Out of Sync

by Isidore Haiblum

The troubleshooting low-life detective, James Morgan, finds that the peaceful metropolis of Central City has become infested with deadly space-age snakes

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

A quintessential New Yorker, Isidore Haiblum grew up a Yiddish-speaker in a home that was filled with music, books and the sounds of Eastern European languages.

As a young man, Izzy, as he was known to his friends, showed the sharp intellect, boundless curiosity and vivid wit that characterized him as a person and as a writer. He delved into politics and was a champion of civil rights and social justice. He also developed a lifetime passion for music.

At City College of New York, he earned an honors degree for his knowledge of English literature and Yiddish, as well as his gifts as a writer. Despite an affinity for teaching, he chose the more difficult path of becoming an independent author. His 18 published novels carry the unmistakable mark of his quirky sense of humor and fine-tuned ear for languages. They also reflect his love for New York City and the miles walked as he worked out plots. His books have been translated into eight languages.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back when I read more science fiction than I do now, it was always a delight to find a book by Haiblum. This story, however, is almost too inventive. A Damon Runyonesque troubleshooter who's hoping his investment in (legal) gambling palaces will buy his retirement must go to work when seemingly invisible figures start to rob--and almost bankrupt--some of the gambling dens. What fascinated me was seeing how much a keen observer in 1990 could predict about a future a bit further afield than our present. Legalized gambling, check. Automated cars, coming. Internet--missed it completely!

[Luís Baixinho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um livro que começa de forma muito interessante onde o factor policial está bem presente (além da FC). A aventura vai correndo bem até às páginas finais onde o desenlace é-nos apresentado praticamente de forma gratuita sem nos percebemos como o personagem entende tudo.
Claro que este defeito poderá ter sido provocado pelas "famosas" traduções da colecção.