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Bodyslick
From writer and artist Sibley comes a new novel set in the year 2031, where gangs, guns, and genetic engineering rule.
402 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2008
2 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
John H. Sibley
13 books131 followers John H. Sibley is an accomplished artist/author/teacher/veteran--Art and music have always been a part of his life. He grew up in a Chicago household listening to his father play the Boogie Wookie on his Steinway Grand Piano. His father was offered a gig with the Count Basie Band, but he opted to marry and raise a family. John credits his cousin Levi, who is now blind, for mentoring
him in art.
His sci-fi novel BODYSLICK (he created 52 illustrations) was published in 2008 by Vibe/Kensington in New York. Articles written and about Mr. Sibley has been in numerous publications: " To keep me reading is truly saying something." John W. Fountain, New York Times
"With creative writers like Sibley the sky is the limit." Rob Kenner, Vibe fiction editor
" BODYSLICK" is set in a dystopian version of modern-day Chicago." Sam Feldman, Chicago Weekly
" An absurdly gory novel." Publishers Weekly"
"Sibley shows us that a futuristic Chicago is not for the timid." Library Journal, Rollie Welch
"There is an undulating jazz beat that courses through the work of John Sibley." Mary Houlihan, Chicago Suntimes
" The preface was the best I have ever read." Goodreads
Sibley is a 2007 American Sports Artist nominee. His paintings are owned by former Chicago Bull, John Salley, NFL icon Walter Payton, Mike Tyson, Revey Sorey,author Manik D.Dover, Mayor Richard J. Daley of Chicago.
He has appeared on WGN channel 9 in Chicago, ABC with Jim Rose, WNUA with jazz icon Ramsey Lewis, and was a courtroom artist for CNN--covered the FLN trial.
Mr. Sibley is a 1994 graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, holding a BFA in fine art. Sibley worked 23 years as a supervisor for a hi-tech acoustic company and now teaches in the Chicago public school system. He lives in Chicago and has two daughters and a son and five grandchildren.
him in art.
His sci-fi novel BODYSLICK (he created 52 illustrations) was published in 2008 by Vibe/Kensington in New York. Articles written and about Mr. Sibley has been in numerous publications: " To keep me reading is truly saying something." John W. Fountain, New York Times
"With creative writers like Sibley the sky is the limit." Rob Kenner, Vibe fiction editor
" BODYSLICK" is set in a dystopian version of modern-day Chicago." Sam Feldman, Chicago Weekly
" An absurdly gory novel." Publishers Weekly"
"Sibley shows us that a futuristic Chicago is not for the timid." Library Journal, Rollie Welch
"There is an undulating jazz beat that courses through the work of John Sibley." Mary Houlihan, Chicago Suntimes
" The preface was the best I have ever read." Goodreads
Sibley is a 2007 American Sports Artist nominee. His paintings are owned by former Chicago Bull, John Salley, NFL icon Walter Payton, Mike Tyson, Revey Sorey,author Manik D.Dover, Mayor Richard J. Daley of Chicago.
He has appeared on WGN channel 9 in Chicago, ABC with Jim Rose, WNUA with jazz icon Ramsey Lewis, and was a courtroom artist for CNN--covered the FLN trial.
Mr. Sibley is a 1994 graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, holding a BFA in fine art. Sibley worked 23 years as a supervisor for a hi-tech acoustic company and now teaches in the Chicago public school system. He lives in Chicago and has two daughters and a son and five grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 9, 2011
A Future as Disturbing as the Present
I found John H. Sibley's futuristic gangster novel, Bodyslick, to be a very disturbing look at a potential urban society in the not so distant, future. The story is set in the year 2031, Chicago, where it seems that society has not learned a single thing from the mistakes of the past (our present). In terms of values, such as respect for life, dignity for humans or animals, or any priorities that would allow for a true quality of life, all have deteriorated.
In 2031, there are all the usual illegal underground operations—drugs, prostitution, weapons, money laundering, etc. But the crime of choice for Sibley's protagonist is the black market dealing of body parts. If that sounds gruesome, just saying it, wait till you read the book!
Typically, in a dramatic story, the reader is led to empathize with or, in effect, pull for the leading character. This is also true here, to some extent, but looking at the reality of Bodyslick's character, there is no rationalization up to the task of finding him to be a good guy: "Liza, to make a long story short I'm a bad guy. A criminal. I sell human body parts for big bucks." His view of himself is not unlike that of any other ruthless gangster. His personal rationalization is that he is doing a service, that he is providing the means for saving lives through medical transplant procedures. But truth is truth, and the truth is a case of the age old argument that the end justifies the means. Bodyslick is a somewhat likeable opportunist, but he is indeed an opportunist. To fulfill his own passion for power, possessions, and lust, he carelessly and consistently endangers the lives of those who care about him the most.
John H. Sibley is a gifted artist and writer. I read one of his short pieces and was, frankly, thrilled; at times he can write like the wind. I have to admit that the novel,Bodyslick, though not my cup of tea in many ways, would make an excellent movie, for those who could stand the obsession, the fixation, with the gore, the brutality, and the horror of life. It's a well thought out, well written work. And it's gripping—a page turner. But it seems to me that John had a message to convey with the book: that a man becomes what he is due to circumstances beyond his control. If I'm on track with that observation, then, no doubt, he is well aware of the extreme case he is attempting to make with this character. It is a message that I found rather weak. Another message that creeps into the story on rare occasions is that Bodyslick has sort of an elementary notion of a spiritual significance to it all. I thought this idea was presented accurately, because of his life of depravity. It's really quite normal for most of us to think of God—matters of spirituality—only as a passing thought or when in dire straits. Yet even the most depraved criminals, the most confirmed atheists, may well have their moments…
All in all, an interesting study of a sick group of characters in a sick society. A variety of gang-type organizations were represented, including the terrifyingly powerful Chinese and Italian rivals with their grand schemes, as well as the skinheads and other more loosely knit tough guys roaming the streets. That the manipulative powers of extreme and so-called legitimate wealth are involved goes, almost, without saying. Still, it does seem that we have to keep saying it. How to affect a change is another story.
