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Mailer's 1983 epic, Ancient Evenings, received mixed notices, ranging from those who found the tale of ancient Egypt unreadable. But writer Anthony Burgess called the novel "one of the great works of contemporary mythopoesis."
I contend that Mailer's work, especially over the past decade, has been too uneven to nail down for him a position as one of the great writers of the 20th century. His ego, his attitudes toward women (both insulting and reverential), and his combativeness disqualify him for greatness, according to some. But revisiting bits of the entire Mailer repertoire in The Time of Our Time may cause a revival in Mailer's status.
Perhaps not in the top echelon of the century's best, he certainly demands attention as a writer who seldom bores, who's always willing to try new things, to attack fresh avenues, and to go where less adventurous authors fear to tread.
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