The Short Fiction of Norman Mailer
| Author | Norman Mailer |
|---|---|
| Country | United States of America |
| Language | English |
| Published | 1967 |
| Publisher | Dell Pub. Co; First Dell Printing edition |
| Pages | 285 |
| ISBN | |
| OCLC | 961934 |
The Short Fiction of Norman Mailer is a 1967 anthology of nineteen previously published stories with an original introduction by the author. All the stories appeared previously in one or another of Mailer's miscellanies, with thirteen of the stories appearing in periodicals or other collections prior to being reprinted in one of the miscellanies.
Mailer describes his purpose in writing through a "renaissance man" metaphor in contrast to a "jeweler" metaphor. Mailer describes himself as a Renaissance man, searching for new discoveries, yet not being specifically connected to a greater theme or specific character development. The "jeweler" as Mailer describes, is not who he is. The "jeweler" refines jewels, or short stories, and places emphasis on the story as important in developing an idea. Mailer contends that he is not a refiner, and does not think the stories are great, or even good. Mailer contends that his works of short fiction are simply short fiction, saying "It has been remarked that the short fiction of this author is neither splendid, unforgettable, nor distinguished, and I hasten hereby to join such consensus."
The book is divided into eight parts.
The first section consists of two short stories, "The Killer: A Story", and "Truth and Being: Nothing and Time." Both stories were written by Mailer in December 1960.
In "The Killer: A Story", Mailer writes a fictitious first person account of a male prisoner's thought processes during his examination for parole. The name of the prisoner is not identified. Mailer goes in to extensive detail concerning the image of the interrogating officer. This description leads to a personal recount of a sexual event from the first person's past. The recapitulation of the sexual encounter is used as an example to examine the nature of clean-cut "policemen, detectives, correction officers, hacks, parole-board officials, [and how]... sex is the problem with them." The prisoner contends that the actions of being well groomed and having nicely combed hair are a cover up for inner sexual desires. This recount is used to describe the overall character, morals, perspective, and thoughts of the prisoner.
In the final sequence of the story the prisoner details a look at his own habits in combing his hair. This habit is described by the prisoner as a coping mechanism. "When I comb my hair, it changes my mood.... No ups. Nor downs. Don't be friendly. Don't be sullen. Don't offer company. Don't keep too quiet. If you stay safe, in the middle, and are the same thing every day you get a good report. The reason I get parole: first time out, six years off a ten-year sentence is that I was a model prisoner which means just this: you are the same thing day. Authorities like you if you are dependable."
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