Recommended—to those with the stomach for it.
I found John H. Sibley's futuristic gangster novel, Bodyslick, to be a very disturbing look at a potential urban society in the not so distant, future. The story is set in the year 2031, Chicago, where it seems that society has not learned a single thing from the mistakes of the past (our present). In terms of values, such as respect for life, dignity for humans or animals, or any priorities that would allow for a true quality of life, all have deteriorated.
In 2031, there are all the usual illegal underground operations—drugs, prostitution, weapons, money laundering, etc. But the crime of choice for Sibley's protagonist is the black market dealing of body parts. If that sounds gruesome, just saying it, wait till you read the book!
Typically, in a dramatic story, the reader is led to empathize with or, in effect, pull for the leading character. This is also true here, to some extent, but looking at the reality of Bodyslick's character, there is no rationalization up to the task of finding him to be a good guy: "Liza, to make a long story short I'm a bad guy. A criminal. I sell human body parts for big bucks." His view of himself is not unlike that of any other ruthless gangster. His personal rationalization is that he is doing a service, that he is providing the means for saving lives through medical transplant procedures. But truth is truth, and the truth is a case of the age old argument that the end justifies the means. Bodyslick is a somewhat likeable opportunist, but he is indeed an opportunist. To fulfill his own passion for power, possessions, and lust, he carelessly and consistently endangers the lives of those who care about him the most.
John H. Sibley is a gifted artist and writer. I read one of his short pieces and was, frankly, thrilled; at times he can write like the wind. I have to admit that the novel,Bodyslick, though not my cup of tea in many ways, would make an excellent movie, for those who could stand the obsession, the fixation, with the gore, the brutality, and the horror of life. It's a well thought out, well written work. And it's gripping—a page turner. But it seems to me that John had a message to convey with the book: that a man becomes what he is due to circumstances beyond his control. If I'm on track with that observation, then, no doubt, he is well aware of the extreme case he is attempting to make with this character. It is a message that I found rather weak. Another message that creeps into the story on rare occasions is that Bodyslick has sort of an elementary notion of a spiritual significance to it all. I thought this idea was presented accurately, because of his life of depravity. It's really quite normal for most of us to think of God—matters of spirituality—only as a passing thought or when in dire straits. Yet even the most depraved criminals, the most confirmed atheists, may well have their moments…
All in all, an interesting study of a sick group of characters in a sick society. A variety of gang-type organizations were represented, including the terrifyingly powerful Chinese and Italian rivals with their grand schemes, as well as the skinheads and other more loosely knit tough guys roaming the streets. That the manipulative powers of extreme and so-called legitimate wealth are involved goes, almost, without saying. Still, it does seem that we have to keep saying it. How to affect a change is another story.
Recommended—to those with the stomach for it.
July 23, 2011
In 2031, when the economy has collapsed and our way of life is changed enough to become unrecognizable, the organ business is booming. One of the people who benefit from this is Malcolm Steel, known as Bodyslick, a man who has his own way of doing business. But when a competitor tries to take over his lucrative industry, Bodyslick must find a way to keep himself above water.
Dystopian novels are always fascinating to read, it is interesting to see how different people picture our future world. The most curious thing is that the picture is always rather grim. This book is no different. The streets are filled, (even more than they are now) with gang members fighting over territory, with mutated humans and animals and with drugs of all kinds. The new commerce is centered around body parts, mainly organs, and of course there is a huge black market for these items. As with anything in our society even now, the wealthy, privileged people are the ones who have the most access to these organs, leaving the poor to suffer as they always have. The way the story is structured shows the change that’s come to our civilization, with robots and all types of technology taking over many of the duties we depend on humans for now. In some cases, as with robots used to perform operations on humans, it is a good thing, while with others, as with one sad robot who performs the duties of a flight attendant, it’s not such a step forward. It’s interesting to see the idea of robots taken far enough that they actually look completely human, to the point where the main character can’t tell them apart.
In books that have science fiction premises, the main danger is for the reader to be bombarded with strangely named artifacts, unpronounceable names and ideas that are hard for anyone without a science degree to grasp. This novel, however, avoids those faults. There are very few new terms, things such as the new drugs and the new, mutant creatures, and they are easily grasped. There is no need to turn back pages to figure out which word meant what, as in many sci-fi novels. It’s not an easy thing to avoid, so compliments to the author for not falling into that trap.
This novel needs to be read with the knowledge of the urban quality of the plot. If it’s not taken in this way, then the reader will miss most of the book’s charm. There are some very comical dialogues that made me laugh out loud. Yes, there is cursing and foul language, as is to be expected in an urban novel, but not enough to become truly annoying, so no fear on that respect. There is a lot of violence, some which seemed a bit on the gratuitous side, made just to impact the reader, but that might have been exactly what the author had in mind. To shock with a spray of blood, to wake the reader up when things are getting a bit easier for Bodyslick. The pace is fast, leaving the readers breathless as Bodyslick diffuses one situation after another, never pausing for too long.
