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Damballa
The first ever African American 1930s avenger sets out to stop a Nazi plot to subvert a championship fight. From deepest Africa to the streets of 1930s Harlem, the action is none stop. Written by famed novelist Charles Saunders, with interior illos by Clayton Hinkle and a cover by Charles Fetherolf, this is a history making pulp adventure fans do not want to miss.
- GenresPulp AdventureFiction
212 pages, Paperback
First published June 17, 2011
4 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
Charles R. Saunders
62 books186 followersSaunders was born in 1946 in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania and emigrated to Canada in 1970. He has published science fiction and screenplays, two of which have become feature films. Saunders has also written a radio play, as well as other non-fiction works. He later worked as a journalist in Halifax, Nova Scotia and is the author of two recent works of historical non-fiction: Share and Care: The Story of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children and Black and Bluenose: The Contemporary History of a Community.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 15, 2017
This was one of those books that I just couldn't put down. Overall a great story and recommended reading.
July 27, 2011
A superb blend of old-fashioned story telling, film noir, and boxing. Set in 1938 Harlem, featuring Nazis, gangsters, and the first black crime-fighting superhero in pulp fiction history, Charles Saunders has written an exciting, action-packed, and thoughtful novel with a serious subtext dealing with racism and bigotry.
December 17, 2015
Fantastic story. I loved the callback to classic pulps, and the boxing framework of the story (along with the excitement of any scene with the titular hero) was thrilling all the way through. Highly recommended!
June 16, 2013
This is pulp fiction extraordinaire!! Outstanding!
July 26, 2017
I thought Imaro was good but this was even better.....Highly recommend
December 10, 2022
An absolutely fantastic piece of writing. It is a tragedy thar Charles Saunders wasn't more well known in his lifetime.
August 26, 2014
When I learned that Charles Saunders, who - among other things - wrote the wonderful Imaro series of sword & soul books, also wrote a pulp-hero novel set in 1930s Harlem, I had to get it.
And it didn't disappoint. Saunders very skillfully captures the style of the old pulp writers, while still writing a very fresh and exciting adventure story. Damballa is a great hero, and I hope Saunders revisits the character.
And it didn't disappoint. Saunders very skillfully captures the style of the old pulp writers, while still writing a very fresh and exciting adventure story. Damballa is a great hero, and I hope Saunders revisits the character.
August 25, 2025
𝑾𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑵𝒐𝒘! 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑱𝒐𝒏 𝑻𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 $𝟓𝟎 𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝑭𝑵𝑺’𝒔 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝑹. 𝑺𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒛𝒆. 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, 𝒘𝒆’𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝟏𝟐 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆.
Charles R. Saunders has entered the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. The story of how I came to have his plaque reminded me of a story connected to the birth of a unique novel for Charles.
Damballa is a joyful book and it became the first new fiction world from Charles in 26 years when it was published in 2011. He mixes his love of African history into Damballa’s origin story and adds his passion for boxing by centring the book around an upcoming heavyweight tilt. It’s the only novel Charles ever set in our world. “Music stirred the sultry night air of Sugar Row. The syncopated sounds of smooth jazz wove magic in the June heat and brought quick smiles to the lips of the men and women of all shades of darkness who walked past the mansion from which the music emanated,” it begins.
It’s Harlem in the 1930s and a Black American man is heavyweight champion of the boxing world. The Nazis hate him and send their own supreme white champion, powered by a mysterious potion, to destroy the champ in the ring. Damballa must thwart the Nazi plot to give the champ a fighting chance. In true Charles fashion, even the drugged-up Nazi pugilist is portrayed with all his rich humanity intact. Damballa uses a mix of modern science and ancient African magic to thwart the Nazi supremacy.
The novel came at the prompting of Charles’s old friend, Ron Fortier. The men had connected through letters over Dark Fantasy magazine in the 1970s and had corresponded for decades. In 2006, Ron and his friend Rob Davis accomplished a dream by launching Airship 27 Productions with the plan to publish new pulp fiction based on the 1930s classic pulp heroes they both loved. Charles admired the idea, and offered his support. Ron needed a solid proofreader and Charles volunteered. He devoured the stories starring Secret Agent X, the Black Bat, Domino Lady, Raven, Stepson of Mystery, and the Purple Scar. Charles got a hoot out of it, but he told Ron he’d found an old problem in the classic characters: “We can’t help but trip across the racism of the 1930s.”
