George Alec Effinger Books In Order

Publication Order of The Budayeen Cycle Books

Publication Order of The Nick of Time Books

Publication Order of Planet of the Apes Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Collections

Publication Order of Heroes in Hell Books

Publication Order of Infocom Books

Publication Order of Isaac Asimov's Anthology Books

Publication Order of Best Science Fiction of the Year Books

Publication Order of Author's Choice Monthly Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

George Alec Effinger is a Cleveland born author of the “Marid Audran” series of novels.

The author went to Yale where he studied medicine but since he could not pass an organic chemistry course, he finally let go of a dream of becoming a doctor. He would then get married to his first wife who introduced him to many of his science fiction idols, as she baby sat some famous babies including Kate Wilhelm and Damon Knight.

Encouraged by meeting his idols, he embarked on a science fiction manuscript writing spree in 1970. He would publish six collections of short fiction including “The Exile Kiss” and “When Gravity Fails” and at least twenty novels. He also penned and published “Shadow Money” and “Felicia” in an attempt to get into crime novels.

With his Budayeen works, many people deem him one of the pioneers of the cyberpunk genre. For his fiction works, he has become a favorite science fiction author for many fans and won the Nebula and Hugo Awards.

Effinger attended the 1970 Clarion class and his three stories made the first Clarion anthology. He made his fiction writing debut when he published “The Eight-Thirty to Nine Slot” short story in the 1971 published anthology “Fantastic.” During his early years, he was known for using all manner of pseudonyms in his works.

“What Entropy Means to Me” was his debut novel that he published in 1972 that earned him several awards. But it was with the “Marid Audrad” trilogy set in the Middle East during the 21st century that he would have the most success as an author. The novels are set in what many critics have argued is the French Quarter in New Orleans.

He has also published award winning novellas such as the 1988 published “Schrodinger’s Kitten” that won the Japanese Seiun, the Nebula and Hugo Award. He has also had some of his works published posthumously that he had written before his death under the pseudonym O. Niemand.

The Niemand stories are something of a pastiche as they tell their stories using the voice of different American authors. George A. Effinger combined horror, fantasy and science fiction in the writing of the Maureen Birnbaum parodies.

George Alec Effinger made his name for picking up a variety of genres and styles and making them his own. George was described as a fabulist and was something of a genre unto himself as he could write a mystery just as well as he could write a pure fantasy work when he was not writing a mish mash of two or more genres.

The “Maureen Birnbaum” stories which featured a shopping crazy teen are perhaps the best known of his genre bending fiction. He wrote some of the most engaging humor right until he fell ill. Sickness had dodged Effinger for much of his life but in the last fifteen years it had gotten worse.
He grew tumors in his intestines and had to be subjected to many surgeries to remove them. He would eventually be overwhelmed by the illness and succumbed to the overuse of prescription drugs and drink which severely offset his brilliance.

George would usually work for several years before the tumors would return and he would have to undergo more surgeries. Some of his works were penned while he was lying in hospital. The illness would eventually be too much for him and he died in New Orleans in 2002..

“When Gravity Fails” by George Alec Effinger is set in a decadent world of easy death and cheap pleasures. The lead is Marid Audrian who has managed to maintain his independence but it has not been easy. Like everything else in Budayeen, he can be bought for a price.

The streets of Budayeen the Arab ghetto that he calls home has a new kind of killer. He is a deranged man whose personality combines that of Khan the sadistic disemboweler and the sinister James Bond.

Audrian has been made an offer any other man would dream of and he cannot help but say yes. The two century old grandfather of Budayeen’s underworld thinks Marid is the best person to carry out his vengeance. But first he needs to be surgically implanted with sophisticated technology.

This would make it possible for him to confront a homicidal maniac that has some of the most vicious qualities of the many psychopaths that came before. Savage and wry, the novel is a classic work that would set off the career of one of the greatest authors of our times.

George Alec Effinger’s “A Fire in the Sun” continues to follow Marid Audran that has morphed into what he previously despised. It was only a few months ago that he was living in an Arabian ghetto named Budayeen and hustling in a Balkanized future Earth.

He never used to have any money for a drink but the best thing was that he always had his independence. He now works for the two century old godfather of the ghetto popularly known as Friedlander Bey. He is a man whose power is feared all over the crumbling and shattered world that he calls his kingdom.
Marid works as a police officer during the day and is also the official link between the police and the godfather. In his new position, he comes into contact with power and money even as all he ever dreams about is a life of independence. But he does not have a choice in the matter as once you work for the godfather there is no going back.

However, something is amiss as there is the threat of chaos over the city. There is someone that sends a killer to take out Marid’s partner and also helps a child mutilator to avoid arrest. The deranged homicidal killer is still killing prostitutes and savaging the bodies.
Investigations point to the one man whose influence and power rivals that of the godfather – Abu Adil.

“The Exile Kiss” by George Alec Effinger continues to follow the life and times of Marid Audran. He has risen from being an ordinary hustler on the streets of a ghetto to become one of the most trusted lieutenants of the most feared men in the Maghreb.

As an enforcer for Friedlander Bey the most powerful man in Budayeen, he has been enjoying his newfound privilege and wealth in recent times. But then he and his boss are accused of murder after they are betrayed by a rival. Bey and Marid soon find themselves exiled and may just meet their deaths in the vast Arabian desert.

But they are determined to survive the hot sands and head to the chaotic Budayeen to get their chance at revenge. In turn philosophical and thrilling, it is one of the greatest works of science fiction by George A. Effinger.