Robert Browne (2) (1941–)

Published in 1980, The New AToms’ Bombshell is about a failing major league baseball team located in Chicago. Its set in the future year of 2002. The owner dies and in a weird bequest leaves the team to teacher Matt Paradise for one year. Part of the deal is that he has to be a starting pitcher AND disguise his identity by wearing bandages on his face AND change his name! Wait…What?! He has to wear bandages on his face for the entire baseball season?!

Matt/Michael Paradise/Alexander asks his old professor Dr. Norbert to help him in his endeavor. They put together a team of unusual players, fit them with temperature controlled suits (the league’s rules have relaxed on uniforms) and give them rigorous training. Norbert creates a computer program (using punch cards!) that predicts the outcome of every baseball play using any players. Today, a computer being used to predict the outcome of every baseball play is reality, without punch cards.

Browne knows his baseball and writes great game scenes. On the other hand, he writes really crappy when it comes to relationships; Paradise/Alexander falls in love with a woman after two brief conversations!

None of the characters are particularly likable due to their lack of personality. Paradise/Alexander has none. Dr. Norbert is plain arrogant. The only female character ends up stereotypically emotional and just a support for Matt/Michael.

By the look of the cover and the fact that it says “science fiction” on the spine, I was led to believe there might be some kind of intergalactic league going on or something similar. No such luck. All the action takes place between Chicago and New York. No aliens. No spaceships. No fun.

Pass on reading this clunker.… (meer)

Published in 1980, The New AToms’ Bombshell is about a failing major league baseball team located in Chicago. Its set in the future year of 2002. The owner dies and in a weird bequest leaves the team to teacher Matt Paradise for one year. Part of the deal is that he has to be a starting pitcher AND disguise his identity by wearing bandages on his face AND change his name! Wait…What?! He has to wear bandages on his face for the entire baseball season?!

Matt/Michael Paradise/Alexander asks his old professor Dr. Norbert to help him in his endeavor. They put together a team of unusual players, fit them with temperature controlled suits (the league’s rules have relaxed on uniforms) and give them rigorous training. Norbert creates a computer program (using punch cards!) that predicts the outcome of every baseball play using any players. Today, a computer being used to predict the outcome of every baseball play is reality, without punch cards.

Browne knows his baseball and writes great game scenes. On the other hand, he writes really crappy when it comes to relationships; Paradise/Alexander falls in love with a woman after two brief conversations!

None of the characters are particularly likable due to their lack of personality. Paradise/Alexander has none. Dr. Norbert is plain arrogant. The only female character ends up stereotypically emotional and just a support for Matt/Michael.

By the look of the cover and the fact that it says “science fiction” on the spine, I was led to believe there might be some kind of intergalactic league going on or something similar. No such luck. All the action takes place between Chicago and New York. No aliens. No spaceships. No fun.

Pass on reading this clunker.… (meer)