Firstoff, I have no previous familiarity with Ellison and this was my introduction to him (besides knowing he wrote an episode of Star Trek). I generally liked "Repent", most of all for the writing style. The jelly bean paragraph is really quite spectacular. I also enjoyed some of the parallels that were drawn in the text (for example: the Ticktockman purrs, as does the fatbox that hands down his messages). However, I don't think the anti-regimentation message is terribly engaging. I found myself wondering more about the implications and mechanics of the cardioplate system than anything. Surely, random errors occur in this society. Things must break down or glitch out sometimes, or maybe they're interrupted by the Harlequin. So, what happens if you're late because of something out of your control? Do you still get time docked? Is there a review committee to determine extenuating circumstances? Can you appeal?
I can relate with your roadblock about the surrealty of the world that is presented. It's one of the weaknesses of the style. How the hell does X work if yadda yadda... But the point is not so much the believability of the World, as the author would have it; it's all a parable-scape to explore the topic at hand. The topic at hand seems to be the incessant rage for the world that does not understand Ellison's own eccentricities. If there's one thing I've learned from 20-or-so scificlubs, it's that there's a range of certain aspects that determine how we respond to literature. One such aspect is the willful suspension of disbelief. A generous willful suspension of disbelief will not poke at faults in Repent, but a strict one will reject it completely. I think there's a limited number of dimensions on which can describe our tastes in literature and predict it effectively (willful suspension of disbelief being one. Prosaity, for example, could be another). I'd like to develop an idea of these dimensions as the club progresses.
Yep, I think you've diagnosed my perspective pretty accurately. I understand that the World in this case is just a vehicle, but I've always been a stickler for detail. I wouldn't say I reject the World in this case, but I certainly am curious about how it works. It shouldn't come as a surprise that I found the level of detail in Red Mars quite satisfying when I read it.