Approaching Oblivion: Road Signs on the Treadmill Toward Tomorrow (1974)

*note to self.copy from Al.

Harlan is an incredible writer, and I'd put his non-fiction up against anyone who's ever written non-fiction. With that being said, I'm usually hit or miss with the short story collections. Some of his stuff has such an effect on me that I'm almost afraid to read them again, simply because I can remember the feelings they brought forth, or the things they made me feel. Or remember. Harlan is great about making me remember things I've carefully buried away. But some of his stories make me want to skip ahead to the next, hoping that one is one of those stories. Approaching Oblivion is one of those collections.

After seeing a documentary film about kind of cuckoo firebrand author, Harlan Ellison, called "Dreams with Sharp Teeth," I wanted to read his autobiographical short story of a fraught childhood in northeastern Ohio, since I share that kind of background. The story is called "One Life Furnished in Early Povery" and is contained within "Approaching Oblibivion." "...Oblivion" was not easy to locate. Several copies that New York & Brooklyn Public Libraries had were listed as 'missing' and the other few that had not been stolen were constantly checked out. It is also out of print, so it's not so easy to buy a copy, either. When I did finally get my hands on a copy, I enjoyed the story. It qualifies as science fiction in that the narrator has arrived back at his childhood via time travel. The spring semester 09 was starting, so I did not have time to read many more stories besides "One Life.." but from what I understand, it is atypical of his work, being light on the classic sci-fi elements. ( )

Harlan Ellison is one bitter guy - or so this collection makes it seem. But we can't get enough of him, can we? Ellison shocks and intrigues with this dark and cynical collection. A worthy read for those who like to wince and shake their heads with dubious wonder while they think. ( )

Ellison opines this book would not have happened if he didn't get beaten up at school as a runt so much. In the intro he also recounts a pretty calm, well-mannered and horrifying missive he received that yes the Kent State students should have been shot, and if not that, executed. Scary.

Other than that, a pretty average collection except for the first couple, at 3.14.

Approaching Oblivion : Knox - Harlan Ellison
Approaching Oblivion : Cold Friend - Harlan Ellison
Approaching Oblivion : Kiss of Fire - Harlan Ellison
Approaching Oblivion : Paulie Charmed the Sleeping Woman - Harlan Ellison
Approaching Oblivion : I'm Looking for Kadak - Harlan Ellison
Approaching Oblivion : Silent in Gehenna - Harlan Ellison
Approaching Oblivion : Erotophobia - Harlan Ellison
Approaching Oblivion : One Life Furnished in Early Poverty - Harlan Ellison
Approaching Oblivion : Ecowareness - Harlan Ellison
Approaching Oblivion : Catman - Harlan Ellison
Approaching Oblivion : Hindsight 480 Seconds - Harlan Ellison

Conditioned man kill.

4 out of 5

Last man thinks pizza beats girlie love.

3.5 out of 5

Designer death story.

3 out of 5

Muso ghosts.

3 out of 5

Alien observances.

2.5 out of 5

Academic freedom Joe Bob rebellion.

3 out of 5

Too much love.

3.5 out of 5

Kid house had to go back.

3.5 out of 5

Earth spit dummy.

2 out of 5

Animal thieftaker shagged.

3.5 out of 5

Earth poet smash.

3 out of 5

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2008/12/approaching-oblivion-harlan-ellison.html ( )