Ron agreed, but contended he couldn’t revive classic Black pulp heroes, because there were none. Perhaps Charles could change that? No, Charles said. Repeatedly. For five years. But then … “If it’ll shut you up, I think I’ve got an idea,” he finally replied. The idea was Damballa, and it fused Charles’s primary passions in an original synthesis. “From the heart of Africa to the streets of Harlem, a new hero is born sworn to support and protect Americans of all races and creeds; he is Damballa and he strikes from the shadows.”
Ron could hardly believe his luck when he read the manuscript. It was a moment of literary history that he was proud of: the first Black pulp hero of the 1930s, just 80 years later. It was so different from everything else Charles had ever written, and yet fit immediately into his growing canon of Sword and Soul.
Charles won the Pulp Factory award for best novel for Damballa. The awards team created the prize, packed it up, and sent it to Charles. Yet somehow, they actually sent it to a very confused fan named Derrick Ferguson. He called them, alarmed, and asked why an award with his hero’s name on it was in his hands. The awards team told him just to return it and they’d get it to Charles. “No way. No way. I’m sending this to Charles on my own dime. Can I put a letter in?” Derrick asked. “By all means,” they replied.
So when the Canadian Hall of Fame sent me Charles’s plaque, I thought of that story. They hadn’t sent it to me by accident, as Charles’s estate had asked me to accept the honour on his behalf. However, as I wrote this, I realized that it had been a mistake. What was my hero’s plaque doing in my hands? This plaque belongs with Charles’s family – and dare I say it belongs in America. I am sending it home to them. I will follow Derrick’s lead and put a letter in, too, so that his descendents will know about Charles R. Saunders.
Source: To Leave a Warrior Behind: The Life and Stories of Charles R. Saunders, the Man Who Rewrote Fantasy. (McClelland & Stewart, Jan. 20 2026).
Charles R. Saunders has entered the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. The story of how I came to have his plaque reminded me of a story connected to the birth of a unique novel for Charles.
Damballa is a joyful book and it became the first new fiction world from Charles in 26 years when it was published in 2011. He mixes his love of African history into Damballa’s origin story and adds his passion for boxing by centring the book around an upcoming heavyweight tilt. It’s the only novel Charles ever set in our world. “Music stirred the sultry night air of Sugar Row. The syncopated sounds of smooth jazz wove magic in the June heat and brought quick smiles to the lips of the men and women of all shades of darkness who walked past the mansion from which the music emanated,” it begins.
It’s Harlem in the 1930s and a Black American man is heavyweight champion of the boxing world. The Nazis hate him and send their own supreme white champion, powered by a mysterious potion, to destroy the champ in the ring. Damballa must thwart the Nazi plot to give the champ a fighting chance. In true Charles fashion, even the drugged-up Nazi pugilist is portrayed with all his rich humanity intact. Damballa uses a mix of modern science and ancient African magic to thwart the Nazi supremacy.
The novel came at the prompting of Charles’s old friend, Ron Fortier. The men had connected through letters over Dark Fantasy magazine in the 1970s and had corresponded for decades. In 2006, Ron and his friend Rob Davis accomplished a dream by launching Airship 27 Productions with the plan to publish new pulp fiction based on the 1930s classic pulp heroes they both loved. Charles admired the idea, and offered his support. Ron needed a solid proofreader and Charles volunteered. He devoured the stories starring Secret Agent X, the Black Bat, Domino Lady, Raven, Stepson of Mystery, and the Purple Scar. Charles got a hoot out of it, but he told Ron he’d found an old problem in the classic characters: “We can’t help but trip across the racism of the 1930s.”
Ron agreed, but contended he couldn’t revive classic Black pulp heroes, because there were none. Perhaps Charles could change that? No, Charles said. Repeatedly. For five years. But then … “If it’ll shut you up, I think I’ve got an idea,” he finally replied. The idea was Damballa, and it fused Charles’s primary passions in an original synthesis. “From the heart of Africa to the streets of Harlem, a new hero is born sworn to support and protect Americans of all races and creeds; he is Damballa and he strikes from the shadows.”
Ron could hardly believe his luck when he read the manuscript. It was a moment of literary history that he was proud of: the first Black pulp hero of the 1930s, just 80 years later. It was so different from everything else Charles had ever written, and yet fit immediately into his growing canon of Sword and Soul.
Charles won the Pulp Factory award for best novel for Damballa. The awards team created the prize, packed it up, and sent it to Charles. Yet somehow, they actually sent it to a very confused fan named Derrick Ferguson. He called them, alarmed, and asked why an award with his hero’s name on it was in his hands. The awards team told him just to return it and they’d get it to Charles. “No way. No way. I’m sending this to Charles on my own dime. Can I put a letter in?” Derrick asked. “By all means,” they replied.
