The Buddha in Malibu: New and Selected Stories — William Harrison

In his first collection of stories since the famed "Roller Ball Murder, " William Harrison casts a sardonic eye on unique facets of our present society, as well as our futuristic destinies. Composed of seventeen stories, "The Buddha in Malibu" is divided into three sections--"The Movies and Malibu," "Africa and Anarchy," and "The Future and Forever"--creating an overall unity for this distinctive collection.

Harrison's characters live on the fringes of show business, illusion, and personal disorientation; a bodyguard, an astrologer, a failed screenwriter, a stuntman, a male escort, and a light-fingered thief are among those searching for success. In each protagonist we catch a glimpse of American obsessions: our longing for fame, our preoccupation with the future, our confusions over love, and our raw ambitions.

Dissecting a legendary American locale where people live in close proximity to the movie business and at vast distances from themselves, the Malibu stories explore a series of satiric yet deeply human confrontations. "The Cockatoo Tower" weaves the tale of a construction worker ensnared in the lives of three of his most profitable clients. In order to retain his current projects, the man must appease the persistent advances of a wealthy mystic, pose as a lucrative Canadian businessman, and convince an avid antique collector to open her own shop. In this humorous yet unsentimental story, Harrison reveals that even a simple construction worker must play the subtle games that permeate Malibu's elite society.

The African stories reflect Harrison's long preoccupation with that continent and add a new dimension to this turbulent setting. "On Location" presents an untamed view of the great continent. In each bizarre scenario, a director or an actor tries, with the help of a technical adviser, to capture the "essence" of Africa, whether that be the power of the Congo or the murderous skills of a wild leopard. Regardless of time, place, or location, "the capricious darkness sings to itself," and the true essence of the continent is revealed, despite often tragic consequences.

Lauded by the "Dallas Morning News" as "one of the most interesting, creative, and gifted practitioners of fiction now in this country," William Harrison skillfully uses sharp detail, bulls-eye language, and comic surprises to create stories that are somehow more than the sum of their parts. "The Buddha in Malibu" once again reveals a writer at the top of his game.