Prose Bowl

by Barry N. Malzberg, Bill Pronzini

In an energetically ribald satire on the writing profession in general and hack writers in particular, Rex Sackett, known as the Metaphor Kid, claws--and types--his way to the top

180 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1980

About the author

Barry Nathaniel Malzberg was an American writer and editor, most often of science fiction and fantasy.

He had also published as:
Mike Barry (thriller/suspense)
K.M. O'Donnell (science fiction/fantasy)
Mel Johnson (adult)
Howard Lee (martial arts/TV tie-ins)
Lee W. Mason (adult)
Claudine Dumas (adult)
Francine di Natale (adult)
Gerrold Watkins (adult)
Eliot B. Reston

Reviews

[Cat. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The redeeming feature of this book is that it's a VERY fast read. It is set about 100 years after it was published (1980) when "Old-Sport" (i.e. actual sports) has been closed down and the "New-Sport" is writing prose in competition.

Yeah, interesting concept, and especially piquant for Bill Pronzini who cranks out the books like most people crank out...well, other stuff. And the "other stuff" is really what these competitors are shoveling. It's all about writing in genre as fast as possible under a time limit in front of cheering crowds in stadiums.

There's a suspense element to the book, but honestly the whole story is around the "ain't it cool, the future?" construct.

Yawn.

[L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crazy future where the most popular spectator sport is short-story writing.

If only.