THE IDES OF TOMORROW: Nine Original Horror Stories of the Future

Nine stories, both original and horrible--so much so that one might wonder why they weren't pegged as adult. The opener, by the vaunted Harlan Ellison, tells, in the hyperkinetic mode and diffusely pornographic sensibility which are his trademarks, of a peculiarly grisly sort of eye transplant. Other shockers, and to us more honestly affecting ones, are George R. R. Martin's nightmare ""In the House of the Worm,"" a nasty little futurescape by Psycho author Robert Bloch, and a turn by Gene Wolfe on these behavioral science experiments where malleable subjects wax murderous. In a more austere vein, Brian Aldiss takes us to the edge of a black hole, Fritz Lieber conjures up a satiric vision of ""The Eeriest Ruined Dawn World,"" and there are creditable appearances by newcomers Cherry Wilder, Steven Utley, and Alan Brennert. Strong stuff.