Angry Candy

Angry Candy is a 1988 collection of seventeen short stories by Harlan Ellison that centers on themes of death and loss. The collection takes its name from an E.E. Cummings poem and features several award-winning works, including the Hugo Award-winning "Paladin of the Lost Hour" and the Edgar Award-winning "Soft Monkey." The stories range from science fiction to horror to contemporary fiction, with settings that span from everyday urban environments to fantastical otherworlds. Three of the included works - "Eidolons," "Paladin of the Lost Hour," and "Soft Monkey" - earned major literary awards, while the collection itself won the World Fantasy Award. This anthology explores mortality, grief, and human relationships through various narrative approaches and genres. The stories examine how people confront death and process loss, while questioning the nature of existence and memory.

Readers note this collection contains some of Ellison's most personal and emotionally raw stories, with many written after deaths of close friends. The mood ranges from rage to grief to dark humor. Readers appreciated: - The story "Paladin of the Lost Hour" for its depth and humanity - The experimental styles and structures - How the collection processes loss and mortality - The blend of fantasy and contemporary settings Common criticisms: - Several stories feel dated in their cultural references - The angry tone becomes exhausting for some readers - A few stories come across as self-indulgent Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (40+ ratings) "The stories punch you in the gut and make you think," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. Another noted: "This collection shows Ellison at his most vulnerable and human." Several readers called "Paladin" one of the finest stories Ellison ever wrote, though some found other entries in the collection uneven.

Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang Collections of thought-provoking short stories that blend science fiction concepts with deep human experiences and loss.

Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link Short stories that mix everyday reality with supernatural elements while exploring themes of death and human connections.

Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman Dark fantasy and horror short stories that examine mortality and the human condition through supernatural lenses.

The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter Gothic retellings that transform familiar tales into explorations of death, power, and human nature.

Tenth of December by George Saunders Short story collection that combines experimental narrative styles with examinations of mortality and human relationships.

🔸 The story "Paladin of the Lost Hour" from this collection was adapted into an episode of The Twilight Zone in 1985, starring Danny Kaye in his final acting role. 🔸 Harlan Ellison wrote many of these stories while grieving the deaths of several close friends, including actor Richard Deacon and author Avram Davidson. 🔸 The title "Angry Candy" comes from E.E. Cummings' poem "suppose" which includes the line "nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands" - a meditation on love and loss. 🔸 The collection won the 1989 World Fantasy Award for Best Collection and contains multiple award-winning individual stories. 🔸 While writing this book, Ellison maintained a practice of placing a different object on his desk each day to serve as creative inspiration, including a pocket watch that inspired "Paladin of the Lost Hour."