The characters are well done, their language reads naturally. It did seem, however , that Bodyslick forgets his girlfriend a bit too quickly, fantasizing about a female robot within a few pages. This might have been done on purpose to show the lack of emotion that everyone in the novel seems to have, which does a good job of portraying the bleakness of the future. That’s something that makes a big impact on the reader, the complete starkness of emotion, the lack of real human bonds, which seem weak and diluted by the robots that mingle with the characters. That was a clever way of setting the mood for the novel, which never rises above mild despair.
There are many ethical discussions to be triggered by reading this book. Should we allow things like stem-cell, like DNA modifications? There are signs that point to the positive and the negative aspects of these choices in this novel. There is no clear-cut answer to them, but they do provide food for thought as we follow the characters down their difficult, action-packed road.
One of the things that is most enjoyable is the preface. It cannot be skipped over, as it explains the author’s personal hardships that fueled his need to write the book, his struggles with a society that strives to keep minorities in the shadows, and who provide no exit route for them through the normal, easy channels. It sets the stage for the next few hundred pages, in which all of that will be showed, not multiplied or exaggerated, but with a keen eye for the common, everyday injustices.
This book might not be for everyone, mainly because of the violence, but if that is not something to hold you back, it is a very interesting read and it provides a frightening but astute look at what could be our future if we are not careful. Come jump in and follow Bodyslick through his dystopian world.
Dystopian novels are always fascinating to read, it is interesting to see how different people picture our future world. The most curious thing is that the picture is always rather grim. This book is no different. The streets are filled, (even more than they are now) with gang members fighting over territory, with mutated humans and animals and with drugs of all kinds. The new commerce is centered around body parts, mainly organs, and of course there is a huge black market for these items. As with anything in our society even now, the wealthy, privileged people are the ones who have the most access to these organs, leaving the poor to suffer as they always have. The way the story is structured shows the change that’s come to our civilization, with robots and all types of technology taking over many of the duties we depend on humans for now. In some cases, as with robots used to perform operations on humans, it is a good thing, while with others, as with one sad robot who performs the duties of a flight attendant, it’s not such a step forward. It’s interesting to see the idea of robots taken far enough that they actually look completely human, to the point where the main character can’t tell them apart.
In books that have science fiction premises, the main danger is for the reader to be bombarded with strangely named artifacts, unpronounceable names and ideas that are hard for anyone without a science degree to grasp. This novel, however, avoids those faults. There are very few new terms, things such as the new drugs and the new, mutant creatures, and they are easily grasped. There is no need to turn back pages to figure out which word meant what, as in many sci-fi novels. It’s not an easy thing to avoid, so compliments to the author for not falling into that trap.
This novel needs to be read with the knowledge of the urban quality of the plot. If it’s not taken in this way, then the reader will miss most of the book’s charm. There are some very comical dialogues that made me laugh out loud. Yes, there is cursing and foul language, as is to be expected in an urban novel, but not enough to become truly annoying, so no fear on that respect. There is a lot of violence, some which seemed a bit on the gratuitous side, made just to impact the reader, but that might have been exactly what the author had in mind. To shock with a spray of blood, to wake the reader up when things are getting a bit easier for Bodyslick. The pace is fast, leaving the readers breathless as Bodyslick diffuses one situation after another, never pausing for too long.
The characters are well done, their language reads naturally. It did seem, however , that Bodyslick forgets his girlfriend a bit too quickly, fantasizing about a female robot within a few pages. This might have been done on purpose to show the lack of emotion that everyone in the novel seems to have, which does a good job of portraying the bleakness of the future. That’s something that makes a big impact on the reader, the complete starkness of emotion, the lack of real human bonds, which seem weak and diluted by the robots that mingle with the characters. That was a clever way of setting the mood for the novel, which never rises above mild despair.
There are many ethical discussions to be triggered by reading this book. Should we allow things like stem-cell, like DNA modifications? There are signs that point to the positive and the negative aspects of these choices in this novel. There is no clear-cut answer to them, but they do provide food for thought as we follow the characters down their difficult, action-packed road.
One of the things that is most enjoyable is the preface. It cannot be skipped over, as it explains the author’s personal hardships that fueled his need to write the book, his struggles with a society that strives to keep minorities in the shadows, and who provide no exit route for them through the normal, easy channels. It sets the stage for the next few hundred pages, in which all of that will be showed, not multiplied or exaggerated, but with a keen eye for the common, everyday injustices.
This book might not be for everyone, mainly because of the violence, but if that is not something to hold you back, it is a very interesting read and it provides a frightening but astute look at what could be our future if we are not careful. Come jump in and follow Bodyslick through his dystopian world.
January 9, 2012
Disclaimer - I received a copy this book for a fair and honest review from the author.This is the story of Malcolm Steel, aka Bodyslick. A criminal dealer in spare parts...human body parts.
The book is more complex than I realized when I got it from the author. It looks like a simple urban action tale, but it turns into a distopian future tale, a social commentary, a discussion of faith and spirituality, and a journey for Bodyslick to discover the best path forward through the trials of life.
I enjoyed the message far more than the mechanics of the book. Let me explain the message I enjoyed first.
AAA+++. THE PREFACE. The preface sets the tone for the proper way to read this book. The author tells us the journey he has taken and the life he has led that brought Bodyslick to us. Mr. Sibley's upcoming non-fiction account of his life will be amazing if it is even close to what I read in the Preface here.
1. NATURE VS. NURTURE. Malcolm (Bodyslick) has grown up to become a "bad guy" even though he came from a father who died as a war hero fighting for freedom in Iraq. We see snippets of the world that shaped him and his views. The author shows us a live action example of the "nature vs. nurture" debate playing out in the life of Bodyslick. The world around him had turned him to crime and evil (nurture) but in the end he shows himself to have a compassionate and heroic side like his parents as well (nature).
