Historical Fiction
The Ballad of Black Tom
2016·149 pages
A Lovecraftian horror novella reimagining 'The Horror at Red Hook' through a black man's perspective in 1920s Harlem, tackling racism and cosmic terror.
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A Lovecraftian horror novella reimagining 'The Horror at Red Hook' through a black man's perspective in 1920s Harlem, tackling racism and cosmic terror.
About
Details
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 i...
What Readers Think
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will contain mild spoilers
Sexual content
AI
No romantic or sexual content depicted.
Violence & gore
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Frequent violent scenes with graphic horror elements and cosmic terror.
Profanity
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Mild profanity used sparingly throughout the narrative.
Substance use
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No substance use depicted.
LGBTQ+ Rep.
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No LGBTQ+ characters or themes present.
Religious content
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No religious themes present.
Magic & witchcraft
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Moderate use of dark magic as a recurring plot element.
Occult / demonology
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Central themes of occult tomes and summoning cosmic entities.
Political content
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Strong social commentary on race and systemic oppression in 1920s America.
Self-harm / suicide
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No self-harm or suicide depicted.
Abuse & suffering
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Depictions of racial prejudice and systemic suffering in historical context.
Other
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No information found.