Review: Walter Mosley. Fear of the Dark

Michael Sedano

There’s a certain energy in the phrase, “Walter Mosley has a new novel out”, that hangs in the air with charged excitement. What does he have for us this time? There's the noble heroism of the Easy Rawlins and Socrates Fortlow stories. Perhaps the social consciousness of science fiction, like last year’s The Wave and the more recent Favorite Son? In Fear of the Dark, Walter Mosley delivers a diverting novel almost purely whodunit, featuring the return of Paris Minton and his pal Fearless Jones.

Paris tells the story as a reminiscence, thinking back to 1950, when he and Fearless helped cousin Useless out of a lethal jam that found true love but cost several lives and careers. In the end, Paris avoided aunt Three Hearts’ evil eye and turns a tidy profit to split with Fearless.

“That was it. A life worth remembering is hell to live,” Paris tells us as he closes the book on this story. But a good story to tell.

Paris and Fearless make an unlikely pair of detectives. According to Paris, Fearless is generally dumb as a tack. Similarly, Paris considers himself a coward. Neither is completely accurate. Fearless walks two-fisted into whatever comes next. The brains of the outfit, Paris, usually points Fearless toward a target and between the two of them, side by side, they face down danger, murder, white cops.

Put Paris’ brains and Fearless’ brawn together and you have an unbeatable team.

The reader will admire Fearless’ indomitability. The fight scene in jail is a classic, reminiscent of the same scene in Heartbreak Ridge, with Clint Eastwood thrashing a fat biker. And he’s not as dumb as Paris says. Even Paris remarks at Jones’ insightful remarks.

The comparison of Fearless Jones to Mouse is inescapable. Think of a non-pathological, totally honest Mouse. If Fearless is Mouse, Paris Minton is Easy. Except Easy Rawlins possesses that nobility that has the reader pulling for him.

There’s not a lot to like about Paris Minton.

It’s not Paris’ self-avowed cowardice. He’s not fearful of people but of violence. With Fearless’ protection, sometimes without, Paris strides directly into fearful confrontations. Paris is obnoxious. He uses timidity as a way of bragging about his exploits. He’s a sexual braggart with a fabulous sex life. And he’s hung up on black skin color, identifying everyone by their shade of brown or blackness. But Paris is smart as can be. He doesn’t need the reader’s help to pull for him nor to put the clues together.

Fear of the Dark has all the fun of a detective story, sleuthing clues, gunshots in foreheads, throats slashed, narrow escapes, capture. Plus, with Mosley’s mastery of local color adding such character names as Mad Anthony, Lionel Charlemagne Sterling, the reader finds something to smile at in unexpected spots.

Unlike character-driven novels like the Easy Rawlins stories, Fear of the Dark doesn’t spend a lot of energy on social commentary. It’s the 1950s, what more can one say. Mosley seemingly goes out of his way to avoid it. When the white behemoth “Tiny” finds Paris naked with white Jessa, Tiny doesn’t scream “nigger” but wants to kill the man.

But there is a delicious scene between Paris and two white cops in a public park. After Paris dumbfounds the cops, they return to roust him. They come upon Paris and Fearless and an extortion victim. The white man challenges the white cops:

“My name is Martin Friar,” Angel’s mark said. “I’m a vice president of UEC there across the street. These two gentlemen have come to consult with me. Do you have a problem with that?”
“That man here,” Pimple Face said, “told us that he was reading a book.”
211.

Hilarious. A highlight of a fine story. Find those two uniforms and do a contempt of cop with this one. Walter Mosley's got a sure winner in Fear of the Dark.


CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
The first, maybe annual, La Bloga Día de los Muertos Amoxcalli-Descansos Contest. Here's your chance to get exposure for your great piece relating to el Día de los Muertos. Through Oct. 24th we will accept prose, poetry, essay, in English or Spanish or Spanglish--just about anything concerning this indigenous/modern tradition. Fantasy, children's stories, young adult, horror, serious, or not so--anything you want to share on La Bloga. Shorter pieces are preferred (less than 500 words), since we are the editorial staff and will base decisions on quality and how little work is required of us. We will feature one prize winner each day of the week of Day of the Dead. For more details, see the September 28 issue of La Bloga. Send to labloga@readraza .com.



