Just as Matt Ruff’s Lovecraft County, the book that kicked off H. P. Lovecraft Week here, tells the stories of African-Americans drawn into the Lovecraft Universe, Victor LaValle’s The Ballad of Black Tom features an African-American hustler who finds himself looking at Cthulhu. The lead character starts out the story as Tommy Tester, a resident of Harlem in 1924. But a tragic event transforms Tommy Tester into Black Tom, a man with fabulous powers. The Ballad of Black Tom is one of TOR Books’s “novella” series of paperbacks. It weighs in at 150 pages. But the story it tells is a powerful one. I hope Victor LaValle is working on more tales of Black Tom. GRADE: B+
I bet Rick is not going to like reading about this.
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Sounds interesting. I’ll check it out.
Jeff, you would enjoy THE BALLAD OF BLACK TOM. It’s a quick, entertaining read. Today’s the last day of H. P. LOVECRAFT WEEK. Cap’n Bob and Rick will celebrate!
I’m guessing the size of that book will make many people happy. I just read an arc of 4 short stories by P.D. James (previously uncollected). The main reason I read it was the size.
Maggie, TOR Books started publishing these short books and I hope they’re a big success. I’m reading Big Fat Books over the Summer, but once I’m back to work at the end of August I only have time to read thin books.
So, it’s the end for this Ka-poo (based on the pronunciation Mr. House gave us) guy. Well, you’ve enjoyed reading and posting about the books, so I say good for you! Jeff, I love George’s blog no matter what he posts.
Rick, I’m glad you hung in there during H. P. LOVECRAFT WEEK. Things will return to Normal tomorrow!
Read Ballad a couple months ago and would highly recommend it. Tor has a couple more interesting novellas-a new one by Brian Evenson that I haven’t read yet and one in a month or two by Kij Johnson which also does a take on Lovecraft.
Steve, thanks for the heads up on KJ Johnson. I’ll track down that book!