The always interesting Mr. Gaiman talks about the Big Time over at The Library of America, and fascination it is too…

The Big Time is a remarkably sophisticated story, unusual for science fiction of its time period. It is Leiber’s most successful science fiction novel: it contains many of Leiber’s pet themes—Shakespeare and the theater, alternate identities, alcoholism and sadomasochism, Germany and Time. It’s funny, smart, and resonant, playing out huge themes on a tiny stage, and it demands a great deal of its readers, so it’s no surprise that it was rewarded with the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1958, nor that, over fifty years later, it remains relatively unknown.”