The Ballad of Black Tom

Charles Thomas Tester hustles to support himself and his father in 1920s Harlem, taking odd jobs that sometimes involve delivering mysterious occult objects. His path crosses with Robert Suydam, a wealthy white man from Red Hook, Brooklyn who is pursuing dangerous knowledge of the occult. The story reimagines H.P. Lovecraft's "The Horror at Red Hook" from a new perspective, transforming the original tale's racist elements into a commentary on power, privilege, and cosmic horror. The supernatural and societal terrors of 1920s New York intertwine as Tommy navigates both human prejudice and otherworldly forces. Through a taut narrative that moves between Harlem and Red Hook, LaValle crafts a story about the price of power and the true nature of fear. The novel explores themes of identity, revenge, and the ways systemic racism can be more terrifying than any supernatural horror.

Readers appreciate LaValle's reframing of Lovecraft's "The Horror at Red Hook" from a Black perspective, noting how it confronts racism while maintaining cosmic horror elements. Many reviews highlight the tight pacing and atmospheric build-up in the first half. Readers liked: - The blending of 1920s Harlem cultural details with supernatural elements - Complex portrayal of Tommy Tester's character transformation - Clear, accessible prose style compared to Lovecraft's writing Readers disliked: - Abrupt tonal shift in second half - Some found the ending rushed - A few readers wanted more development of supporting characters Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (21,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (1,300+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (1,000+ ratings) "Manages to critique Lovecraft while still capturing what makes cosmic horror effective," notes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads review states: "The first half reads like noir fiction, but the supernatural elements feel somewhat disconnected when they arrive."

Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark A Ku Klux Klan sorcerer summons demons in 1920s Georgia while a Black woman monster hunter and her companions fight back with magic rooted in African-American folklore.

Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff An African-American family in 1950s Jim Crow America confronts both supernatural horrors and racial terror while searching for a missing relative.

The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin Five New Yorkers become living avatars of their boroughs and must protect their city from an ancient evil that seeks to destroy it through gentrification and corruption.

The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle A man wrongly committed to a mental hospital faces a monster stalking the halls while exploring themes of institutional racism and psychological horror.

Carter & Lovecraft by Jonathan L. Howard A private investigator inherits a bookstore from an unknown benefactor and becomes entangled in cosmic horror events that connect to H.P. Lovecraft's legacy.

🌟 Victor LaValle wrote The Ballad of Black Tom as a direct response to H.P. Lovecraft's racist story "The Horror at Red Hook," reclaiming and subverting the original narrative. 🌟 The novel is set in 1924 Harlem during the height of the Jazz Age, capturing a vibrant period in New York City's cultural history. 🌟 LaValle spent his childhood in Queens, New York, the same borough where much of the novel's action takes place, lending authenticity to his descriptions of the area. 🌟 The book won the 2016 Shirley Jackson Award for best novella and was a finalist for both the Hugo and Nebula Awards. 🌟 The main character, Charles Thomas Tester, is inspired by real-life African American street musicians of the 1920s who would perform in New York City while navigating racial prejudice and segregation.