Tomahawk

by J. David Osborne

Book 3 of the Black Gum Cycle. The boys play a game of disc golf. Shane gets into trouble with the local skinheads.

Kindle Edition

Published March 21, 2021

About the author

J David Osborne lives in Oklahoma with his wife and son.

Reviews

[Kelby Losack · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mystic Okie Juggalo adventures continue. JDO writes the best kind of pulp: short, fun, and with a great sense of curiosity towards human interaction and the divine within the mundane. Favorite moments: the hoodrats meet the suburbanites and driving around with Lil Hitler.

[Benoit Lelièvre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tomahawk is the latest volume of what is BY FAR my favorite ongoing book series. It might not be everybody's cup of tea, but the sheer unpredictability and layers of meaning of these short, almost sketch-like narratives are a life-affirming form of entertainment to me.

In their latest adventure, Charlie, Shane and our narrator meet Oklahoman Nazis on their quest to enlightenment. Weird decisions, reasonable discussions and unreasonable actions will ensue in what will reveal to be an quantum step in our three friends' journey towards meaning, purpose and truth. I don't want to spoil anything because it's so short, but unlike in Black Gum or A Minor Storm, Tomahawk ends up pointing in a precise direction.

I love these books. I love them to death and Tomahawk may or may not be my favorite (I haven't made up my mind yet). It's a great novel about the gap between the world of ideas and the world we live in. Read it. Or don't. Right now Tomahawk is only available on the author's website on a pay what you want model. Give him money, so he keeps writing these:

https://gumroad.com/l/sWIsD

[Bob Comparda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in the Black Gum series by J David Osborne. I wasn't able to put it down, probably my favorite of the three, it was a nice balance of the intensity of the first one and the humor of the second. Especially enjoyed the disc golf scene. The ending was weird because it ended before the consequences of the climax could take effect, sort of like a cliff hanger. I'll be eagerly awaiting part four!

[Adrian Coombe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favourite of the trilogy so far. Shane becomes more aloof but shows more redeeming qualities. His pet chicken reminds me of season 2 of the wire. Get on this. Roll on number 4 and 5 (later this year I think).

[Lucas Mangum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so happy to see this series continue. I love hanging out with these characters, rough edges and all.

[Stephen Toman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoying this series and have been waiting for this instalment for what feels like forever. Somewhere between Lansdale, Bolano’s young people doing stuff fiction, and Sallis’s prose. Great stuff.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading Osborne's crime fiction since '14. He's one of my favorite noir writers & the Black Gum cycle is one of the best current ongoing crime series: I'd put it up there w/ James Ellroy's 2nd LA Quartet, Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins novels, Sara Gran's Claire DeWitt novels, & Joe Lansdale's Hap & Leonard novels.

Our nameless narrator & his drug-dealing magician mentor stumble through social awkwardness & beatdowns from nazis in something that combines *It's always Sunny in Philadelphia* sinister comedy & bitter self-owning melancholia.

Osborne's style is elliptical like James Sallis or Ken Bruen & wryly plays with the conventions of PI, drug, & revenge fictions.

You can get all 3 of the so-far Black Gum novels on a pay-what-you-want model at Gumroad: https://gumroad.com/godsfarenobetter?...

[Gunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I still prefer JDO’s work when it’s a bit more fleshed out but reading the first three novellas of the Black Gum series seriatim, these make for an enjoyable narrative which only gets better in my humble opinion. I will surely be on the lookout for the upcoming and reportedly final installment, Wolf Like Me.

[Stuart Coombe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed revisiting some of these characters and going in another journey with them. Trying to find a place in a world that is not keen to reciprocate.

[Kal burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay already I’m ready for wolf like me… let’s crowdfund this shit!

Tomahawk was definitely my favorite out of the short, but fun, black gum series. Can’t wait for the next installment!

[Edward Rathke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this earlier this year and I guess I forgot to review it.

Love this book. Love these books Osborne's been putting out. Slice of life shamanic noir set in Oklahoma, which is not exactly the setting people typically expect for any book.

Drugs, nazis, buttplugs, and just kind of the wackiness of normal life.

Awesome stuff. Go back to Black Gum if you haven't read it yet.

[C. Wilkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third time around in this series and I think I found my favorite. I let this one sit a bit more before trying to write any thoughts down. Black Gum and A Minor Storm were both clear cut on their message, but Tomahawk felt like a hoodwink.

This series is like a bildungsroman and Tomahawk is the simple enlightenment these characters have been moving toward. They’re still finding their way through their chaotic reality. Shane and the protagonist go on a quirky adventure with a Hitler toy that some skinheads want. It’s simple, comedic, and mildly political.

Idk what it is about this group of characters and their exploits that keep me entertained but I’m ready for the next one already.