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A review by kingrosereads
The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
An inclusive Lovecraftian-inspired sci-fi mystery horror.
Tommy Tester is a hustler from 1920s Harlem. He does what he can to provide a roof over his and his father's head. As a black man, he's cautious and aware of his surroundings and who his customers are. One night, it seems he's hit the jackpot when a mysterious stranger offers him a few hundred dollars for a couple nights' worth of work. That's when Tommy is thrown into a world of nightmares, curses, and magic.
Full disclosure: I'm not actually familiar with Lovecraft source material. I've seen and read a lot of Lovecraftian shows/movies/books, but I haven't actually read anything by H.P. Lovecraft (and for good reason). I am aware this is a retelling with an alternate ending of The Horror of Red Hook, but I haven't read that book. I will say this was a very compelling story that I ended up loving despite taking me awhile to get into it. I'm new to the sci-fi horror reading scene, so I don't really know the rules and the background, but this was a great story. I appreciate the commentary on race and having a black protagonist in a sci-fi story.
That being said, I didn't find the story scary so much as being mysterious and creepy with a disturbing scene or two. Truly, the scene that evoked the most emotion from me was his father's death.
I wish it was a little longer. It felt too short and I was just starting to love the chaos!
I definitely recommend this book to anyone interest in having an inclusive sci-fi horror.
Tommy Tester is a hustler from 1920s Harlem. He does what he can to provide a roof over his and his father's head. As a black man, he's cautious and aware of his surroundings and who his customers are. One night, it seems he's hit the jackpot when a mysterious stranger offers him a few hundred dollars for a couple nights' worth of work. That's when Tommy is thrown into a world of nightmares, curses, and magic.
Full disclosure: I'm not actually familiar with Lovecraft source material. I've seen and read a lot of Lovecraftian shows/movies/books, but I haven't actually read anything by H.P. Lovecraft (and for good reason). I am aware this is a retelling with an alternate ending of The Horror of Red Hook, but I haven't read that book. I will say this was a very compelling story that I ended up loving despite taking me awhile to get into it. I'm new to the sci-fi horror reading scene, so I don't really know the rules and the background, but this was a great story. I appreciate the commentary on race and having a black protagonist in a sci-fi story.
That being said, I didn't find the story scary so much as being mysterious and creepy with a disturbing scene or two. Truly, the scene that evoked the most emotion from me was his father's death.
I wish it was a little longer. It felt too short and I was just starting to love the chaos!
I definitely recommend this book to anyone interest in having an inclusive sci-fi horror.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, and Gore