ISBN 10: 0394481410 

Description (original jacket copy)

Jonathan Herovit is a novelist. Jonathan Herovit is an extraordinary prolific novelist. Under his pen name Kirk Poland (who Jonathan conceives to be a neat, graceful little guy with terrific hands), he has produced and sold ninety-two science fiction novels. Now he is trying to produce his ninety-third. He is having a little trouble. 

       Jonathan Herovit's novel are a paperback series about Mack Miller and his wonderful inter-galactic, super-cosmic Survey Team. Mack (who Jonathan conceives to be a neat, graceful big guy with terrific hands) and the survey team are Terranizing the galaxies -- and high time, he believes.

       Would that Herovit could bring Mack Miller somewhat down to earth and put the Survey Team to work on his own problems. Herovit is thirty-seven years old. He lives in an overpriced apartment in a dangerous section of New York City. His marriage is falling apart. His infant daughter does not understand him too well either. He makes six thousand dollars a year in the good years and now he has been seized by a massive attack of writer's block. 

      Fortunately, two people appear to offer Herovit their help. One is his old science fiction writing friend Mitchell Wilk, who would like to help Jonathan break into the academic circuit. The other is Kirk Poland, who has been quietly watching Herovit muck up  his life (and Kirk's) for lo these many years and now would like to take over the living quarters as well as the writings.

       Mack Miller would also like to be heard from. 

       More and more as he edges forty--now thirty-seven, nothing quite as it sued to be biologically and otherwise--Herovit feels like a main character in one of this old serials for Tremendous Stories. Events press upon him; utterly alien and bizarre forces impinge. His grip, like that of his character Mack Miller, is loosening through too many bad episodes. Eventually Herovit gives up and allows Mack Miller to take over. What will happen to Herovit's world with Mack directing? 

Barry N. Malzberg (1939 - 2024) was born in New York City and received an A.B. degree from Syracuse University, where he was subsequently a Shubert Playwriting Fellow. He has published a number of novels, and his work has appeared in most of the major magazines and anthologies in the field of science fiction. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and two children. 

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