Meet New Books
Book Cover

The Ballad of Black Tom

Save:
Find on Amazon

'The Ballad of Black Tom' by Victor LaValle is a Lovecraftian novella set in the 1920s, a period marked by racism and social unrest. LaValle reimagines Lovecraft's story 'The Horror at Red Hook' from the perspective of a working-class African American musician, offering a fresh take on themes of immigrants, poverty, and marginalization in early 20th-century New York. The book expertly combines elements of horror, racism, and cosmic terror, creating a story that gradually transitions from a realistic setting to supernatural occurrences, making the supernatural aspects feel all the more unnerving.

The narrative follows Charles Thomas Tester, a black man navigating through a white-dominated city while facing racism and police brutality. LaValle's writing style is praised for its masterful handling of setting and circumstances, as well as the complexity of the protagonist's character. The book delves into the horrors of racism and the Great Old Ones, intertwining Lovecraftian mythology with social commentary, creating a compelling and powerful story that resonates with readers.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, showcasing a range of motivations and complexities, with the protagonist's journey at the core.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by lyrical and vivid prose that captures the essence of 1920s New York while blending realism with horror.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around a black protagonist navigating a world of racism and cosmic horror, drawing from Lovecraft's work to explore deeper social themes.

Setting:

The setting is vividly depicted, grounding the narrative in Harlem's historical context while exploring themes of race and oppression.

Pacing:

The pacing is quick and engaging, allowing for a fast read that keeps readers interested while effectively building tension.
People who move to New York always make the same mistake. They can’t see the place. This is true of Manhattan, but even the outer boroughs, too, be it Flushing Meadows in Queens or Red Hook in Brookly...

Notes:

The Ballad of Black Tom is a retelling of HP Lovecraft's story The Horror at Red Hook.
Victor LaValle is a Black author who addresses Lovecraft's racism in this novella.
The story is set in 1920s Harlem during the Jazz Age, highlighting the challenges faced by African Americans.
The main character, Charles Thomas Tester (Tommy), is a young hustler trying to survive in a harsh urban landscape.
LaValle's writing is described as lyrical and vivid, bringing the setting to life.
The novella features themes of cosmic horror intertwined with real-world racism and police brutality.
The character of Tommy Tester transforms from a street hustler to a powerful entity called Black Tom.
The narrative includes perspectives from characters in Lovecraft's original story, such as Detective Malone.
LaValle's version gives depth to marginalized characters who were background figures in Lovecraft's work.
The book has been praised for its engaging plot and thought-provoking themes, winning several literary awards.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for The Ballad of Black Tom include themes of racism, police violence, and graphic violence, which may be distressing for some readers.

From The Publisher:

One of NPR's Best Books of 2016, winner of the Shirley Jackson Award, the British Fantasy Award, the This is Horror Award for Novella of the Year, and a finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, World Fantasy, and Bram Stoker Awards

People move to New York looking for magic and nothing will convince them it isn't there.

Charles Thomas Tester hustles to put food on the table, keep the roof over his father's head, from Harlem to Flushing Meadows to Red Hook. He knows what magic a suit can cast, the invisibility a guitar case can provide, and the curse written on his skin that attracts the eye of wealthy white folks and their cops. But when he delivers an occult tome to a reclusive sorceress in the heart of Queens, Tom opens a door to a deeper realm of magic, and earns the attention of things best left sleeping.

A storm that might swallow the world is building in Brooklyn. Will Black Tom live to see it break?

"LaValle's novella of sorcery and skullduggery in Jazz Age New York is a magnificent example of what weird fiction can and should do."

- Laird Barron, author of The Beautiful Thing That Awaits Us All

"[LaValle] reinvents outmoded literary conventions, particularly the ghettos of genre and ethnicity that long divided serious literature from popular fiction."

- Praise for The Devil in Silver from Elizabeth Hand, author of Radiant Days

"LaValle cleverly subverts Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos by imbuing a black man with the power to summon the Old Ones, and creates genuine chills with his evocation of the monstrous Sleeping King, an echo of Lovecraft's Dagon… [The Ballad of Black Tom] has a satisfying slingshot ending." - Elizabeth Hand for Fantasy & ScienceFiction

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Ratings (36)

Incredible (5)
Loved It (11)
Liked It (12)
It Was OK (5)
Did Not Like (2)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (98):

Read It (37)
Currently Reading (2)
Want To Read (45)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (13)

About the Author:

Victor LaValle is the author of the short story collection Slapboxing with Jesus, several novels, including The Ecstatic, Big Machine, and The Devil in Silver, and an ebook-only novella, Lucretia and the Kroons.

He has been the recipient of numerous awards including a Whiting Writers' Award, a United States Artists Ford Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship and the key to Southeast Queens.

He was raised in Queens, New York. He now lives in Washington Heights with his wife and son. He teaches at Columbia University.

 
Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.