2. FAITH and BELIEF. Not only does Bodyslick dig himself out of the world he thought he was made for and couldn't escape, he also grew spiritually. He started out with scorn and disbelief for the religious and supernatural. Through those around him, he begins to see more deeply into what it means to be human. He begins to value the soul. And finally, he begins to believe. Why? Because pain and loss had torn him to pieces so that he had almost nothing left. Faith and a belief that there is something more was all he had to cling to.
3. PERSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. As Bodyslick's focus shifts from the material and physical realm to the personal, emotional, and spiritual side, he also begins to see a new perspective on the way he leads his life. Instead of blaming the society and the racist cultural power structure for his behaviors, he begins to see that he has choices. Even though the road is hard sometimes, he sees that only Malcolm Steel is responsible for what Malcolm Steel does. Noone can be blamed for his criminal behavior but himself. This realization brings Bodyslick to a crossroads where he has to choose between his old life and a new, more righteous pursuit.
4. RACISM. Racism is rampant from so many characters. It may be a little over the top in this story, but that helps get the point across. Italian characters hate the black and asian characters. Black characters are portrayed as self-isolated against most others, except the Chinese characters. The Chinese are shown to dislike everyone, but willing to tolerate others for business. Even Bodyslick was initially uncomfortable with his feelings for a white love interest. This dynamic forces us to look at the underlying "built-in" racism that still exists in every layer of our society. I take Bodyslick's tale as a caution to make a difference before there is no turning back.
Ok, now on to the mechanics and what was problematic for me.
1. DIALOGUE. People just don't talk like these characters. A tough gangsta won't suddenly go into a scientific explanation and lose his slang just to explain a key plot element while he is still trying to intimidate a captive. People don't say the name of the person they are in conversation with in every sentence. Too often, the characters lapse into explanations that lose the flow of a scene and are unrealistic. Mafioso don't need to be told that 'La Comissione' has ten families.
2. FARTING. There is no need for me to know that characters are farting. It adds nothing to the scenes and at times it felt random. After the third time, I just pretended that I didn't even see it so I don't know how many more times this happened.
So, overall it was fun to read. It is not perfect. Read it for the message. The message rates a 5 for me. The mechanics of writing, lack of realistic dialogue and the unusual flow of the story only score a 3. This does however round out to a solid 4 stars.
The book is more complex than I realized when I got it from the author. It looks like a simple urban action tale, but it turns into a distopian future tale, a social commentary, a discussion of faith and spirituality, and a journey for Bodyslick to discover the best path forward through the trials of life.
I enjoyed the message far more than the mechanics of the book. Let me explain the message I enjoyed first.
AAA+++. THE PREFACE. The preface sets the tone for the proper way to read this book. The author tells us the journey he has taken and the life he has led that brought Bodyslick to us. Mr. Sibley's upcoming non-fiction account of his life will be amazing if it is even close to what I read in the Preface here.
1. NATURE VS. NURTURE. Malcolm (Bodyslick) has grown up to become a "bad guy" even though he came from a father who died as a war hero fighting for freedom in Iraq. We see snippets of the world that shaped him and his views. The author shows us a live action example of the "nature vs. nurture" debate playing out in the life of Bodyslick. The world around him had turned him to crime and evil (nurture) but in the end he shows himself to have a compassionate and heroic side like his parents as well (nature).
2. FAITH and BELIEF. Not only does Bodyslick dig himself out of the world he thought he was made for and couldn't escape, he also grew spiritually. He started out with scorn and disbelief for the religious and supernatural. Through those around him, he begins to see more deeply into what it means to be human. He begins to value the soul. And finally, he begins to believe. Why? Because pain and loss had torn him to pieces so that he had almost nothing left. Faith and a belief that there is something more was all he had to cling to.
3. PERSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. As Bodyslick's focus shifts from the material and physical realm to the personal, emotional, and spiritual side, he also begins to see a new perspective on the way he leads his life. Instead of blaming the society and the racist cultural power structure for his behaviors, he begins to see that he has choices. Even though the road is hard sometimes, he sees that only Malcolm Steel is responsible for what Malcolm Steel does. Noone can be blamed for his criminal behavior but himself. This realization brings Bodyslick to a crossroads where he has to choose between his old life and a new, more righteous pursuit.
4. RACISM. Racism is rampant from so many characters. It may be a little over the top in this story, but that helps get the point across. Italian characters hate the black and asian characters. Black characters are portrayed as self-isolated against most others, except the Chinese characters. The Chinese are shown to dislike everyone, but willing to tolerate others for business. Even Bodyslick was initially uncomfortable with his feelings for a white love interest. This dynamic forces us to look at the underlying "built-in" racism that still exists in every layer of our society. I take Bodyslick's tale as a caution to make a difference before there is no turning back.
Ok, now on to the mechanics and what was problematic for me.
1. DIALOGUE. People just don't talk like these characters. A tough gangsta won't suddenly go into a scientific explanation and lose his slang just to explain a key plot element while he is still trying to intimidate a captive. People don't say the name of the person they are in conversation with in every sentence. Too often, the characters lapse into explanations that lose the flow of a scene and are unrealistic. Mafioso don't need to be told that 'La Comissione' has ten families.
2. FARTING. There is no need for me to know that characters are farting. It adds nothing to the scenes and at times it felt random. After the third time, I just pretended that I didn't even see it so I don't know how many more times this happened.