That is the first Tuesday in October, 2006, a Tuesday like any other day, except you should get Fear in the Dark and post a comment at La Bloga. Why does the novel have that title?


mvs

PEN ANNOUNCEMENTS

PEN Center USA strives to protect the rights of writers around the world, to stimulate interest in the written word, and to foster a vital literary community among the diverse writers living in the western United States. The organization, therefore, has two distinct yet complementary aims: one fundamentally literary and the other having a freedom of expression mandate. Among PEN’s various activities are public literary events, a mentorship project, literary awards and international human rights campaigns on behalf of writers who are censored or imprisoned. Here are two important announcements from PEN that I wanted to share with you. -DAO

◙ The PEN USA 2007 Literary Awards submission period is now open. The Literary Awards is a competition for published and produced writers who live west of the Mississippi River.

The PEN USA Literary Awards honors writers in six book categories: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Research Nonfiction, Poetry, Children’s/Young Adult, and Translation; and in four nonbook categories: Journalism, Drama, Teleplay and Screenplay. Each entry for the 2006 Literary Awards must have been published or produced in 2006. Entries will not be returned. The submission fee for each entry is $35.

The deadline for submission for all book categories (Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Research Nonfiction, Poetry, Children’s/YA, and Translation) is December 15, 2006.

The deadline for all nonbook categories (Journalism, Drama, Teleplay, Screenplay) is January 31, 2007.

The Federal Tax ID Number for PEN Center USA is: 95-3502910. PEN Center USA is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization.

Please direct questions to:

Literary Awards Director
PEN USA
c/o Antioch University Los Angeles
400 Corporate Pointe
Culver City, CA 90230
(310)862-1555 ext. 361
awards@penusa.org

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE LITERARY AWARDS APPLICATION AS A PDF DOCUMENT: Literary Awards Application

◙ For a dozen years, PEN USA's PEN in the Classroom (PITC) has been bringing creative writing into underserved public schools. The program, which sends PEN members into high school classrooms for weekly writing sessions, has been an enormous success with teachers, students, and PEN members, many of whom report PITC as one of their most rewarding professional experiences.

While many members have participated over the years, PEN is hoping to expand the roster of interested writers. To that end, PEN is hosting its first ever PITC Orientation, where members can learn about this opportunity to teach creative writing. PEN will have experienced PITC teachers on hand to talk about the program, as well as writer applications and other information.

To best accommodate busy schedules, PEN is offering a choice of two meetings:

The first on Wednesday, October 11th, at 6:30 p.m.

The second on Saturday, October 14th, at 10 a.m.

Coffee and snacks will be served.

Both meetings will take place at PEN USA
c/o Antioch University Los Angeles
400 Corporate Pointe
Culver City, CA 90230

RSVPs are not necessary. But if you have any questions, feel free to contact Eitan Kadosh by email: Eitan@penusa.org or by phone: 310-862-1555 ext. 360.

For infomation on how to become a member of PEN, visit its website.

Pedacitos

Manuel Ramos

REYNA GRANDE IN DENVER
October 10, 2006 7:30 PM The Tattered Cover, Colfax Avenue
Reyna Grande will read from and sign Across a Hundred Mountains (Atria), described as "a stunning and poignant story of migration, loss, and discovery as two women - one born in Mexico, one in the United States - find their lives joined in the most unlikely way. The phenomenon of Mexican immigration to the United States is one of the most controversial issues of our time. While it is often discussed in terms of the political and economic implications, Grande, with this brilliant debut novel and her own profound insider's perspective, puts a human face on the subject."

Request a signed copy: books@tatteredcover.com.

La Bloga's Denver contingent is eagerly anticipating this visit from Ms. Grande. We hope to be at her reading and may even report on the event. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, the Tattered Cover has lined up an impressive and stellar list of authors, politicians, and celebrities for events during October, at all three stores. Check the store's website for complete details.

Visit Reyna Grande's website.

