulties of communication. I cannot get past the silly unicorn character. Enough said.
"Bleeding Stones"--The gargoyles atop St. Paul's Cathedral are brought to life thanks to the mix of heady chemicals in the polluted atmosphere, and they proceed to wreak carnage on a group of Christians in the courtyard below. Includes a needlessly offensive scene of a nun being sexually assaulted by a gargoyle. Ellison says in his introductory comments this is meant to be funny, but it comes across as simply vehement.
“Ye of Little Faith” – A man who does not give his girlfriend a reason to believe in their relationship finds himself exiled to a magical world where gods flounder once their believers fall away. An utterly forgettable attempt (I read the whole story with no hint of recognition, even though I realized afterwards I must have read it before, because it is included in another book I finished a few years ago.)
"At the Mouse Circus"-- The King of Tibet has sex with a large white women; he drives to Ohio where he learns at a dinner party how the dinosaurs really died; he goes home with a witch only to find he is impotent. This story is 100% surrealism, complete with references to Wonderland and Mickey Mouse . It does not make any sense, and I am not sure it is supposed to.
"Delusions of a Dragon Slayer"--A man dies in a freak accident but awakes in a surrealistic fantasy world; he can gain entrance to the Heaven of his dreams if he can live up to his own beliefs and ethics. An experimental piece of writing that fails both as adventure and philosophy.
"The Place with No Name"--This story begins with a junkie committing a murder, then he is magically transported to a jungle world where he seeks the god Prometheus bound still to his boulder. The story makes no sense and seems to have been written solely to present Jesus at the conclusion as an alien with a homosexual lover.
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Craig
Some great stories, but the collection as a whole is hit or miss. The excesses of the New Wave movement have not aged well.
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