So, overall it was fun to read. It is not perfect. Read it for the message. The message rates a 5 for me. The mechanics of writing, lack of realistic dialogue and the unusual flow of the story only score a 3. This does however round out to a solid 4 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2011
(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)
I confess -- I so love the guilty pleasure of enjoying a book more than I probably should that I dedicate an entire best-of list to the subject here at the blog at the end of every year; and there's not much better of an example of what I'm talking about than John H. Sibley's Bodyslick, which to be clear is not much better than mediocre in actual quality, but that boasts a high concept I found irresistible, essentially day-after-tomorrow science-fiction meets blaxploitation film, set in a gritty futuristic Chicago and with there being not a single stereotype of "urban fiction" ever invented that Sibley doesn't love. And indeed, to be fair, in relative terms to the other kinds of projects in this vein, Bodyslick actually isn't bad at all, with writing that's essentially on par with, say, the average episode of the cheesy cable thriller Burn Notice, another big guilty pleasure of mine; but even while we can acknowledge something like Burn Notice as a lot of fun, we also must acknowledge that it's simply not that good from a technical aspect, something that's important to note with Bodyslick as well if you want a chance of enjoying it for what it is. A book that probably should've gotten a lower score than it's getting, but that got bumped up a little merely from Sibley's always gleeful embrace of over-the-top melodrama (and yes, I admit, half a point extra just for that outrageous front cover as well, which made me warmly laugh every single time I pulled it out in public this week and caught the looks of all the people around me), this is not only an official product of Vibe magazine's publishing wing but also feels many times like what The Boondocks' Aaron McGruder would come up with if hired to write a parody of Vibe magazine's publishing wing, and it comes specifically recommended to those who enjoy reading with tongue firmly in cheek.
Out of 10: 7.8
I confess -- I so love the guilty pleasure of enjoying a book more than I probably should that I dedicate an entire best-of list to the subject here at the blog at the end of every year; and there's not much better of an example of what I'm talking about than John H. Sibley's Bodyslick, which to be clear is not much better than mediocre in actual quality, but that boasts a high concept I found irresistible, essentially day-after-tomorrow science-fiction meets blaxploitation film, set in a gritty futuristic Chicago and with there being not a single stereotype of "urban fiction" ever invented that Sibley doesn't love. And indeed, to be fair, in relative terms to the other kinds of projects in this vein, Bodyslick actually isn't bad at all, with writing that's essentially on par with, say, the average episode of the cheesy cable thriller Burn Notice, another big guilty pleasure of mine; but even while we can acknowledge something like Burn Notice as a lot of fun, we also must acknowledge that it's simply not that good from a technical aspect, something that's important to note with Bodyslick as well if you want a chance of enjoying it for what it is. A book that probably should've gotten a lower score than it's getting, but that got bumped up a little merely from Sibley's always gleeful embrace of over-the-top melodrama (and yes, I admit, half a point extra just for that outrageous front cover as well, which made me warmly laugh every single time I pulled it out in public this week and caught the looks of all the people around me), this is not only an official product of Vibe magazine's publishing wing but also feels many times like what The Boondocks' Aaron McGruder would come up with if hired to write a parody of Vibe magazine's publishing wing, and it comes specifically recommended to those who enjoy reading with tongue firmly in cheek.
Out of 10: 7.8
June 25, 2011
Book Review by Rev. Dr. Jude Arnold
BodySlick by John H. Sibley
John H. Sibley and BodySlick are ready for Hollywood. It is not an easy book to read; but it’d be a great trinity movie like Terminator or a Showtime series like Dexter. We’ve got a Sci-Fi thriller with plenty of guns, blood and gore. We’ve got love, religion and racial tensions.
Sibley is a very accomplished writer and artist living in Chicago. Check out his online gallery at www.Sibartstudio.com. His 400 page novel contains over 50 awesome original illustrations.
BodySlick is the name of Sibley’s novel and main character. He’s a black man living in the black world of Chicago’s gangs and mafia in 2031. His dad died in the Iraq war in 2003. In 2018 human stem cells injected into pig embryos result in children with pig eyes, nose and ears. There is a new species of pet, a cross between dogs and cats. There are 2 headed dogs. The stock market crashed in 2020 without recovery. Marijuana cigarettes have taken the place of tobacco.
In 2030 medicine replaces body parts as a cure all. Robots replace doctors, nurses, public transportation attendants and prostitutes. Some older robots are free living on the streets thinking they are human and organizing for their rights. Street drugs now come from Mars and turn people into levitating serpents. Washington bureaucrats ban anti organ transplant profits and drive people to underground businesses like BodySlick’s. Head transplants on a new perfect body are about to put BodySlick and his warring competitors out of business.
An important quote from BodySlick: “Without real social and economic revolution there will never be full equity for minorities.”
A favorite line from Michael Jackson’s Black or White: “When it comes to equality it’s either wrong or it’s right!
I can only hope and pray that the entire situation improves a whole hell of a lot faster than Sibley predicts; or God help us all!
BodySlick by John H. Sibley
John H. Sibley and BodySlick are ready for Hollywood. It is not an easy book to read; but it’d be a great trinity movie like Terminator or a Showtime series like Dexter. We’ve got a Sci-Fi thriller with plenty of guns, blood and gore. We’ve got love, religion and racial tensions.
Sibley is a very accomplished writer and artist living in Chicago. Check out his online gallery at www.Sibartstudio.com. His 400 page novel contains over 50 awesome original illustrations.
