I have very little to add to what J-Sun has said, except to say Jeffty Is Five is a very great story, and Ellison is an excellent writer. I wouldn't class him as misanthropic - I think he hates sytems, but often recognises systems are made up of people, and rules/rooms/circuits invented by people, all designed to enslave or corrupt other people; and many of his stories seem to be a genuine protest, in the manner of I have no mouth...
He reminds me of Bob Dylan (who is also short
).