For a fifty-plus year old novella, Run for the Stars still packs quite a punch and serves to demonstrate why Harlan Ellison is such an enduring author. The idea of taking a no account loser junkie and elevating him to Hero of the Story status, and making us, the reader / listener, actually care about him, is a twist that helps underscore Ellison’s skills as a story teller. It has been done in other stories, but not this effectively. This particular recording is narrated by Ellison and his narration style also deserves high praise for giving appropriate voices to the characters that only adds another level of enjoyment to the story.

The high level of action and the description of the aliens clearly marks this story as coming from the pulp fiction sci-fi genre. I’d class this story as a must have for devotees of this style. If you like your alien encounters more cerebral, you will be put off by this offering. Action / Adventure fans seeking to broaden their reading horizons may appreciate this as well. I’m going a full five stars for this, despite the story being dated. The overall impact is that great! ( )