I first read The Final War back in 1969 and In the Pocket in 1971 in their ACE Double formats. At that time, I didn’t know “K.M. O’Donnell” was a pseudonym for Barry N. Malzberg. Malzberg’s pseudonym was derived from the names of Henry Kuttner, C. L. Moore, and their joint pseudonym “Lawrence O’Donnell”.
“Final War”, which appeared in the April 1968 The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, made the Nebula final ballot and came close to winning that year’s award for Best Novelette. Given the publication date, it’s natural to assume “Final War” is a Vietnam War allegory. But, I think this story is more of a critique of War in general.
“Death to the Keeper,” “Ascension,” and “By Right of Succession” are assassination stories, a subject that comes up frequently in Malzberg’s work.
In the Pocket is a collection of a variety of Malzberg stories. I really liked “The New Rappacini”, where a man resurrects his dead wife. I found “The Falcon and the Falconeer” very odd: it’s about a Nativity play performed on an alien planet.
Malzberg has long been a critic of the SF field and this is evident in “A Question of Slant” where a Science Fiction writer turns to writing pornography because it pays better than SF. I also enjoyed two time travel stories: “July 24, 1970” and “What Time was That?”.
If you’re a Barry N. Malzberg fan, you’ll enjoy this new Stark House omnibus! If you’re looking for entertaining SF stories, they’re here in a very nice volume. GRADE: B (for both)
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION By Barry N. Malzberg — 8
The Final War and Other Fantasies
Final War — 10
Death to the Keeper –37
A Triptych — 56
How I Take Their Measure — 61
Oaten — 66
The Ascension — 73
The Major Incitement to Riot — 77
Cop-Out — 82
We’re Coming Through the Window — 90
The Market in Aliens — 93
By Right of Succession — 96
In the Pocket and Other S-F Stories
In the Pocket — 101
Gehenna — 102
Ah, Fair Uranus — 106
Notes Just Prior to the Fall — 111
As Between Generations — 116
The Falcon and the Falconeer — 127
July 24, 1970 — 130
Pacem Est — 140
The New Rappacini — 142
Bat — 147
A Question of Slant — 150
What Time Was That? — 156
A Soulsong to the Sad, Silly, Soaring Sixties — 165
Addendum — 169
The Idea — 173
Bibliography — 177
I am a big fan of Malzberg, but his short fiction is so intense, I can only take a little of it at a time.
Jerry, I agree. Malzberg’s short stories pack a wallop!
Happily, then, this double volume remains relatively slim!
Todd, I reread these Malzberg short stories in a day. I’m pretty sure I did the same thing in 1969 and 1971!
OK, that is going on my list. Just bought a book of his Uncollected Stories. Maybe when this comes out on Kindle.
Jeff, THE FINAL WAR/IN THE POCKET is a November book for Stark House. And, the Jets won!!
Yes, amazing. Maye the 80 degree temps helped.
Jeff, it’s more like late August weather, not late October weather here.
Loved Final War when I read it many years ago. I imagine it is just as devastating now, I need to read the other stories!
Scott, the new Stark House edition is just great!