The legacy of H.P. Lovecraft stretches far and wide throughout numerous forms of media. Countless writers, artists, directors, and musicians claim him as one of their biggest influences. He crafted a type of horror completely ahead of it's time. Cosmic Horror. A type of horror that harnesses the power of the unknown. Lovecraft created stories that shocked readers. He also created his own mythos, a pantheon of gods whose tendrils stretch through all of reality and are waiting to once again rule the earth. His vast legacy is tainted however. A staunch racist and xenophobe, even more than the typical racism seen throughout early-twentieth century America, Lovecraft made his stance known throughout his stories. In his most well-known story, "The Call of Cthulhu," a voodoo cult of local African Americans and Creole folk are the main source of trouble around New Orleans due to their worship of a strange, underwater deity. He married a Jewish woman and continued to spout anti-Semitic rhetoric in her presence. He also named his household cat a racial slur.
Many modern writers try to put a twist on Lovecraft's writing and The Ballad of Black Tom is one such novella. Written by Victor LaValle and published by Tor in 2016, the main point behind the story is a reimagining of Lovecraft's 1927 short story "The Horror at Red Hook." Lovecraft wrote this story during his brief stay in New York. He loathed New York City and wanted nothing more than to return to Providence, Rhode Island as quickly as possible. Biographer S.T. Joshi, who wrote the massive, two volume I Am Providence: The Life and Times of H.P. Lovecraft, states that Lovecraft wrote this short story on a dare from one of his colleagues. The story is typical Lovecraft through and through. An old man who appears young out of nowhere, an undercurrent of occultism, and overtly racist prose. The story also acts as a showcase of Lovecraft's hatred for New York and large cities in general. In the modern era, few fans of Lovecraft and horror fiction in general give even a passing glance to "The Horror at Red Hook." Even Joshi, in his abridged biography H.P. Lovecraft: A Life, called the story "horrendously bad" due to Lovecraft's over-reliance on racist prose.
Lovecraft will always remain a controversial figure in history. His place in literary fiction will always be protested. Many wish for him to be swipe onto the ash pile of history and forgotten. However, this is easier said than done. His influence is too deeply rooted to simply be erased. In modern times, the problems that surround Lovecraft and his legacy are as plain as day. Those who claim him as an influence address these issues of racism head on. Victor LaValle is a clear fan of Lovecraftian horror with some obvious reservations. He makes this clear in the dedication of the book. "For H.P. Lovecraft, with all my conflicted feelings." LaValle keeps the named characters of the original story, Detective Thomas Malone and Robert Suydam, intact. Malone remains ever-superstitious and Suydam keeps his obsession with the arcane and occult. LaValle turns Lovecraft's traditional racist and xenophobic writing on it's head by placing a black man at the forefront of the narrative. Told in two parts, part 1 of the novella focuses on Charles Thomas Tester, or Tommy Tester as everyone calls him. A young musician and hustler living in Harlem with his father Otis. Tommy keeps food on the table and the lights on at his apartment by venturing out to the richer areas of New York City and hustling unsuspecting passersby by playing his guitar. Part 2 is told from the perceptive of Detective Malone as he dives deeper into an investigation involving Suydam. Malone and Tommy cross paths several times throughout the story with Malone always questioning what Tommy is up to. Each character feels unique and routed in 1920s culture. Tommy is crafty and quick to joke while also showing his more furious side later in the novel.
LaValle includes several nods to the original story and to other elements of Lovecraft's bibliography. After asking Tommy to play guitar at a house party, Suydam gives him a password to gain entrance to his home, "Ashmodai." In "Red Hook," this is the name of one of the demons that Suydam possesses great knowledge about alongside "Samael" and "Sephiroth." The same incantation used in the original story is partially brought into Ballad with the line "Gorgo, Mormo, thousand-faced moon." Cthulhu is mentioned after Tommy gains the madman's knowledge that transitions him into mysterious, powerful figure known only as Black Tom. "I'd take Cthulhu over you devils any day." LaValle does a superb job at retaining Lovecraft's sense of the unknown and uncanny while still being very descriptive. Some of the beings in the realm of the Sleeping King mentioned by Suydam go unnamed due to Tommy and Malone being unable to comprehend their existence. LaValle also writes in Lovecraft as a cameo in the story. He frames him as an investigative journalist who keeps prodding the NYPD about what exactly happened in Red Hook. He proves so persistent that a pair of officers are sent to his house and urge him to return home to Rhode Island. "The man left the city soon afterward, never to return."
