Barry N. Malzberg died in a hospice in New Jersey on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at the age of 85. I’ve read Malzberg’s Science Fiction, mysteries, and horror stories since the 1960s. Malzberg wrote some of the most stunning novels and short stories in Science Fiction history!
From 1967 to 1976, Malzberg wrote at least 68 novels and seven story collections along with scores of still uncollected stories published in many magazines and anthologies.
What impressed me about Malzberg was his ability to write successfully in a variety of genres beyond SF including mystery, psychological thrillers, erotica, and Men’s action/adventure fiction. The Lone Wolf series written under the pseudonym of “Mike Barry” took readers on a 14 book thrill ride into the drug-infested world of a character on a vengeance rampage after the murder of his lover.
Malzberg wrote his last SF novel in 1983, but he continued to be a prolific writer of short stories about political assassinations, paranoia, astronauts going insane, political corruption, and horse racing for years afterward.
Stark House’s latest omnibus edition, The Last Translation/Scop is a fitting tribute to a great writer by bringing together two of Malzberg’s prime concerns: the Kennedy Assassination and the death of political trust in America.
SCOP (1976): Scop is a time traveler from 2040 on a mission to prevent the Kennedy assassination. Malzberg mixes in Abraham Zapruder who films the assassination from the Grassy Knoll in Dealey Plaza, Dallas along with Jack Ruby murdering Oswald. In addition, Scop seeks to prevent the James Earl Ray assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.. and Robert F. Kennedy being assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan.
Scop’s plans to change the Past in order to alter his Future have ominous consequences. GRADE: B
In his Introduction to The Last Transaction in this new Stark House edition, Malzberg tells the story of how the editor-in-chief of Chilton Press (publishers of Dune) was told, “Get rid of this. Presidents don’t talk or write this way…. Let him keep the advance and dump this.” Roger Elwood managed to get Pinnacle Books to publish The Last Transaction.
The Last Transaction (1977) captures the desperation of an ex-president of the United States who is attempting to complete the memoirs of his complicated life. Unfortunately, his failing physical and mental health affects his grip on reality as his ability to think clearly and act rationally diminish. The story of his presidency lurches from incident to incident: the failure of his first marriage, the death of his son, his second marriage to a far younger woman, and a national crisis). His failed reelection campaign of 1984 accelerates his decline. President William Eric Springer tries to make sense of his life which has turned into a nightmare. GRADE: B
If you’re looking for a book to engage with one of the most unique SF writers, The Last Translation/Scop is the perfect place to start.
Very interesting. I never heard of either title. Was the second one inspired by Nixon, I wonder.
By coins, I am currently reading another late Malzberg collection, COLLECTING MYSELF: Uncollected Stones.
Jeff, Malzberg was obsessed with Kennedy. Nixon, too. I enjoyed COLLECTING MYSELF and the other Stark House collections of Prozini and Malzberg.
Although he could be a difficult read at times, Malzberg could write rings around many of his peers. If there is any justice in this world, a century from now he would be recognized in the pantheon of late 20th/earl 21st century writers.
Jerry, I agree with your assessment of Malzberg. I also think his stock will rise in the years ahead.