HELENA MARÍA VIRAMONTES
Congratulations to Helena María Viramontes who, as reported previously by Daniel Olivas here on La Bloga, receives the Luis Leal Award for Distinction in Chicano/Latino Literature at the Santa Barbara Book & Author Festival on September 30.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
The first, maybe annual, La Bloga Día de los Muertos Amoxcalli-Descansos Contest. Here's your chance to get exposure for your great piece relating to el Día de los Muertos. Through Oct. 24th we will accept prose, poetry, essay, in English or Spanish or Spanglish--just about anything concerning this indigenous/modern tradition. Fantasy, children's stories, young adult, horror, serious, or not so--anything you want to share on La Bloga. Shorter pieces are preferred (less than 500 words), since we are the editorial staff and will base decisions on quality and how little work is required of us. We will feature one prize winner each day of the week of Day of the Dead. For more details, scroll down to the September 28 issue of La Bloga.

Later.

Call for Submissions

Announcing the first La Bloga Día de los Muertos Amoxcalli-Descansos Contest:

If you don't know what El Día de los Muertos is, go here:
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~rjsalvad/scmfaq/muertos.html

In indigenous MesoAmerica, Amoxcalli was a little book house the Aztecs built, areas "inside temples to gather valuable manuscripts for consultation by nobles and priests." (http://www.criticasmagazine.com/article/CA6344733.html)

Descanso is the resting place of a dead person; from descansar,," the Spanish verb for "to rest." Also, a roadside memorial.

Driving through the Southwest, you'll pass an occasional small, hand-built shrine of stone or wood, adorned with flowers, ribbons and even a photo, constructed by local chicanada in memory of a deceased loved.

If you throw these definitions into a big olla, add a dab of picoso and the optional bottle of tequila añejo, ala Bloga Chef Gina MarySol Ruiz, what you come up with is possibly a week's worth of Bloga posts from our readers.

Here's your chance to get exposure for your great piece relating to el Día de los Muertos. Through Oct. 24th we will accept prose, poetry, essay, in English or Spanish or Spanglish--most anything about this indigenous/modern tradition. Fantasy, children's stories, YA, horror, serious, satirical or comical--anything you want to share.

Shorter pieces are preferred (less than 500 words), since we are the editorial staff and will base our decisions on quality and how little work is required of us.

Los Bloguistas, or Blogueros if you prefer, will still do regular contributions on the subject, along with readers' submissions, with one prizewinner featured each day.

Did I forget to mention the prizes? In addition to the ignoble honor of having your submission featured on La Bloga, since we think multiple prizes are cool, we scraped up the following:

1st prize: copy of Manuel Paul López's "Death of a Mexican and other poems" -- kinda fits, no?
2nd: "Devil Talk" (signed) -- appropriate, no?
3rd: "Moony's Road to Hell" (signed) -- hell: get it?
(Prizes mailed inside continental U.S.; otherwise, we keep it 'til you come for it.)

Guidelines:
Length: 500-words or less
Format: MSWord or RTF; 12-pt. Courier or Times
Languages: Spanish (please don't strain our work-in-progress, trilingual literacy), English, or Spanglich.
Deadline: Oct. 24th, midnight PST
E-mail submissions to: labloga@readraza.com
(Stories pasted into your E-mail; no attachments will be opened.)
Include your name and contact info and a statement that you own the rights to this work.
Judging: We'll be the judges of that. Period.

Our hope is to spread your prose or poetry out like roadside descansos, ending up on Nov. 2nd, el Día de los Muertos, with a series of amoxcalli for consultation by the nobles and priests that make up our audience.

So, shinea up that chiste, put a shine on your short story, or lucirse tu pensamiento. Your editors await.

the La Bloga staff

Celebrating Bukowski at the Huntington Library

Michael Sedano

I wonder how many readers have not spent hours laughing at Hank Chinaski’s wino antics, or joining his lament at some everyday brutality, or merely reveling in writer Charles Bukowski’s mastery of word, language, and story? I reckon only a handful.

The 1970s reader came well-prepared for Bukowski’s characters. Events of the day bred a taste for literature with distinct risk, irony, satire, and authenticity. They had made cult favorites of works like Candy, A Clockwork Orange, Stranger in a Strange Land, Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

Enter Henry Chinaski’s unique take on the blue collar world and authenticity. Whereas Bob Dylan had said a bum, seen at a distance, vomiting in the street is “real”, Bukowski had been drinking all day with that bum, then writing about the experience all night. And attracting eager readers.

