Joanna Russ’ review of The Dark Symphony in the February 1971 issue of Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (p68) was not a positive one:

“…a silly, ritualistic adventure story of a Rebellious Hero in Repressive Society.

“…It will probably be morally corrupting to adolescents who take it seriously but it a so stripped-down an example of its kind that I can’t imagine anyone taking it seriously.

“…it’s unabashed trash and will do to prop up a table leg”

This review was mentioned in The Nasty Quote Book by Colin Jarman, Gramercy, 2001, p273
”Dean Koontz (b1945)
The Dark Symphony (1970) – It’s unabashed trash and will do to prop up a table leg. Joanna Russ, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (1971).”

A review of Hell’s Gate and The Dark Symphony (which mentions the Beastchild novella) by Yale Edeiken appears on pages 26-27 of the fanzine Canticles From Labowitz #7 (1971)

There is a review of The Dark Symphony in Richard E. Geis’ fanzine Science Fiction Review #39. Issue #40 includes a letter from John J. Pierce regarding that review.

The following paragraph appears on page 176 of Sharing by Richard Young (Barbizon Books, BB-502, 1973):
“They all arrived at Gracie and Denny’s large house at seven, and by eight-thirty everyone was chattering animatedly in the romantic light about law and rock music and art and science fiction (and wasn’t The Dark Symphony a really strange science fiction novel?) and painting portraits and the problems involved. . .”

Sharing was later republished as Gracie’s Busy Week by Henry Panzer and contains the same text. Shown right is the reprint edition of that title with a blurred cover due to the adult content of the cover photograph.

Sharing has also been released under the following titles/authors:

• Share the Warm Flesh, Gracie Amber, Cameo 8054, 1970
• Gracie’s Busy Week, Henry Panzer, Copenhagen, D-601, 1974
• Gracie’s Busy Week, Henry Panzer, Danish, TP-18, 1974
• Share the Warm Flesh, Jeff Michaels, Gourmet Editions, GED-138, 1982