This is one of those books that would make you stare blankly for a while after you finish reading it. I have been thinking about this book for a whole day and would probably think about this book for a long time.

I loved the off-putting vibe of the story, which gets weirder as you progress, that you start to understand why this book is a psychological thriller/horror novel. I wanted to rate this with a perfect score because of its impact on me, but I have a problem with its pacing, with some parts dragging for way too long. But I still think this is a very unique book that gave me a very unique experience.

If you're planning on reading this, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook for the full experience.

I can usually forgive old media for some of their outdated bigotry, but this one of those unforgivable ones.

Every single story, Ellison is just itching to express his hatred for women by writing this female character as a harlot or some shit. I really, really wanna enjoy his dark, sci-fi stories, which is the reason why I finally picked this book up, but it is just so hard to overlook his misogyny. It doesn't help that his writing isn't that good either. Most of the times, I feel like I am reading the ramblings of a kid. And the way I was hyped up by the introduction and foreword praising Ellison, and the author's note before every short story, only to realize this is probably nothing but his little circlejerk.

I know he said that writing one of his favorite works aas therapeutic for him when he was going through one of his many divorces but Harlan Ellison should've gone to therapy than write any of these.