not an objective review

Harlan Ellison's brilliant and passionate performance performance of the audiobook (not narration, performance) made the whole experience of reading this book that much more powerful.

(If you prefer a neutral, literal voice, this audiobook is absolutely not for you. But if you think you might enjoy a more dramatic version, without any terrible sound effects but with some incredible character voice work - oh my god this was so good, I am currently hunting down an affordable copy of the wretched 15-year-old CD as you read this.)

I can't decide if I'm more ecstatic over how toweringly fantastic this was or upset that I'm only just reading it middle-aged. Deft, subtle and powerful, this book fed things in me that I didn't realize were crabbed and starving.

If I tell you that in the past YA novels were created with the same level of craft as adult ones, this is probably one of the first places I'll point you. It is SO GOOD, please consider nudging a teenager you know toward it if you aren't convinced it's worth your time. (Please find a copy with an afterword if you're concerned about the ramifications of the book being 60-odd years old; the author covers those, promise.)