Larry S. (vinkle) reviewed The Passage of the Light: The Recursive Science Fiction of Barry N. Malzberg on + 19 more book reviews
Includes three complete novels and several short stories. All of them are about science fiction. The best of the novels is "Herovit's World" a hilarious & brutal dark comedy about a hack science fiction writer. The best of the short stories is "Galaxies" which is another very funny dark comedy and is Malzberg's fictional critique of science fiction.
Not included is the expanded novel length version of "Galaxies." The decision to include the short story version instead of the later expanded novel version must have been a hard one. I think it works best as a short story as that is the right length for the piece. But the novel version does include some inspired scenes which are not in the short story version.
The remaining short fiction is all very good.
The other two novels included were both early works written under the K. M. O'Donnell pseudonym. They are mid-level works, not up to par with Malzberg at his best.
This special collection is now out of print as are, sadly, the majority of Mr. Malzberg's works.
Hopefully the upcoming film version of "Beyond Apollo" will revitalize interest in his work.
Not included is the expanded novel length version of "Galaxies." The decision to include the short story version instead of the later expanded novel version must have been a hard one. I think it works best as a short story as that is the right length for the piece. But the novel version does include some inspired scenes which are not in the short story version.
The remaining short fiction is all very good.
The other two novels included were both early works written under the K. M. O'Donnell pseudonym. They are mid-level works, not up to par with Malzberg at his best.
This special collection is now out of print as are, sadly, the majority of Mr. Malzberg's works.
Hopefully the upcoming film version of "Beyond Apollo" will revitalize interest in his work.