BodySlick is the name of Sibley’s novel and main character. He’s a black man living in the black world of Chicago’s gangs and mafia in 2031. His dad died in the Iraq war in 2003. In 2018 human stem cells injected into pig embryos result in children with pig eyes, nose and ears. There is a new species of pet, a cross between dogs and cats. There are 2 headed dogs. The stock market crashed in 2020 without recovery. Marijuana cigarettes have taken the place of tobacco.
In 2030 medicine replaces body parts as a cure all. Robots replace doctors, nurses, public transportation attendants and prostitutes. Some older robots are free living on the streets thinking they are human and organizing for their rights. Street drugs now come from Mars and turn people into levitating serpents. Washington bureaucrats ban anti organ transplant profits and drive people to underground businesses like BodySlick’s. Head transplants on a new perfect body are about to put BodySlick and his warring competitors out of business.
An important quote from BodySlick: “Without real social and economic revolution there will never be full equity for minorities.”
A favorite line from Michael Jackson’s Black or White: “When it comes to equality it’s either wrong or it’s right!
I can only hope and pray that the entire situation improves a whole hell of a lot faster than Sibley predicts; or God help us all!
July 4, 2012
As you flip through the pages of BODYSLICK ,keep in mind that this novel is a product of ten years of my life (two Iraqi wars and three presidents ) . Ten years of squeezing in time to write, while simultaneously dealing with real world issues like marriage, fatherhood, bills, taxes, and raking up dog shit in the backyard.
Does love trump ethics when it comes to the selling of human organs?
Former Bears football star Walter Payton had primary sclerosis cholangitis liver desease he was going to get in the long National Organ Network line along with everybody else [before he learned it was incurable] despite the fact he was wealthy and could had easily bought a liver in the underground black market from an organ broker like BODYSLICK. Would you get in line if you had the money?
Hopefully, after reading my novel you will have an answer.
Does love trump ethics when it comes to the selling of human organs?
Former Bears football star Walter Payton had primary sclerosis cholangitis liver desease he was going to get in the long National Organ Network line along with everybody else [before he learned it was incurable] despite the fact he was wealthy and could had easily bought a liver in the underground black market from an organ broker like BODYSLICK. Would you get in line if you had the money?
Hopefully, after reading my novel you will have an answer.
March 6, 2019
The father of the protagonist of this story – a war hero who gave his life to defend the democratic ideals of a country that used the same ideals to hide his economic interests – had been very clear in his last letter to his son: Stay clear from your Uncle Will. Those words would soon become his last will. True, "even a crook has feelings," but with his belief in "power and fear to get rich quickly" the relative could easily have had a nefarious influence on the boy.
But without money and the ability to support your family is it really always right to follow the rules?
In the ghetto, among others, there are two boys: Malcolm Steel, the recipient of the letter and one of his peers, Donald Jones.
Malcolm will become "Bodyslick" a "bad boy" who pursues his "personal revenge against the status quo" through an illegal clandestine trade in human organs. Donald, on the contrary, will follow the rules and will see his idealism shatter when, after becoming Dr. Jones, he will discover the corruption that exists "in the sacred halls of science and technology" and the main drive behind the medical profession – greed.
So Dr. Jones is an alter ego of the protagonist, and both are "possibilities" that the author of this book examines and exorcises through the filter of artistic elaboration. Who's right?
The prologue may seem almost too "intimate" for a hard-boiled sci-fi and crime novel, but we need to get to the end to understand how important it is. Of course I will not reveal why, but I can certainly give you some clues.
Staying clear from Uncle Will for the protagonist means staying clear from a possibility, an existential alternative.
On the one hand he understands that this is right; on the other, he can maybe justify this choice in a given social and political context - an alternative to the academy to get food for the family.
But the author has in store for the protagonist an adversarial procedure, expressed by the other characters. The result is that Bodyslick supports something he is not convinced of: it is clear that for him his choice is not a solution. So, before the final denouementor, it is a detective that express a thought of the author in this regard: "Racism is not (really) a justification for the crime."
On the other hand, the alternative represented by Dr. Jones also seems far from being a solution. The price that the character pays for following the rules of society is to become part of an unjust system and ultimately share the same goal - profit.
To make things more ambiguous then there is the fact that, thanks to the illegal business of the protagonist, a young girl can continue to live.
Where is the error then? Is it not precisely this pursuit of profit as the ultimate goal that will then reveal itself to Bosyslick as the "false god" that he also adored?
But, in a sense, despite this, there can not be a happy ending in this novel - no more than, according to the author, there can be a happy ending simply integrating into an intrinsically unjust social system.
In other words, even if you change your life, surviving means continuing the fight. But the fight against what?
As an answer we see this novel populated by characters motivated by the search for a solution for the have-nots. Like the white Elija Brown, member of ARP, the American Revolutionary Party, which reminds the protagonist that not all whites are racist; or Hasheem X, a member of the NAM, the New Age Muslims; or Mayor Mannington, whose death, like that of other Black leaders, raises the suspicion of political assassination. In the same spirit of "denunciation" a leaflet found in the street reveals the legally criminal practices of a pharmaceutical company such as Squibbott, which exploits South Africans as guinea pig. On the other hand, these are all circumstances that reveal to the same protagonist his own "fanatical love of money" – the real enemy.
The importance of this fight for the author is exactly the main reason that prevents him from writing a simple action novel - what a typical reader probably expects to read, after giving a quick look at the cover. Characters that in a simple novel intended for entertainment would appear as fleeting figures of "color" here present themselves in all their social, ideological seriousness.
