 Many consider "In the Days of Simon Stern" (1973) to be Cohen's flawed masterpiece.For this novel Cohen was awarded the Edward Lewis Wallant Award in 1973.The screen rights to his third novel, "A Hero in His Time", were purchased in 1976 by Jalor Productions, the production company behind "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" (1964), widely regarded as one of the worst films ever made.