A Talent for the Invisible

Jake Conger/Wild Talents Division #1

by Ron Goulart

"Wake up, wake up! The sandman is coming!" A fun read.

In 2020 A.D. even 20-20 vision wouldn't help you to see Jack Conger when he was working. Because Jack was an operative of the Wild Talents Division of the U.S. Remedial Functions Agency -- and his particular specialty was making himself invisible. The RFA sent him where nobody else was able to go. Another one whom nobody was able to set eyes upon was the scientist known as the Sandman. The legendary sandman of childhood myth used to put people to sleep. This one woke them up -- much to the chagrin of governments and plotters who had assassinated them. So they sent the Invisible Man to find the Unseen Resurrectionist....

Genres: Science Fiction, Humor

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Pseudonyms: Howard Lee; Frank S Shawn; Kenneth Robeson; Con Steffanson; Josephine Kains; Joseph Silva; William Shatner.
Ron Goulart is a cultural historian and novelist. Besides writing extensively about pulp fiction—including the seminal Cheap Thrills: An Informal History of Pulp Magazines (1972)—Goulart has written for the pulps since 1952, when the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction published his first story, a sci-fi parody of letters to the editor. Since then he has written dozens of novels and countless short stories, spanning genres and using a variety of pennames, including Kenneth Robeson, Joseph Silva, and Con Steffanson. In the 1990s, he became the ghostwriter for William Shatner’s popular TekWar novels. Goulart’s After Things Fell Apart (1970) is the only science-fiction novel to ever win an Edgar Award.

In the 1970s Goulart wrote novels starring series characters like Flash Gordon and the Phantom, and in 1980 he published Hail Hibbler, a comic sci-fi novel that began the Odd Jobs, Inc. series. Goulart has also written several comic mystery series, including six books starring Groucho Marx. Having written for comic books, Goulart produced several histories of the art form, including the Comic Book Encyclopedia (2004).

Reviews

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

DAW Collectors #37

Cover Artist: Jack Gaughan

Goulart, Ronald Joseph (Birthdate: 13 January 1933)

Alternate Names: Carston Bingham, Lee Falk, Kenneth Robeson, Frank S. Shawn, Joseph Silva, Con Steffanson

In 2020 A. D. even 20/20 vision wouldn't help you to see Jack Conger when he was working. Because Jack was an operative of the "Wild Talents" Division of the U. S. remedial Functions Agency - and his particular specialty was making himself invisible. The RFA sent him where nobody else was able to go. Another one whom nobody was able to set eyes upon was the scientist known as the Sandman. The legenday sandman of childhood myth used to put people to sleep. This one work them up - much to the chagrin of the governments and plotters who had assassinated them. So they sent the Invisible Man to find the Unseen Insurrectionist...and the result is a breathless Ron Goulart pursuit novel across a wacky, wonder-filled future world."

I have a warm spot in my heart for Ron Goulart.

Ron Goulart has been a professional author for several decades and has over 180 books to his credit, including more than 50 science fiction novels and 20 some mystery novels. He's twice been nominated for an Edgar Award and is considered one of the country's leading authorities on comic books and comic strips. His latest book on comics, Comic Book Culture, was published in May 2000. Ron lives with his wife Frances, also a writer, in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

It is widely known that Goulart ghost wrote the "TekWar" series of books credited to the actor William Shatner (Shatner is said to have written the outlines for the books). He has also ghosted novels featuring the Phantom, Flash Gordon and the pulp character the Avenger.

He also authored the 'Vampirella' novels:

Bloodstalk (1975)
On Alien Wings (1975)
Deadwalk (1976)
Blood Wedding (1976)
Deathgame (1976)
Snakegod (1976)
Vampirella (1976)

And the Groucho Marx 'detective' books
Groucho Marx, Master Detective (1998)
Groucho Marx, Private Eye (1999)
Elementary, My Dear Groucho (1999)
Groucho Marx and the Broadway Murders (2001)
Groucho Marx, Secret Agent (2002)
Groucho Marx, King of the Jungle (2005)

[Tomislav · Rating 1 out of 5]

Low numbered DAW paperbacks books, from the 1970s, have become somewhat collectable, and so I bought this short novel at a nearby used bookstore recently. It’s #37. The main character is Jake Conger, a semi-retired agent of the Wild Talent Division (WTD) of the US Remedial Functions Agency (RFA), who is called back into service. He has been invisibility-trained, and so will be useful in apprehending the Sandman, who is illicitly bringing recently killed people back to life. In his mission, Conger is aided and opposed by a variety of screwballs, plus one dark-haired lovely girl from the National Security Organization (NSO). He needs to do little actual investigation, as the dark-haired lovely girl keeps giving him important clues, for no good reason other than she likes him. I can tell the story is intended to be humorous, but it is humor rooted in juvenile and offensive incongruities, such as a robot Mexican that swears in French, a blonde travel agent with upturned synthetic breasts who offers to sleep with customers while they wait for teleport, and “Negro mammy model” cleanup androids. The book may be collectable, so just put it in a vinyl bag and don’t bother reading it.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Talent for the Invisible was the first of many short and humorous science fiction novels that Goulart wrote for DAW Books. Set in the far-future world of 2020, it's the first book in Goulart's Wild Talents series and features agent Jake Conger, who possesses the titular talent. Jake is sent to investigate The Sandman, a mastermind who seems to be resurrecting individuals that the bureaucratic government would rather stay deceased. The laconic Conger exemplifies Goulart's talent for clever wit and dry absurdist humor. There are some attitudes that don't conform with the current level of accepted correctness, but it's a fast and funny romp.

[Sean Randall · Rating 2 out of 5]

pulp, ticklishly amusing in spots. Wierd, in others. But the 70s were a long time ago.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am very glad I discovered this author. His writing is very humorous and the plot moves fast. The future world he depicts is a little sad (with everything robotic) but he paints it in a light tone.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A whimsical romp in which an invisible agent for the US government (in the far future world of 2020—this was written in the 1970s) hunts down a mysterious scientist resurrecting people the US wants assassinated. Never quite as clever as its premise (probably only 2.5 stars) and the female agent in the story has no purpose other than to be the love interest.

[SciFiOne · Rating 3 out of 5]

1980 grade C

[Tentatively, Convenience · Rating 3 out of 5]

See my reviews of "Wildsmith".