In 1978, Gardner's book of literary criticism, "On Moral Fiction", sparked a controversy that excited the mainstream media, vaulting Gardner into the spotlight with an interview on "The Dick Cavett Show" (May 16, 1978) and a cover story in "The New York Times Magazine" (July, 1979). His judgments of contemporary authors—including John Updike, John Barth and other American authors—harmed his reputation among fellow writers and book reviewers. Gardner claimed that lingering animosity from critics of this book led to unflattering reviews of what turned out to be his last finished novel, "Mickelsson's Ghosts", although literary critics later praised the book.