So when the Canadian Hall of Fame sent me Charles’s plaque, I thought of that story. They hadn’t sent it to me by accident, as Charles’s estate had asked me to accept the honour on his behalf. However, as I wrote this, I realized that it had been a mistake. What was my hero’s plaque doing in my hands? This plaque belongs with Charles’s family – and dare I say it belongs in America. I am sending it home to them. I will follow Derrick’s lead and put a letter in, too, so that his descendents will know about Charles R. Saunders.
Source: To Leave a Warrior Behind: The Life and Stories of Charles R. Saunders, the Man Who Rewrote Fantasy. (McClelland & Stewart, Jan. 20 2026).
April 14, 2025
This is an excellent example of how to update pulp adventures for the modern age. This is the second Saunders book I have read, and I remain impressed by his story telling skill.
What first drew my attention to him was the forward he wrote for Octavia Butler's Kindred which I liked more than the book itself. Yes, I know how dare I say that, but to this day Saunders writing about going to the movies growing up, seeing Tarzan films and wanting to create a black character who would kick Tarzan's ass. Therefore the creation of Imaro, at least in part.
Damballa takes the tropes from the The Shadow, Doc Savage etc. and executes them as well if not better. Damballa, because of more than one life event has left his native continent of Africa and now resides in the U.S.A. as a little known, and not well publicized champion of blacks. At least Saunders works in Damballa contemporaries, so far all the Wold Newton fans you arguably have an addition (FYI I am among that fandom).
Nothing too over the top, Saunders keeps things very street level, and use the second Louis/Schmeling fight as a template for the boxing match that becomes the story's centerpiece. Saunders paces the story well, and works in a little characterization, even for the secondary players.
Oh, yeah Nazis. Lets not forget Nazis still make excellent villains.
What first drew my attention to him was the forward he wrote for Octavia Butler's Kindred which I liked more than the book itself. Yes, I know how dare I say that, but to this day Saunders writing about going to the movies growing up, seeing Tarzan films and wanting to create a black character who would kick Tarzan's ass. Therefore the creation of Imaro, at least in part.
Damballa takes the tropes from the The Shadow, Doc Savage etc. and executes them as well if not better. Damballa, because of more than one life event has left his native continent of Africa and now resides in the U.S.A. as a little known, and not well publicized champion of blacks. At least Saunders works in Damballa contemporaries, so far all the Wold Newton fans you arguably have an addition (FYI I am among that fandom).
Nothing too over the top, Saunders keeps things very street level, and use the second Louis/Schmeling fight as a template for the boxing match that becomes the story's centerpiece. Saunders paces the story well, and works in a little characterization, even for the secondary players.
Oh, yeah Nazis. Lets not forget Nazis still make excellent villains.
November 21, 2020
Saunders, whose specialty has always been sword-and-sorcery, switches to pulp fiction with smashing success. Setting is 1938 Harlem; the whole town is excited for the upcoming fight between the black heavyweight champion of the world and the Aryan Superman the Germans have sent to challenge him (Saunders says in the afterword this is his fictional take on the 1938 Schmeling/Joe Louis fight). What nobody knows is that the Germans don't intend to lose and have been dosing the fighter with the 1930s equivalent of steroids.
Enter Damballa, a shadowy vigilante patrolling the streets of Harlem. He knows the Germans are out to rig the fight, but he's determined to stop them. Can he do it? Why does he do it?
It's a crying shame Saunders passing these year means he won't be doing any sequels. But I'm glad we got this one.
Enter Damballa, a shadowy vigilante patrolling the streets of Harlem. He knows the Germans are out to rig the fight, but he's determined to stop them. Can he do it? Why does he do it?
It's a crying shame Saunders passing these year means he won't be doing any sequels. But I'm glad we got this one.
May 14, 2025
A perfect homage to a classic era with the genre’s first 1930s African American pulp hero. Easily rivals the greats like The Shadow and The Spider amongst others
Intelligent, fast paced with cool characters, boxing, secret hideouts, voodoo, mad scientists and Nazis getting punched!
What more could you want?
Intelligent, fast paced with cool characters, boxing, secret hideouts, voodoo, mad scientists and Nazis getting punched!
What more could you want?
January 22, 2025
My only complaint is that the story was too small and too short. Damballa deserves a big sweeping story to fit the enormous shadow cast by the character.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews