Title: A Formidable Piece of Prose
Review: This Faustian work, written in the form of Sacchetti's diary, plumbs the depths of the darkest side of human capability. Still, in the end, it is a message of hope and faith in the human will. Not for all, it will cause all to question where they fall on this scale, and many will find themselves changed by the reading experience. Inspired, at least in part, by Daniel Keyes "Flowers for Algernon", it shares the sense of fatalism leading to inevitable conclusions we do not desire. This is not to say it is not a true piece of art, fully capable of standing alone on it's merit. Disch, like Sturgeon, has long been undervalued by the SF community as a whole. Here you see Disch at the top of his craft, with something to say and a unique, unforgettable way of expressing it.I believe many readers will identify with the central tenet of this book, that being that we all share a human condition, and there is no cure.Short and sweet, worth the read, and you'll end it all too soon.
Is this product review negative?