House of Stairs by William Sleator probably has one of the most distinctive settings in literature: a literal "house of stairs",that stretches on endlessly without any walls, ceilings, floors, or even banisters to be found. Sleator excels at seamlessly integrating the basics of psychology (conditioning, desensitizing, etc.) into a work of fiction, while still portraying his characters as complex human beings, not just test subjects. The novel's pacing is brisk, while still allowing the reader time to contemplate the character's downward spiral into an aggressive, animalistic dog-eat-dog mentality. A chilling read.
For an even longer review, check out my blog: http://librarbie.blogspot.com/2013/12/house-of-stairs-by-william-sleator-nice.html
For an even longer review, check out my blog: http://librarbie.blogspot.com/2013/12/house-of-stairs-by-william-sleator-nice.html
