Rating: 
Summary: Harlan's scalpel is as sharp as ever
Review: After his heart attack a few years ago, many were worried that Ellison might stop devoting himself so robustly to the short story. We need not have feared. Harlan had dished his lucky readers up another tray of poisoned chocolates, stories which will go down sweet and sear to the bone. While this collection is a little more uneven than the classic "Angry Candy" (which is the only reason I give it four stars rather than five), each tale is worth the reading, and some are bona-fide gems. My favorites: "The Man Who Rowed Christopher Columbus Ashore" (on the job, with a gestalt of Coyote, Loki, Feste, and Ellison himself. This one is worth the price of admission all by itself, and may well become an acknowledged masterwork on par with "The Deathbird"), "Crazy As A Soup Sandwich" (a very funny, wonderfully visual teleplay), the classic "Mefisto In Onyx" (never mind psychodrama, this is a PSYCHIC-drama! They're allegedly making a film of this one, so read the original before Hollywood starts messing), "Go Towards The Light" (the only sci-fi Channukah story I know of), and "Midnight In The Sunken Cathedral" (which should wring a tear or two from the most cynical reader). If you've never read Ellison before, this book is a fine example of the author's range, humor, anger, and real depth. If you're already a fan, rejoice! "Slippage" has the goods; just try to read it slowly, 'cause books like this should be made to last...
Rating:
Summary: Harlan's scalpel is as sharp as ever
Review: After his heart attack a few years ago, many were worried that Ellison might stop devoting himself so robustly to the short story. We need not have feared. Harlan had dished his lucky readers up another tray of poisoned chocolates, stories which will go down sweet and sear to the bone. While this collection is a little more uneven than the classic "Angry Candy" (which is the only reason I give it four stars rather than five), each tale is worth the reading, and some are bona-fide gems. My favorites: "The Man Who Rowed Christopher Columbus Ashore" (on the job, with a gestalt of Coyote, Loki, Feste, and Ellison himself. This one is worth the price of admission all by itself, and may well become an acknowledged masterwork on par with "The Deathbird"), "Crazy As A Soup Sandwich" (a very funny, wonderfully visual teleplay), the classic "Mefisto In Onyx" (never mind psychodrama, this is a PSYCHIC-drama! They're allegedly making a film of this one, so read the original before Hollywood starts messing), "Go Towards The Light" (the only sci-fi Channukah story I know of), and "Midnight In The Sunken Cathedral" (which should wring a tear or two from the most cynical reader). If you've never read Ellison before, this book is a fine example of the author's range, humor, anger, and real depth. If you're already a fan, rejoice! "Slippage" has the goods; just try to read it slowly, 'cause books like this should be made to last...
Rating: 
Summary: What can I say? It's classic Ellison...
Review: As always, Harlan Ellison presents stories in a confrontational manner, throwing his messages and his emotions at the reader. This turns many off his writing, because it does make for a disturbing reading experience. But if you LIKE thought-provoking short fiction, if you LIKE writers who speak directly to their readers, if you LIKE intelligent writing from writers who assume their readers' intellect, this book is for you. Some of the stories bear special recognition. "Mefisto In Onyx," a novella, is one of the most amazing pieces of his work I have yet seen, which says a lot. He pulls off a brilliant and satisfying ending which leaves the reader gasping and then grinning triumphantly. "Keyboard" is a disturbing piece of work, with a sort of black humor to it which is very unhinging, but very worth reading. "The Few, The Proud" is the latest in his Kyben stories, and this one is the best so far, in my opinion. "Pulling Hard Time," with its repeated refrains, holds the penal system up for inspection, and it is found to be full of cruelty and corruption. An amazing piece of work. Slippage, as a complete work, is a must-read for any Ellison fan. Though not as disturbing as, say, "I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream," many of these stories will provide extensive mental exercise.
Rating:
Summary: Like a mouth-watering dark chocolate mousse
Review: Harlan Ellison is one of the most gifted writers and eloquent speakers of our time. I first heard about this book while listening to an NPR interview of Ellison one evening. He was such an interesting speaker on radio that I just had to buy this book. Once I started reading, it pulled me in like a tornado and I couldn't put the book down until the last page was turned!Thought-provoking, soul-searching, always in-your-face is the way I describe Ellison's writing style. Normally I only manage to read halfway through a book and then lose interest. Not with Harlan Ellison. After reading this collection of short stories I ran out and ordered "Angry Candy". Shortly after that I picked up one of his mega-collections. All extremely fun reads - intelligent, humorous, and just plain entertaining. Reading "Slippages" is like dining in a five-star French restaurant where every course is an incredibly mouth-watering experience, and dessert is enough to keep your tongue moaning in ecstasy for days.
Rating: 
Summary: Same Old Ellison
Review: Harlan Ellison proves once again that his introductions are far more momentous than his short stories! Slippage has destroyed my faith in Ellison as a writer of fiction once and for all. The stories are, by turns, smarmy, self-indulgent, unfathomable, and worst of all, boring. The introductions to the stories are just the opposite: enlightening, thought-provoking and entertaining. They share an obvious reality the stories sorely lack. Nowhere is this sad dichotomy more evident than in Ellison's account of his stormy separation from the New Twilight Zone TV series. To take a do-or-die stand over the insipid, predictable piece of fiction in question proves beyond a doubt that Ellison is simply no longer in touch.
