Big Machine

Ricky Rice, a former heroin addict and cult member, receives a mysterious letter summoning him to Vermont's Washburn Library. Upon arrival, he joins a group of fellow damaged souls recruited to become "Unlikely Scholars" - investigators of the paranormal and supernatural. The scholars embark on a dangerous mission to track down the Voice, an enigmatic force that speaks through newspaper clippings and strange phenomena. Their search takes them across America's underbelly, where they confront both earthly and otherworldly threats. Ricky must face his own troubled past with a religious cult in Brooklyn while navigating his new role within the equally secretive organization of scholars at Washburn. The investigation leads him to California, where a charismatic figure threatens to upend everything he believes. The novel explores faith, doubt, and redemption through a genre-defying blend of horror, noir, and social commentary. LaValle's work questions the nature of belief systems and the human desire to find meaning in chaos.

Readers describe Big Machine as a complex supernatural thriller that blends horror, social commentary, and dark humor. Many note its unpredictable plot twists and unique perspective on faith, doubt, and conspiracy theories. Readers appreciated: - LaValle's distinctive writing style and vivid descriptions - The balance of philosophical themes with suspenseful storytelling - Complex characters, particularly protagonist Ricky Rice - Fresh take on horror and supernatural elements Common criticisms: - Confusing narrative structure - Plot threads that don't fully resolve - Pacing issues in the second half - Too many unexplained elements Average ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (90+ ratings) Reader quotes: "Like nothing else I've ever read" - Goodreads reviewer "Started strong but lost its way" - Amazon reviewer "The ending left too many questions" - LibraryThing review Many readers recommend going in with no expectations and letting the unconventional story unfold naturally.

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🔖 Author Victor LaValle worked as a doorman in Manhattan before becoming a writer, an experience that influenced his portrayal of working-class characters in Big Machine. 🔖 The Washburn Library featured in the novel was inspired by real-life occult libraries, including the Philosophical Research Society Library in Los Angeles. 🔖 The book won the Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novel in 2009, an award specifically celebrating literature of psychological suspense, horror, and dark fantasy. 🔖 LaValle wrote Big Machine while teaching creative writing at Columbia University, incorporating elements of H.P. Lovecraft's cosmic horror style while deliberately subverting Lovecraft's racial prejudices. 🔖 The novel's themes of faith and skepticism were influenced by LaValle's own experiences growing up in a religious household and his later questioning of organized religion.