Literary Figures: Novelists

Czechoslovakian writer and publisher Josef Skvorecky (shkor-et-skee). Since fleeing Czechoslovakia in 1968, Skvorecky and his wife have lived in Toronto, where they run "68 Publishers," an outlet for dissident writers. For years, the output of his publishing house has been smuggled into his former homeland, and secretly passed from hand-to hand, keeping alive the voices of Czech writers such as Vaclav Havel and Milan Kundera.

British novelist Martin Amis (pronounced like Amos). Newsweek magazine calls his new novel, "London Fields," "an upside-down murder mystery, morality tale, nuclear science fiction and postmodern love story." His earlier novels, such as "The Rachael Papers," "Other People" and "Money," have made him a literary star in England, and also placed him under attack from British feminists, who object to his satirical portrayals of women.

Novelist and professor Valerie Martin. She's been called the "heir apparent to Edgar Allen Poe." She's taken the Robert Louis Stevenson classic tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and given it a new twist. Her new historical novel, "Mary Reilly," tells the story of Jekyll's descent into madness from the point of view of Mary, a Victorian maid in Jekyll's household. Mary escaped the squalor and brutality of the slums to become a servant. As she becomes Jekyll's confidant she's once again drawn into the underworld she sought to escape.

Novelist Tom Robbins commemorates the kiss on this Valentine's Day.

Author Budd Schulberg. Fifty years ago, Schulberg's first novel, "What Makes Sammy Run?" was a huge success and introduced America to the character of Sammy Glick...a man totally obsessed with making it. Schulberg's other novels include "The Harder They Fall" and "The Disenchanted," and his screenplay for the movie, "On The Waterfront" earned Schulberg an Oscar. Schulberg was also involved with the 'red scare' of the 40s and 50s, and testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Mystery writer Ed McBain (also known as Evan Hunter). He's known for his finely detailed "87th Precinct" mysteries. Mystery fans call McBain's books "procedurals" for their close attention to police procedures. McBain also wrote, under a his real name (which he legally changed in 1952), the screenplay for the movie, "The Blackboard Jungle." (Interview by Sedge Thomson)

Novelist and short-story writer Ann Beattie. In 1976 Beattie published her first novel, "Chilly Scenes of Winter," and since then she has gained a reputation as a writer of the 60's generation. "Chilly Scenes of Winter" was made into a movie by Joan Micklin Silver. Beattie's other books include "Falling in Place," "The Burning House," and "Love Always." Her latest novel is "Picturing Will." (Interview by Sedge Thomson)

Novelist Anne Lamott. Her latest novel, "All New People", is an account of growing up in a Northern California railroad town in the midst of the cultural dislocations of the 1960's. (Interview by Sedge Thomson)

Writer Ken Kesey. Kesey was a leading figure of the 60's counterculture. As the leader of the Merry Pranksters, Kesey did as much as anyone to popularize the use of LSD and other hallucinogens. Kesey also wrote two of the most popular books of the era, "Sometimes a Great Notion" and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." In 1986, Kesey wrote "Demon Box," a look back at his life since the 60s. Kesey has a new book, called "Caverns." It's a novel he co-wrote with the 13 members of his University of Oregon fiction class.

Detective writer Mickey Spillane One of the world's most popular writers of the hardboiled private investigator genre. His most famous character is Mike Hammer. Spillane has just written his first Mike Hammer story in 19 years.