Rating:
Summary: Ellison: The Loud, Cranky Windmill Tilter
Review: I keep a copy of Slippage in my house and I take another copy on the road. "The Man Who Rowed Christopher Columbus Ashore" is, perhaps, one of the most brilliant bits of disjointed fiction since Joyce tilted several pints and scribbled his "Wake" It reflects the complex personality Ellison portrays in the media and suggests that there are new gods, but they aren't on high...they are among us. But they are flawed, emotional and sometimes indescriminate in their actions with mere mortals. The whole of "Slippage" It is cranky and angry - angrier and more cynical even than Angry Candy - but it is also passionate and pleading. In this collection of stories, Ellison just doesn't grab your left bit and squeeze til it hurts, he tears a hole into your chest and massages your heart until it works in the shape it had when you were a little kid seeing the world fresh. He knows how the world works and hates much of it, expounding on the dark beast of man in the same breath he expounds on its glory. The result of personal near-death exercises, his introduction is as Jacob Marley warning of the spirits within that will try to change our narrow-minded, shiny-object trained mentality before its too late. Read it. You need to.
Rating:
Summary: Ellison: The Loud, Cranky Windmill Tilter
Review: I keep a copy of Slippage in my house and I take another copy on the road. "The Man Who Rowed Christopher Columbus Ashore" is, perhaps, one of the most brilliant bits of disjointed fiction since Joyce tilted several pints and scribbled his "Wake" It reflects the complex personality Ellison portrays in the media and suggests that there are new gods, but they aren't on high...they are among us. But they are flawed, emotional and sometimes indescriminate in their actions with mere mortals. The whole of "Slippage" It is cranky and angry - angrier and more cynical even than Angry Candy - but it is also passionate and pleading. In this collection of stories, Ellison just doesn't grab your left bit and squeeze til it hurts, he tears a hole into your chest and massages your heart until it works in the shape it had when you were a little kid seeing the world fresh. He knows how the world works and hates much of it, expounding on the dark beast of man in the same breath he expounds on its glory. The result of personal near-death exercises, his introduction is as Jacob Marley warning of the spirits within that will try to change our narrow-minded, shiny-object trained mentality before its too late. Read it. You need to.
Rating:
Summary: Ellison is King
Review: I loved every inch of this book, and I do not doubt Harlan's claim that Jesus himself loved it. The only thing about the book that bugs me is all this attention being paid to Mefisto In Onyx. It's good, but let's not forget the opening volley of this wonderful collection. The Man Who Rowed Christopher Columbus Ashore is undoubtedly one of Ellison's greatest acheivements as a writer. It's a satire with a soul, a sad lament, a comedic riff, and a nasty attack on history, social ills, and the entire 'limited world'.
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece
Review: I've been a fan of Harlan ever since first learning of him back in the early 90s. I picked up one of his story collections....and then another, and another, until now I've read just about all of them. I truly believe that when it's all said and done, Ellison will be remembered as being one of the absolute best writers of speculative fiction that have ever lived. Note those key words: "speculative fiction". Harlan himself has mentioned before that he doesn't want to be pigeonholed into one genre (i.e. stuck with the constraining label of "science fiction writer", although much of his work would fall into the sci-fi field). And he doesn't limit himself to one genre. So I would tell you, whomever you are reading this review, to take some of the opinions of my fellow reviewers ("This book isn't sci-fi enough!!!") with a grain of salt. "Slippage" is another masterpiece by Harlan. It's one of my favorites, and I feel that some of the work here rivals some of his best. It's a beautiful work, one that touches the soul in places, particularly in "The Man Who Rowed Columbus Ashore", as well as the award-winning "Mefisto in Onyx". I strongly urge any fan of speculative fiction to pick up this book, and be welcomed into the wonderland of Ellison.
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece
Review: I've been a fan of Harlan ever since first learning of him back in the early 90s. I picked up one of his story collections....and then another, and another, until now I've read just about all of them. I truly believe that when it's all said and done, Ellison will be remembered as being one of the absolute best writers of speculative fiction that have ever lived. Note those key words: "speculative fiction". Harlan himself has mentioned before that he doesn't want to be pigeonholed into one genre (i.e. stuck with the constraining label of "science fiction writer", although much of his work would fall into the sci-fi field). And he doesn't limit himself to one genre. So I would tell you, whomever you are reading this review, to take some of the opinions of my fellow reviewers ("This book isn't sci-fi enough!!!") with a grain of salt. "Slippage" is another masterpiece by Harlan. It's one of my favorites, and I feel that some of the work here rivals some of his best. It's a beautiful work, one that touches the soul in places, particularly in "The Man Who Rowed Columbus Ashore", as well as the award-winning "Mefisto in Onyx". I strongly urge any fan of speculative fiction to pick up this book, and be welcomed into the wonderland of Ellison.
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