Bukowski’s world complemented the cult reader’s appetites. Here is McMurphy’s craziness, but lived on the outside where Chinaski can outwit the big nurses, or just walk away. No politics, no protest, no changing the world, just the laid back futility of alcohol. Yet, the fellow wrote and wrote and wrote. Better, this stuff has staying power. Parents handed down to their high school kids, tattered copies of the 1971 Post Office, 1975’s Factotum. The kids, in turn, handed their parents 1983’s The Most Beautiful Woman in Town & Other Stories. Bukowski was on the English 101 reading lists. “Dad, you were right.”

That Charles Bukowski left cult status years ago is not news. It may be news that the author’s widow, Linda Lee Bukowski, donated his literary estate --manuscripts, letters, artifacts—all the incunabula of the writer’s career, to San Marino’s Huntington Library. A scholarly research institution, the Huntington’s home page lists its treasures including “the Ellesmere manuscript of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, a copy of the Gutenberg Bible on vellum, the double-elephant folio edition of Audubon's Birds of America, and an unsurpassed collection of the early editions of Shakespeare's works.”

The first exhibit of Bukowski materials comes in 2010, after the library catalogs and digitizes everything. Visit the digital library for an inkling of how the Huntington treats its materials.

In the meantime, an audience spanning the generations of Bukowski readers—including one mother pregnant with a third generation of Bukowski readers in the house-- were treated by the Huntington to “Celebrating Bukowski,” an evening of greetings, readings and interviews.

Sadly, John Martin, whose Black Sparrow Press published Bukowski, was ill and did not attend the celebration to be interviewed on stage. Sharing their personal anecdotes of working with the artist were Joanne Gordon, producer of a stage piece, “Love, Bukowski,” and Jim Stark, producer of the movie “Factotum”.

Oral readings included “On The Hustle”, performed by John Short, Ham on Rye selection read by Clive Saunders, “Crucifix In A Death Hand” read by Neeli Cherkovski, “Clothes Cost Money,” performed by Shaunte’ Caraballo, “I am Known” performed by John Short, “Torched-Out” read by Harry Dean Stanton, “The Genius of the Crowd” read by S.A. Griffin, “The History of a Tough Motherfucker” performed by Mark Piatelli, “No Eulogies” performed by Short. The capstone was Stanton’s oral interp of Linda Lee Bukowski’s favorite of her husband’s poems, “The Crunch.”

Huntington staff express delight at the acquisition but can’t help tittering that its newest literary treasure is definitively different. They also are straightforward in accepting that “motherfucker” finds a welcome home in the auditorium.

The highlight of the evening for me came when Mrs. Bukowski answered the question that must have resounded through the nation’s libraries when news of the Huntington’s acquisition arrived. “Why the Huntington?”

Linda Lee smiled out at the adoring audience. When her husband wanted solace and joy, his paradise was the stands of Santa Anita race track. Linda Lee would drive him to the track but not hang around. Instead, she drove five miles west to spend the day in the botanical gardens and rarified atmosphere of the library galleries. The Huntington is Linda Lee’s paradise so there can be no better place for her husband’s papers.



◙ CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: The first, maybe annual, La Bloga Día de los Muertos Amoxcalli-Descansos Contest. (More about the title, later.)

Here's your chance to get exposure for your great piece relating to el Día de los Muertos. Through Oct. 24th we will accept prose, poetry, essay, in English or Spanish or Spanglish--just about anything concerning this indigenous/modern tradition. Fantasy, children's stories, young adult, horror, serious, or not so--anything you want to share on La Bloga.

Shorter pieces are preferred (less than 500 words), since we are the editorial staff and will base decisions on quality and how little work is required of us. That week, los Bloguistas will do their regular contributions on the subject, along with readers' submissions, with one prize winner featured each day. So, get it polished 'cause more details are coming Thursday.



And here arrives the last Tuesday of September 2006. Tempus Fugit, so carpe a few diems and get that chimney cleaned out in readiness for that first crisp morning, reading a book by the fireplace. Does it get much better than that?

See you next week.

mvs

Writers Write. Period.