These characters challenge the author, but the dialogues that derive from it are not really functional to the plot. Their meaning is linked to that unique opportunity of artistic reworking of our ideas and visions of the world that the writing of a novel implies. This need for the author has a personal importance far greater than that of simply devising an excitng plot to create a work of entertainment. An example is the clash with the young Racist-Nazis of the LWA on the Maglev A-train.
A less narratively demanding reader, attracted above all by the promises of action of the cover could find this profound literary substance unusual. Vice versa, a reader who already knew the other works of Mr. Sibley would soon understand that the novel in question is yet another chapter of the personal reflection of the author. However, the action is strong in this book, and is exactly what the cover suggests - gunfire (laser, to be exact) in an urban setting that represents a mix between technology and degradation. There are also physical fights, assaults, kidnappings, and the punctual description of the most secretly underground scenarios of organized crime, both in the exotic oriental version of a ruthless Chinese Triad, and in the most cinematically iconic one of an Italian Mafia.
We also have a good antagonist - the traitor Toejoe, the ideological nemesis of Bodyslick - and their personal clash takes place against the background of the biggest one involving the respective "allies", the aforementioned Chinese Triad and Italian Mafia.
In a violent and desolate urban universe, in a possible future scenario marked, humanly, by moral degradation and, technologically, by the typical problem of Philip K. Dick of the almost impossibility to distinguish the man from the machine, it seems that only Malanna, with her simple religious aspirations, representing an oasis of salvation for the protagonist. It is the typical "hero's soul-woman" of literature, which in fairy tales is destined from the beginning to be kidnapped by the Dragon.
So, in another context, the abduction of the protagonist's soul-woman should be the precondition of the classical test that the solar hero must overcome in order to obtain his own redemption, or rather to re-integrate his own self. At first the reader might hope to read yet another variant of this classic scheme, but Malanna's terrible end is quite clear in representing the impossibility of this too easy personal redemption.
Her role is unexpectedly occupied by another woman, a character more difficult and complex, less ideal but still able to love the protagonist.
This is how Bodyslick experiences an unusual moment of romanticism and immediately the narrative universe is transfigured. It is the beginning of what I would call the "magic parenthesis" of the novel in which other themes that constantly come back to the author's reflections can finally be expressed in all their symbolic power. We meet characters like the painter El Charlo, able to capture - literally - the soul of the models on canvases painted by him, or the saxophonist Black Zac, whose music manages to miraculously heal the body, as well as the mind. Even Mama Luigi is a recurring character in the personal universe of the author, and it is thanks once again to her "shamanic" work between the natural and the supernatural - "Voodnarf" in this novel - that one can perform yet another mystical revenge, a "cosmic payback" "where justice is entrusted to mysterious non-human entities.
The daring and fast final chapters of the novel are all dedicated to action and show that the author could easily have privileged this style if he wanted to.
Did I like this book? Personally, yes, and I would not mind reading a sequel of the adventures of the "new" Bodyslick, but I understand that many readers may not have the patience to stick until the end when they have the impression that the narration lingers often on elements of social critique rather that make progress the plot.
On the other hand, I would not like it if the book gave up these elements; so I think a solution could have been a careful work of editing the text. Summing up many scenes and dialogues not strictly necessary for the development of the plot would have made the text more readable, faster, in line with the expectation of many readers seduced by the deceptive simplicity of the cover image.
But the general impression is that the text, for one reason or another, has not received the necessary attention from those who should have tried to improve it. For example, there are many expressions in Italian in the book and most are wrong. I think a careful editor, among other things, could have easily solved problems like this.
In any case, "Bodyslick" is good narrative, able to reward the reader who has the patience to stop and reflect on the themes highlighted by the novel. Some scenes are purposely "strong" - to put it mildly. Violence of course is contextualized, but if this is a problem for you, then I advise you to consider this if you decide to read this book. Apart from that, and the aforementioned need to be "patient" during the reading, I see no other reasons why this novel should not please the one who habitually reads to understand better the world, as well as to enjoy his free time.
* * *
July 21, 2011
Let me begin by saying simply that I like this author: John Sibley offers a grim, graphic view of life in 2031 in the Great American Dystopia that our nation has become in large part because of the decisions made during our time by a totally corrupt and socially tone-deaf government. I am fascinated by futuristic views of American dystopia as I also imagined one in a political satire of Corporate America entitled "AmericA, Inc." a few years ago immediately after Bush-Cheney were re-elected. Like John Sibley I was, and still am, horrified by what America had become and where it is destined to head if certain social influences prevail. John Sibley offers us a truly Hobbesian view of the life in America in 2031 as "nasty, brutish and short." Malcolm Steele, AKA Bodyslick, makes his living by selling body parts and is constantly engaged in a brutal war on the mean streets of Chicago to ply his trade in life-and-death. This graphic novel is considered as "street lit" and so it embraces the grim, honest language, ethics and violent everyday struggle for existence in the harsh, high intensity of the streets. It is important to view this novel within the context of its genre and to judge it within the context of, say, the Victorian novel does not do justice to it. Sibley is an artist, literally, and his pen-and-ink work of his characters greatly enhances the read -- it is rare that one can read the descriptions of characters and then see in print a vivid portrait of them within a traditional novel. Malcolm Steele is a memorable, round character because of the forces that shape his life and struggle for existence in a brutal world. For example, his beloved father was killed in a battle in the endless war in the Middle East. How many Afro-American men have disproportionately died there or been wounded to return home to endure social injustice, dire poverty, long-term unemployment and psychological trauma? Those human figures whom he loves and who care for him have their lives cut short grimly on the mean streets. Yet there is within this action figure a sense of humanity that seeks heroically to bring good to life and ruthlessly despose of the prolific vice that surrounds and wants to destroy his life everyday. It is reasonable to estimate that in many ways the author has personally encountered on the mean streets of Chicago much of the real social injustice that he depicts hyperbolically. I would have edited this graphic book far differently but I do not have the perspective steeped in the brutality of the streets of John Sibley. Be sure to read the Preface of this novel so that you can understand the mean streets of Chicago that impacted Sibley's own life: this is the best Preface to a novel that I have ever read and it earns a full five stars (*****). Once you understand the real context of the author's life within the social jungle of the mean streets of Chicago, then the harsh reality of this novel about the Great American Dystopia in 2031 makes sense. We may already be more than half-way toward Sibley's vision of the Great American Dystopia now. In some very real social aspects we're there now in the same way that we now live the dystopia of Orwell's "Animal Farm" and "1984." "Bodyslick" is no less as a disturbing, graphic vision in this cautionary tale about what may well await us in the Great American Dystopia of 2031.