The Ballad of Black Tom is an excellent edition to the rising wave of neo-Lovecraftian horror. Victor LaValle joins the ranks of writers like John Langan, Matt Ruff, and Caitlin Kiernan by using the universe and style created by H.P. Lovecraft as a foundation for great, modern horror fiction. By reconstructing and dismantling Lovecraft's traditional, race based narrative structure, LaValle brings the power of cosmic horror into the twenty-first century. LaValle also provides examples of the problems faced by African Americans during the early-twentieth century. Tommy being questioned, mistrusted, and assaulted by the police ultimately leads to his frustrations culminating in his turn to the arcane and inhuman. Immense praise is in order for LaValle's writing. Lovecraft's writing is often hit or miss. His language is archaic and he was completely useless at writing dialogue. LaValle brings Lovecraft into the 21st century with easily digestible prose and dialogue that sounds like actual flesh and blood people talking to one another. Fast readers could easily finish this book in a single day due to it's short length of 160 pages. The audiobook is fantastic as well. The narrator, Kevin R. Free, keeps the listener engaged and provides every character with a unique voice. The Ballad of Black Tom is superb template on how to fix the glaring problems from one of horrors greatest yet controversial writers.
Lovecraft will always remain a controversial figure in history. His place in literary fiction will always be protested. Many wish for him to be swipe onto the ash pile of history and forgotten. However, this is easier said than done. His influence is too deeply rooted to simply be erased. In modern times, the problems that surround Lovecraft and his legacy are as plain as day. Those who claim him as an influence address these issues of racism head on. Victor LaValle is a clear fan of Lovecraftian horror with some obvious reservations. He makes this clear in the dedication of the book. "For H.P. Lovecraft, with all my conflicted feelings." LaValle keeps the named characters of the original story, Detective Thomas Malone and Robert Suydam, intact. Malone remains ever-superstitious and Suydam keeps his obsession with the arcane and occult. LaValle turns Lovecraft's traditional racist and xenophobic writing on it's head by placing a black man at the forefront of the narrative. Told in two parts, part 1 of the novella focuses on Charles Thomas Tester, or Tommy Tester as everyone calls him. A young musician and hustler living in Harlem with his father Otis. Tommy keeps food on the table and the lights on at his apartment by venturing out to the richer areas of New York City and hustling unsuspecting passersby by playing his guitar. Part 2 is told from the perceptive of Detective Malone as he dives deeper into an investigation involving Suydam. Malone and Tommy cross paths several times throughout the story with Malone always questioning what Tommy is up to. Each character feels unique and routed in 1920s culture. Tommy is crafty and quick to joke while also showing his more furious side later in the novel.
LaValle includes several nods to the original story and to other elements of Lovecraft's bibliography. After asking Tommy to play guitar at a house party, Suydam gives him a password to gain entrance to his home, "Ashmodai." In "Red Hook," this is the name of one of the demons that Suydam possesses great knowledge about alongside "Samael" and "Sephiroth." The same incantation used in the original story is partially brought into Ballad with the line "Gorgo, Mormo, thousand-faced moon." Cthulhu is mentioned after Tommy gains the madman's knowledge that transitions him into mysterious, powerful figure known only as Black Tom. "I'd take Cthulhu over you devils any day." LaValle does a superb job at retaining Lovecraft's sense of the unknown and uncanny while still being very descriptive. Some of the beings in the realm of the Sleeping King mentioned by Suydam go unnamed due to Tommy and Malone being unable to comprehend their existence. LaValle also writes in Lovecraft as a cameo in the story. He frames him as an investigative journalist who keeps prodding the NYPD about what exactly happened in Red Hook. He proves so persistent that a pair of officers are sent to his house and urge him to return home to Rhode Island. "The man left the city soon afterward, never to return."
The Ballad of Black Tom is an excellent edition to the rising wave of neo-Lovecraftian horror. Victor LaValle joins the ranks of writers like John Langan, Matt Ruff, and Caitlin Kiernan by using the universe and style created by H.P. Lovecraft as a foundation for great, modern horror fiction. By reconstructing and dismantling Lovecraft's traditional, race based narrative structure, LaValle brings the power of cosmic horror into the twenty-first century. LaValle also provides examples of the problems faced by African Americans during the early-twentieth century. Tommy being questioned, mistrusted, and assaulted by the police ultimately leads to his frustrations culminating in his turn to the arcane and inhuman. Immense praise is in order for LaValle's writing. Lovecraft's writing is often hit or miss. His language is archaic and he was completely useless at writing dialogue. LaValle brings Lovecraft into the 21st century with easily digestible prose and dialogue that sounds like actual flesh and blood people talking to one another. Fast readers could easily finish this book in a single day due to it's short length of 160 pages. The audiobook is fantastic as well. The narrator, Kevin R. Free, keeps the listener engaged and provides every character with a unique voice. The Ballad of Black Tom is superb template on how to fix the glaring problems from one of horrors greatest yet controversial writers.
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Check out LaValle's other work here
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