THE BALLAD OF BLACK TOM By Victor LaValle

the ballad of black tom
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+

8 thoughts on “THE BALLAD OF BLACK TOM By Victor LaValle

  1. Jeff Meyerson

    I bet Rick is not going to like reading about this.

    😉

    Sounds interesting. I’ll check it out.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      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!

      Reply
  2. maggie

    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.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      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.

      Reply
  3. Richard R.

    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.

    Reply
  4. steve oerkfitz

    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.

    Reply

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