July 4, 2012
A Frightening vision of the Future!
"Bodyslick" is a frightening, violent sci-fi vision of the future! It is 2031 humans have begun to terraform the planet Mars, the discovery of new drugs, medical procedures together with many technological advances have the potential to improve the lives of people. Yet mass poverty abounds, society is polarized by divisions and racism, economies around the globe have or are on the brink of collapse, the application of genetic engineering has got out of control.
Set in the city of Chicago, Bodyslick is the street name of a man who makes a good living for himself through the illegal sale of body parts and drugs which has become booming businesses. He is a survivor in a society which has forgotten its obligation to the needy, the poor and those ordinary people who have been unlucky enough to encounter devastating mishaps in their lives.
Like many dystopian visions of the future, the world of Bodyslick doesn't appear to hold much hope for mankind where life is cheap. Violence whether perpetrated by the Establishment or Organised Crime is the order of the day. Generally people have given up believing in a future and live for what they can get today!
We see that the widespread adoption of genetic engineering has led to the creation of new 'forms of life' derived from the joining of DNA of humans and other animal species. These beings form an underclass in society. There are also Cyborbots, artificial life forms who mimic humans so closely it is difficult to tell the difference! Whilst the perceived goals of developing these new species might have come from lofty goals – the betterment of life for all - those ideals have been lost!
John H Sibley's "Bodyslick" is not a book that will appeal to everyone and it raises a number of moral questions. But it certainly held my interest and has one of the best prefaces that I have read. This novel is also complete with illustrations made by the author!
In our world of today, where we seem to have more and more control over our daily lives and we appear to have many new opportunities, we also see a loss of some basic rights, an underlying growth in poverty, economic and financial see-saws which affect every level of society in adverse ways! We have big business moving ahead with programs in genetic engineering without really understanding what the long term implications might be. Could this book represent a vision of what our society might become? I suppose only time will tell!
"Bodyslick" is a frightening, violent sci-fi vision of the future! It is 2031 humans have begun to terraform the planet Mars, the discovery of new drugs, medical procedures together with many technological advances have the potential to improve the lives of people. Yet mass poverty abounds, society is polarized by divisions and racism, economies around the globe have or are on the brink of collapse, the application of genetic engineering has got out of control.
Set in the city of Chicago, Bodyslick is the street name of a man who makes a good living for himself through the illegal sale of body parts and drugs which has become booming businesses. He is a survivor in a society which has forgotten its obligation to the needy, the poor and those ordinary people who have been unlucky enough to encounter devastating mishaps in their lives.
Like many dystopian visions of the future, the world of Bodyslick doesn't appear to hold much hope for mankind where life is cheap. Violence whether perpetrated by the Establishment or Organised Crime is the order of the day. Generally people have given up believing in a future and live for what they can get today!
We see that the widespread adoption of genetic engineering has led to the creation of new 'forms of life' derived from the joining of DNA of humans and other animal species. These beings form an underclass in society. There are also Cyborbots, artificial life forms who mimic humans so closely it is difficult to tell the difference! Whilst the perceived goals of developing these new species might have come from lofty goals – the betterment of life for all - those ideals have been lost!
John H Sibley's "Bodyslick" is not a book that will appeal to everyone and it raises a number of moral questions. But it certainly held my interest and has one of the best prefaces that I have read. This novel is also complete with illustrations made by the author!
In our world of today, where we seem to have more and more control over our daily lives and we appear to have many new opportunities, we also see a loss of some basic rights, an underlying growth in poverty, economic and financial see-saws which affect every level of society in adverse ways! We have big business moving ahead with programs in genetic engineering without really understanding what the long term implications might be. Could this book represent a vision of what our society might become? I suppose only time will tell!
November 6, 2009
how did i make it through this book? who thought the editing was any where near finished when it went to print? i had high hopes for it as a breakthrough alternate future gangsta novel. didn't happen.
May 20, 2011
I really liked alot of the characters in this book.
April 17, 2018
this idea-based novel is a fast read, and would be a much better one if the transitions between scenes were handled with any degree of grace at all. you get used to the deeply disjointed style after a while, but a good editor would have done a world of good for this book. also fails the Bechdel test. otherwise an entertaining, fast-paced action novel.
May 5, 2009
Street Lit has a lot going for it. Editing was sketchy with various sections of the book having flaws in timeline, details, or point of view. Most of the book flowed excellently and really captured the feel and action of the 2031 streets. Yes, it's science fiction too. The ideas put forth were interesting and raise a LOT of questions. The Preface was the best I have EVER read. If you want to try street lit and like sci fi, this is the title for you.
December 14, 2011
Excellent book. I love everything about this book. A must read.
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