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inkylabyrinth's review against another edition
I really tried to give this a chance, but it's awful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
audaciaray's review against another edition
4.0
What a totally weird and hilarious book, featuring an all-black crew adventuring to Antarctica, intertexual literary analysis of Edgar Allan Poe's lone novel, sharp race commentary, also slavery and apocalypse and Little Debbie snack cakes. Falls short of five stars on account of not passing the Bechdel test, and all women characters being useful/existing only in relationship to men.
quietdomino's review against another edition
3.0
It's a retelling/response to Poe's The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym; but more is about problems in contemporary black masculinity explored in strange settings with insane companions. Satire works but suffers from the underdeveloped lady person syndrome as with so many others of its kind (I'm looking at you super sad true love story).
ebonyutley's review against another edition
3.0
Pym is the oddest little book. It’s a literary science fiction novel about Edgar Allen Poe’s obscure novel The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym. Weird by any generic standard. I didn’t read for character development or continuity, I just wanted to know what crazy thing was going to happen next. A black professor denied tenure at a PWI ventures to Antarctica to fulfill a researcher’s dream but encounters monsters and the undead along the way. Most of the story is implausible, but the main character is so endearingly hapless. As a professor, I admired his love of the arcane and awkwardness around regular people. I also liked all of the intellectual musing about whiteness being erasure and the absence of things as opposed to its presence. Plus, I’ve never read a novel with footnote commentary by the main character about the main character’s feelings. It’s great. The quirks of this story contribute more to the story than the plot. How the main character talks about the adventure makes the story so delightful. I’m not entirely sure who the ideal audience of a book like this would be. One would have to be very patient or really interested in Poe to slog through all the sycophancy about his single novel. I fit in the former category. I wouldn’t re-read the book, but I’m glad I read it once.
rocketiza's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty inspired - weird and hilarious mystery/adventure. Oh, and centered on racial themes that don't get in the way of the story at all.
silverjennydollar's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
joyful24's review against another edition
2.0
let's just say this was the dullest most unfantastical science fiction/fantasy/aburb story i've read in a really long time. i don't know what happened? salon book reviews haven't steered me wrong, but this was some technically sound; yet unentertaining drudgery. boooooooooooooooooooo!
liberrydude's review against another edition
4.0
It's literary, dystopian, fantasy, sci-fi, satire, an epic quest, and also very humorous. It's about race and revolves around a little known Edgar Allan Poe story. We have a black professor denied tenure because he sees himself as an English professor and not some token to be put on Diversity Committees. His obsession is the story by Poe. He ends up networking with some others (all black and some family) to go to Antarctica and search for a fabled land while drilling for fresh water. They soon meet a yeti-like race of white "snow monkeys" and a clash of cultures ensues. There's literary analysis as digression while a modern survival drama takes place. Won't spoil it for you. Certainly worth a read. The satire is serious though when you contemplate current events. If it were a movie it would be like Life of Pi meets Black Dynamite.
beckydham's review against another edition
3.0
Loved the way this guy's voice sounded in my head. I would not have expected such a thoughtful action movie from this.