By Daniel A. Olivas

When I hear would-be authors proclaim that they could write the Great American Novel if only they had time, I simply want to laugh. It reminds me of the story (perhaps apocryphal) about a dentist who blithely informed Isabel Allende that he planned to become a novelist when he retired. She quipped: “Oh really? And when I retire I’ll become an oral surgeon!”

What I’m about to say will sound like tough love or even cruel, but here goes: A writer finds time to write regardless of hectic schedules, energetic children, and needy lovers. No excuses.

Rather than leave it at that, let me describe how I’ve written five books (four published, one making the rounds awaiting judgment), edited a 115,000-word anthology of short fiction set for publication next year, in addition to posting each Monday on La Bloga, and writing book reviews and essays for numerous print and online publications. I do this while juggling the time demands of marriage, parenthood and holding down a stressful, full-time day job as an attorney with the California Department of Justice.

First, I note that as a lawyer, I essentially write for a living. Though some time is spent in court, most of the “heavy lifting” occurs in my office at my computer as I write legal memoranda, motions and briefs. I work under tight, court-determined deadlines. There is no room for writers’ block. My goal with legal writing is simply to tell a coherent, compelling story. So, if you have a “day job” where you must write, you have an advantage that other budding authors don’t because you are constantly honing your writing skills. True, writing a memo to your boss on how to improve sales might not resemble that detective thriller brewing in your brain, but I truly believe that being required, on a daily basis, to craft sentences and paragraphs in a non-literary forum will benefit your creative writing.

Second, I specialize in short stories. Even the novel I’m working on is made up of interconnecting short stories. In other words, I write self-contained pieces that I can complete within a relatively short period. This works for me. But if you want to write a novel and you feel as though you can barely get an hour alone at the computer, let me suggest that you break it up into baby steps so that the mountain you’re about to scale doesn’t seem so daunting. Promise yourself to write 500 words a day. That’s two, double-spaced pages. Not so scary, right? I write in the evening, usually when my son is asleep and my wife is relaxing. I find that I can squeeze in one or two hours of writing each night. On weekends, I’ll sneak in another one or two hours in the morning. Those hours add up as do the pages.

Third, I don’t waste my time talking about what I want to write. Don’t get me wrong. I love discussing the craft itself when I’m in the company of other writers or on a book panel. But there is nothing more boring than someone telling me what he plans to write when that person hasn’t produced a word. It sounds like this to me: Blah, blah, blah. I’m sounding cranky now, right? Oh well.

Fourth, when I’m not writing, I’m thinking about plots, characters, dialogue, the perfect description of a book I’m going to review. This often happens during my long commute from the West San Fernando Valley to my office in downtown. In other words, much of my writing happens before I actually sit before the computer.

Finally, there is an element of writing that I have trouble explaining but I’ll give it a try. Words want to come out of me and take shape in the form of a story, poem, essay or book review. I am incapable of subduing these words. If I don’t get them out of my head and onto paper, I will explode. I’m lucky that some folks have wanted to publish my words, sometimes even paying me. But I suspect that I’d write no matter what. That’s why God created blogs. Now go forth and write. You have no excuses!

◙ NUEVO LIBRO: My review of Manuel Paul López’s debut collection, Death of a Mexican and Other Poems (Bear Star Press) appeared yesterday in the El Paso Times. As I noted earlier, the collection is this year's winner of the Dorothy Brunsman Poetry Prize.

◙ THINKIN’ BROWN: The ever provocative author Himilce Novas shares her thoughts on Hispanic Heritage Month.

◙ NEW LIT: The new issue of Tertulia Magazine is now live for your online reading pleasure. And the Southern Cross Review celebrates its seventh anniversary with a new issue.

◙ FROM THE NEWS WIRES: ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives has chosen El Paso native John Rechy as the first recipient of its ONE Culture Hero Award. Rechy has written 17 volumes of fiction, documentary, drama and essays. He teaches at the University of Southern California. Rechy also wrote and published City of Night, the landmark novel and panorama of the gay lifestyle in Los Angeles and other cities in the United States. The award will be presented Oct. 28 at a reception in Los Angeles, where Rechy is scheduled to talk about his experiences as a writer and activist.

◙ CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: The first, maybe annual, La Bloga Día de los Muertos Amoxcalli-Descansos Contest. (More about the title, later.)

Here's your chance to get exposure for your great piece relating to el Día de los Muertos. Through Oct. 24th we will accept prose, poetry, essay, in English or Spanish or Spanglish--just about anything concerning this indigenous/modern tradition. Fantasy, children's stories, young adult, horror, serious, or not so--anything you want to share on La Bloga.

Shorter pieces are preferred (less than 500 words), since we are the editorial staff and will base decisions on quality and how little work is required of us. That week, los Bloguistas will do their regular contributions on the subject, along with readers' submissions, with one prize winner featured each day. So, get it polished 'cause more details are coming Thursday.

All done. So, until next Monday, enjoy the intervening posts from my compadres y comadre at La Bloga. ¡Lea un libro!

Events and an Opportunity

Manuel Ramos

SAN ANTONIO
As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 - October 15, San Antonio celebrates with an all day event at the central library downtown on Saturday, 23 september 2006. Here's the program:

10:00 AM
Testimonios: How the Library Changed My Life
Sandra Cisneros leads this panel discussion, as writers and community leaders José García de Lara; Elizabeth de la Portilla, Ph.D.; Gregg Barrios; John Philip Santos; Norma Alarcón, Ph.D.; Dennis Martínez; Norma Cantú, Ph.D.; and Edward Schumacher-Matos discuss the role the library plays in their lives. Location: Auditorium, 1st Floor
2:00 PM
Latino Voices: Carmen Tafolla
Author of Sonnets and Salsa. Free presentation highlighting Latino authors Xavier Garza and Carmen Tafolla. Presented by the Texas Center for the Book. Location: Auditorium, 1st Floor
2:00 PM
Animalitos
Using traditional, brightly-colored fabrics, mothers in Guatemala make their children little stuffed toys knows as animalitos. Come enjoy a few animal stories and make a paper animalito of your own. This is a Family Fun program—all ages welcome.
2:30 PM
Luchadores!
Visit with real professional wrestlers from American Championship Wrestlers. Learn about their training, their moves and how to become a wrestler.

DENVER
Saturday, October 14th at 7:30 pm - Stories for all Seasons: Peyote Tales. Storyteller Renee Fajardo and Photojournalist Todd Pierson share their research on the unique perspective of the Peyote Way. West Side Books, 3434 W 32nd Ave, Denver, Colorado 80211 303 480-0220

CHICAGO
Palabra Pura promotes literary expression in more than one tongue through a monthly bilingual poetry reading featuring Chicano and Latino artists. With an aim to foster dialogue through literature in Chicago and beyond, each evening pairs a local poet with a visiting writer along with an open mic to engage the interaction of diverse voices, ideas, and aesthetics. The readings are held the third Wednesday of every month (except August and December) throughout 2006. Upcoming Events: October 18: Richard Blanco & Achy Obejas November 15: Ada Limon. Go to the Guild Complex website for more info.

SILICON VALLEY
A Silicon Valley entrepreneur who discovered how hard it is to get published is behind the new Sobol Award for unpublished novelists. The rewards are great for the top three writers: first prize of $100,000, first runner up award of $25,000, $10,000 for the second runner up. Plus seven $1,000 prizes for the rest of the longlist. The submission process begins now and runs through the end of the year. For more information: www.sobolaward.com. However, be aware that this "contest" requires an $85 registration fee - very high in my experience.

SANTA ANA
This just in -- Librería Martínez presents Orange County Housecleaners, Photos by Frank Cancian, September 24, 2006, 3:00 PM

The Orange County Housecleaners book features Julieta Noemi (Mimi) Lopez, Esperanza Mejia, Leidi Mejia, Tina Parker, Sharon Risley, Victoria Rua, and Sara Velazquez. In this book seven women tell their life stories. Each one of them began with her childhood and talked about whatever she thought was important in her life. All women work or recently worked as housecleaners.

Libreria Martinez, 1110 N. Main Street Santa Ana, CA 714-973-7900

That's it for me -- I'm way too busy for a guy my age so this week's post is quick. My La Bloga comrades have all produced excellent posts this week. Make sure you scroll down or use the links to the left to look over their contributions.

Later.