Smith, Martin Cruz
Entry updated 21 July 2025. Tagged: Author.
(1942-2025) US author, who at the beginning of his career wrote several novels under various pseudonyms and forms of his name; his first book, The Indians Won (1970), originally published as by Martin Smith, is genuine sf, positing an Alternate History in which Native Americans – after Sitting Bull (circa 1834-1893) defeated General Custer (1839-1876) – have managed to consolidate themselves into an independent state, and in the twentieth century hold the balance of power. His nonfantastic Westerns in the huge Slocum sequence, under the House Name Jake Logan, have not been identified. The Gypsy sequence – comprising Gypsy in Amber (1971) and Canto for a Gypsy (1972), both originally published as Martin Smith – features a detective with ESP powers. The Analog Bullet (1972) utilizes the paranormal in similar circumstances. Under the House Name Nick Carter Smith wrote three borderline-sf thrillers, The Inca Death Squad (1972), Code Name: Werewolf (1973) and The Devil's Dozen (1973). As Simon Quinn he published the non-sf Inquisitor series of novels about a Catholic organization opposed to Satanists. In Nightwing (1977), it is discovered that a swarm of vampire bats is burdened with fleas which serve as vectors for a deadly plague; it was filmed as Nightwing (1979).
Smith became famous with the Arkady Renko sequence of nonfantastic political thrillers with detective elements, beginning with Gorky Park (1981), under his full name. It is understood that Cruz is a family surname, though he may not have legally adopted it. [JC]
Martin William Cruz Smith
born Reading, Pennsylvania: 3 November 1942
died San Rafael, California: 11 July 2025
works (selected)
series
Gypsy
- Gypsy in Amber (New York: G P Putnam's Sons, 1971) as Martin Smith [Gypsy: hb/]
- Canto for a Gypsy (New York: G P Putnam's Sons, 1972) as Martin Smith [Gypsy: hb/]
Nick Carter
- The Inca Death Squad (New York: Award Publishing, 1972) as by Nick Carter [tie to the Shared World series: Nick Carter: pb/]
- Code Name: Werewolf (New York: Award Publishing, 1973) as by Nick Carter [tie to the Shared World series: Nick Carter: pb/]
- The Devil's Dozen (New York: Award Publishing, 1973) as by Nick Carter [tie to the Shared World series: Nick Carter: pb/]
individual titles
- The Indians Won (New York: Belmont Books, 1970) as Martin Smith [pb/]
- The Analog Bullet (New York: Belmont Tower, 1972) as Martin Smith [pb/]
- Nightwing (New York: W W Norton and Company, 1977) [hb/Wendell Minor]
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