Neal Barrett, Jr's over fifty novels and numerous short
stories span the field from mystery/suspense, fantasy, science fiction and
historical novels, to "off-the-wall" mainstream fiction. Reviewers have defined his work as "stories that defy any category
or convention..."
His “author’s best” collection, “Perpetuity Blues,” was a
finalist for the 2001 World Fantasy Award.
His two fantasy
novels featuring “Finn, the Lizard Master” have been published by Bantam--“The
Prophecy Machine,” in 2000, and “The Treachery of Kings” in 2001. These novels were based on “The Lizard
Shoppe,” which appeared in Dragon
Magazine, and won the “best fiction of the year” award from The West Coast
Publishers.
In addition to his appearance in numerous magazines, his
work may be seen in collections such as The
Best From Fantasy & Science Fiction, Nebula Awards, OMNI: Best Science
Fiction, Asimov's Robots, Dark at Heart, The Year's Best Science Fiction
(Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, Tenth and Eleventh Annual Collections), etc.
His novelette, "Ginny Sweethips' Flying Circus"
was a finalist for both the SFWA NEBULA Award, and the Hugo Award, for best
novelette of the year, and his story “Cush” was a Hugo nominee.
His short story, "Stairs," received a Theodore
Sturgeon Memorial Award.
Barrett has a habit of crossing genre lines with his
fiction. "Sallie C.," from The Best of the West, and "Winter
on the Belle Fourche," from The New
Frontier, were both chosen for Gardner Dozois' Year's Best Science Fiction.
His novel, "Through Darkest America," received
acclaim from readers and critics alike. Reviewer Edward Bryant called it "A book of astonishing
power...simply one of the best..."
His 1991 novel, "The Hereafter Gang," was hailed
by The Washington Post as "One
of the great American novels."
The author's l992 mystery/suspense novel, "Pink Vodka
Blues," St. Martin's Press,
was optioned by producer David Brown, and purchased by Paramount Pictures in a
mid six-figure deal. Barrett’s second mystery/ suspense, “Dead Dog Blues,” was
followed by “Skinny Annie Blues” and “Bad Eye Blues.” All four books are also available in paperback editions.
"Slightly Off Center," a collection of Barrett's
fantasy and science fiction short stories and novelettes, was named by Locus as "One of the best of the
year," and named a story from the collection, "Four Times One,"
as one of the best short stories of the year. Gardner Dozois chose the collection's one-act play, "The Last
Cardinal Bird in Tennessee," for his Tenth Annual "Year's Best
Science.
In l997, he served as Guest of Honor and Toastmaster at the
55th World Science Fiction Convention.
In April of l999, he was inducted into the Texas Institute
of Letters. In May of 2000, he received a TIL award for his novel, “Interstate
Dreams.”
"Interstate Dreams," and his l991 novel, "The
Hereafter Gang," are now available in trade paperback editions.
His novelization of the motion picture, "Dungeons &
Dragons” was released in November of 2000, by Wizards of the Coast.
A collection of the author’s “best stories of the 60s and
70s,” “A Different Vintage,” was published in 2001 by Subterranean Press. SP
brought out his short novel, “Piggs,” in Januay of 2002.
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