Tales of the Mall Masters

By David Gulbraa

Portrait of a culture of man-worship.

Welcome to the Individual's Republic of California, a nation where business is regarded as sacred and holy. Here, businessmen are the moral authorities of the culture, and shopping malls are considered temples of reason, cathedrals glorifying Man's happiness on Earth. In a culture dedicated to the philosophy of man-worship, where people have an actual passion for reason, and a total dedication to logic, the noblest heroes of all are the Mall Masters. This is the story of three legends. Maurice Sully, the greatest of all the Mall Masters; Anton Layvanwick, Maurice's best friend and rival Mall Master; and Diane Copernicus, the woman who loves both men, and is loved by both in return.

Here is a world where children play with an action figure called Captain Logic. Where people say, "Good logic to you " instead of "Good Luck." Where young lovers believe that happiness can only be achieved by loving as logically as one works. Where sacrifice is an unspeakable obscenity.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FR277XD6
• ISBN13: 9798264966866
• Release Date: September 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 536 Pages
• Weight: 1.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Very moving portrait of human greatness

If you enjoy the sight of competence--excitingly joyous competence--open Tales of the Mall Masters. If you want to travel to a newly discovered civilization which hasn't been tainted by the sickness of Christianity, or any other religion, read Tales of the Mall Masters. If you are tired of sci-fi aliens (which are only human beings purposefully made ugly) see what a totally-at-home, self-loving human being looks like. If you want to pound your fist on a table in sheer admiration for a man's unbreakable pride, if you want to leap up in joy for the everlasting damnation of sacrifice, if you want to see a clean and beautiful reaffirmation of man's one god--himself--full of reason, certainty, fearlessness and love of truth, then read David Gulbraa's Tales of the Mall Masters. If you want to behold the already-achieved worldly heaven of trade, work, action, love and profit as with eagle-screaming eyes and a sinless soul--you know what to to.

An advanced culture will not be like ours as this book shows

David Gulbraa demonstrates that western culture need not remain stuck in the morass of contridictions it presently finds itself in. The essence of western thought can be preserved while removing some of the more obvious mistakes. If you doubt real people could act like this or that a culture could develop and espouse such ideals you haven't met a diverse enough cross section of Objectivists. David Gulbraa is brilliant in his ability to create a culture not like ours in subtle ways as well as major ways. Most authors place people just like you know in unfamiliar futuristic situations. Do you really believe people will be just like they are now in an advanced cultural situation. If the actions people take seem contrived to you, think about the difference between our present culture and the politics which must have occured in the royal court of the Mayan civilization as mystics were consulted as to who should be taxed and who should be sacrificed to the gods so that yellow squash production would be remain high this season. The civilization of David Gulbraa creates a contrast as great as that between ourselves and ancient primitives.

Great characters make the idealism real and intense.

These are great characters trying to achieve great things, and their relationships make this story extra special. There are any number of great love stories integrated into the plot of this novel. As far as I can tell, one of the ideas Gulbraa is exploring is the concept of non-sacrifical love relationships. It makes for awe-inspiring drama to see these characters--who all love each other--refuse to engage in sacrifice of any kind, on any level! Especially Anton Layvanwick. When he realizes the woman he loves has fallen in love with his best friend, a man he loves, the way he deals with it is a truly inspiritional example of what "rational selfishness" actually means in reality. This only touches the tip of the iceberg of a story that is simply magnificent. I canot recommend this book highly enough.

What I'd like is more of Gulbraa's writing!

I loved the Tale of the Mall Masters--how I wish California--and malls, were really like this...

I've ordered another copy to pass along to a friend!

I've recently finished reading all the major Objectivist work--most of it two times, slowly and carefully. What a treat after all that to enjoy Tales of the Mall Masters! Chock-full of great ideas, and lots of fun! I won't forget it.