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Ghost Dance: A Sequel to Mack the Ripper
In the Victorian era historical fantasy novel, "Mack the Ripper", young Valentine Francois Oisin de St. Vincent--better known as Gao, a mixed race, part Black young man born in France---met and fell in love with Stefan, the immortal brother of Vlad the Impaler and with Mary Kelly, the Ripper's last victim. Gao, who possesses the magic ability called the Voice of God, can take control of humans and animals when he sings. He helped striking London match workers win a fair wage and better work conditions. But he could not save the life of the woman he loved.
In "Ghost Dance", Stefan and Gao have come to New York, where they live in the Chinese section of Five Points, a slum very like London's East End. Here, they are recruited by the Four Queens, goddesses who reside in Central Park to assist in the rebirth of the Orisha, Esu, also known as Loki, Prometheus, Lightbringer, Lucifer, Rabbit and the Monkey King. The spirit of rebellion is about to be reborn, and he/she will judge humanity. Gao and Stefan must convince the deity that the human race is worth saving. Esu's return could not have come at a worse time. New York immigrants live in appalling conditions. The Western Native tribes are on the verge of extinction. Lynchings are an everyday occurrence in the United States. And Johnstown is about to be destroyed, thanks to the hubris and negligence of some very rich men.
In response to the attack on their way of life, the western tribes have embraced the Ghost Dance, a religion which promises the return of the dead and of the buffalo. Authorities in Washington have outlawed the Ghost Dance. But they cannot outlaw Esu, the spirit of rebellion who has the power to bring the dead back to life--including Silas Soule, the Union soldier who refused to fire upon helpless Cheyenne at Sand Creek and who played whistle blower after the masacre and was murdered in retaliation.
Spanning the time between the Johnstown Flood and the Massacre at Wounded Knee, "Ghost Dance" continues the story of Gao's education as a magic bard and the story of his love affair with a five hundred year old Balkan prince who feeds off the blood of those who are sick and dying, restoring them to life and health. It is a story about what it means to be a member of an oppressed race with a sexual orientation which society has deemed deviant. It is a story about history which never dies---and which, all too often, has a way of repeating itself.
This is a story about the dark underbelly of United States history. It is also part of the Punk Tectonics series, in which cataclysmic environmental events,including large volcanic eruptions, trigger the awakening of dormant magical abilities designed to help the human race survive.
In "Ghost Dance", Stefan and Gao have come to New York, where they live in the Chinese section of Five Points, a slum very like London's East End. Here, they are recruited by the Four Queens, goddesses who reside in Central Park to assist in the rebirth of the Orisha, Esu, also known as Loki, Prometheus, Lightbringer, Lucifer, Rabbit and the Monkey King. The spirit of rebellion is about to be reborn, and he/she will judge humanity. Gao and Stefan must convince the deity that the human race is worth saving. Esu's return could not have come at a worse time. New York immigrants live in appalling conditions. The Western Native tribes are on the verge of extinction. Lynchings are an everyday occurrence in the United States. And Johnstown is about to be destroyed, thanks to the hubris and negligence of some very rich men.
In response to the attack on their way of life, the western tribes have embraced the Ghost Dance, a religion which promises the return of the dead and of the buffalo. Authorities in Washington have outlawed the Ghost Dance. But they cannot outlaw Esu, the spirit of rebellion who has the power to bring the dead back to life--including Silas Soule, the Union soldier who refused to fire upon helpless Cheyenne at Sand Creek and who played whistle blower after the masacre and was murdered in retaliation.
Spanning the time between the Johnstown Flood and the Massacre at Wounded Knee, "Ghost Dance" continues the story of Gao's education as a magic bard and the story of his love affair with a five hundred year old Balkan prince who feeds off the blood of those who are sick and dying, restoring them to life and health. It is a story about what it means to be a member of an oppressed race with a sexual orientation which society has deemed deviant. It is a story about history which never dies---and which, all too often, has a way of repeating itself.
This is a story about the dark underbelly of United States history. It is also part of the Punk Tectonics series, in which cataclysmic environmental events,including large volcanic eruptions, trigger the awakening of dormant magical abilities designed to help the human race survive.
150 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 8, 2015
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April 26, 2015
Wonderful story continuing the saga of Stefan and Gao. Please keep these stories coming!
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