Child's Play.

New York, NY Random House: Vintage International, 1999. Paperback First Edition Thus [1999]; First Printing indicated. First published in 1982. First Edition Thus [1999]; First Printing indicated. Very Good++ in Wraps: shows only very minor indications of use; just a touch of wear to the upper rear corner tip; no other flaws; the text is clean. No longer absolutely pristine, but remains virtually 'As New'. NOT a Remainder. NOT a Book-Club Edition. NOT an Ex-Library copy. 8vo. 200pp. First published in hardover in South Africa in 1982. Trade Paperback. Like an elaborate concert piece sung by a soloist to display his full range of talents, this early tour de force by Malouf showcases his remarkable versatility with literary styles, a talent which comes to full fruition in his later award-winning novels. Taking us into the mind of a terrorist/assassin as he waits to commit a murder, this novella may have been shocking when it was written in 1982, but its impact has been lessened to the point of insignificance by contemporary events. The story's impact is further lessened because Malouf keeps us at a distance from the killer, severely restricting the killer's consciousness to his sense impressions about the world around him, his remembrances and warm feelings toward his childhood and family, his everyday life, and his philosophical musings about his predestined relationship with his chosen victim. The reader is given no clue about what has made this man a terrorist or what his ultimate purpose might be--he is like a child playing a very deadly game. Malouf's dense images of the sights, sounds, and smells of rural Italy, of the city where a terrorist murder is planned, and of the distant piazza where the murder will take place are vibrantly alive. The main character's affection for his father, some lovely vignettes about his life in the country, and his kindness to an elderly woman in his apartment building make the killer seem not only human, but even personally admirable. His ability to transport himself into the mind of his victim, and his beliefs about death and destiny show his sensitivity and his intelligence, certainly fine traits. Ultimately, however, I didn't find the limited exploration of the killer's mind to be enough of goal in its own right--I wanted the author to provide a sense of significance and context for what otherwise appears to be a motiveless killing by an intelligent and sensitive man.