Children of the Streets, Ellison. Yes. After reading a bunch of early and less-known Zelazny, it has been interesting to read this early and somewhat less known Ellison. In both cases, the writer’s strong voice preceded the truly great writing. This is clearly early Ellison, both of a different time, and from a less-practiced writer: the seams are laid out for inspection, the prose ultraviolet. Not to say that Ellison’s prose has moved very far down the spectrum over the years, but it has definitely modulated a bit.
As an example of what I’m chalking up to inexperience, the narrator in the opening story (“No Way Out”) is distractingly omniscient. There’s no need to wonder what’s going on in a character’s head; no sooner has a character appeared in the story than the narrator lets us know thoughts, fears, hopes, and motivations.
Still, withal, compelling story-telling.