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Socrates Fortlow #1
Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned
In this cycle of 14 bittersweet stories, Walter Mosley breaks out of the genre--if not the setting--of his bestselling Easy Rawlins detective novels. Only eight years after serving out a prison sentence for murder, Socrates Fortlow lives in a tiny, two-room Watts apartment, where he cooks on a hot plate, scavenges for bottles, drinks and wrestles with his demons. Struggling to control a seemingly boundless rage--as well as the power of his massive "rock-breaking" hands--Socrates must find a way to live an honourable life as a black man on the margins of a white world, a task which takes every ounce of self-control he has.
Easy Rawlins fans might initially find themselves disappointed by the absence of a mystery to unravel. But it's a gripping inner drama that unfolds over the pages of these stories, as Socrates comes to grips with the chaos, poverty and violence around him. He tries to get and keep a job delivering groceries; takes in a young street kid named Darryl, who has his own murder to hide; and helps drive out the neighbourhood crack dealer. Throughout, Mosley captures the rhythms of Watts life in prose both lyrical and hard-edged, resulting in a haunting look at a life bounded by lust, violence, fear and a ruthlessly unsentimental moral vision.
208 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1997
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About the author
Walter Mosley
202 books3,888 followersWalter Mosley (b. 1952) is the author of the bestselling mystery series featuring Easy Rawlins, as well as numerous other works, from literary fiction and science fiction to a young adult novel and political monographs. His short fiction has been widely published, and his nonfiction has appeared in the New York Times Magazine and the Nation, among other publications. Mosley is the winner of numerous awards, including an O. Henry Award, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, a Grammy, and PEN America’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 373 reviews
July 28, 2018
The only mystery here is why I thought I going to read a whodunnit after having the book brought to my attention by a friend's reviews. And, of course, the author, Walter Mosley, best known for his mystery series staring Easy Rawlins, the first of which is the remarkable Devil in a Blue Dress (made into a movie with the remarkable Denzel Washington). Once I got over my surprise that I was reading a collection of linked short stories, I settled in to enjoy Mosley's evocative writing and unique voice.
"Socrates made Darryl sit in the chair while he turned over the trash can for his seat. He read the paper for half an hour or more while the rooster simmered on the hot plate. Darryl knew to keep quiet. When it was done, Socrates served the meal on three plates--one for each dish. The man and boy shoveled down dirty rice, green beans, and tough rooster like they were starving men; eating off the same plates, neither one uttered a word. The only drink they had was water--their glasses were mayonnaise jars. Their breathing was loud and slobbery. Hands moved in syncopation; tearing and scooping."
Socrates Forlow, formerly of Indiana Penitentiary, is the center of fourteen short stories, set in Los Angeles and plotted around such things as a starving young kid, a group deciding street justice, black invisibility, a dying friend, persistence, finding a home, attraction and friendship, a black-owned bookstore, God, being a man, and so on.
"There seemed to be music in the room. Music in the way the chairs faced each other, music in the sounds from elsewhere in the building. Socrates wanted to dance for the first time in his fifty years."
Mosley has done well with the form; each story is well contained, and together they cover a very interesting period as Socrates navigates post-incarceration life. They were often moving, and usually powerful. I wasn't really tempted to devour the whole book at once, instead treating it like a rich and filling meal that needed pauses for digestion.
"Socrates walked for miles on the curving beaches. The surface of the sand was hot from the sun but cool when his foot sank to the layer of moisture below. He went north past Malibu and on toward the blue of the water and sky. He stayed close to the ocean remembering his aunt's sermons about how God was always beyond reach but how people were always trying to get there."
A great read, straying from 5 stars only because it isn't one I want to add to my library. But certainly fabulous and insightful.
"Socrates made Darryl sit in the chair while he turned over the trash can for his seat. He read the paper for half an hour or more while the rooster simmered on the hot plate. Darryl knew to keep quiet. When it was done, Socrates served the meal on three plates--one for each dish. The man and boy shoveled down dirty rice, green beans, and tough rooster like they were starving men; eating off the same plates, neither one uttered a word. The only drink they had was water--their glasses were mayonnaise jars. Their breathing was loud and slobbery. Hands moved in syncopation; tearing and scooping."
Socrates Forlow, formerly of Indiana Penitentiary, is the center of fourteen short stories, set in Los Angeles and plotted around such things as a starving young kid, a group deciding street justice, black invisibility, a dying friend, persistence, finding a home, attraction and friendship, a black-owned bookstore, God, being a man, and so on.
"There seemed to be music in the room. Music in the way the chairs faced each other, music in the sounds from elsewhere in the building. Socrates wanted to dance for the first time in his fifty years."
Mosley has done well with the form; each story is well contained, and together they cover a very interesting period as Socrates navigates post-incarceration life. They were often moving, and usually powerful. I wasn't really tempted to devour the whole book at once, instead treating it like a rich and filling meal that needed pauses for digestion.
"Socrates walked for miles on the curving beaches. The surface of the sand was hot from the sun but cool when his foot sank to the layer of moisture below. He went north past Malibu and on toward the blue of the water and sky. He stayed close to the ocean remembering his aunt's sermons about how God was always beyond reach but how people were always trying to get there."
A great read, straying from 5 stars only because it isn't one I want to add to my library. But certainly fabulous and insightful.
December 1, 2018
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★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2
I have never read a 5 Star collection of short stories. I’m not denying that such a mythical creature exists. I suspect it's my reading habits that are keeping me from making this discovery for myself. I primarily read novels. And yet, when one of my favorite writers releases a story collection, of course I am going to follow. But if you’re working in an area that’s not your forte there’s going to be a dip. Barely perceptible in some cases, but a dip. Even if shorts are your forte, there are still outside influences that can affect the quality of a single outing. You are often asked to contribute to an anthology with a theme, for example. Though the characters may be yours, at least in some cases, the situation is not. Also there is the possibility of a tight deadline. So you would think being adept at both artforms would spare you the pitfalls associated with each of the above. It actually opens you up to others. For example, Joe R. Lansdale was once asked to write a short as a promotional piece to an upcoming novel. Years later it turned out to be the weakest entry in his Hap and Leonard collection--by a wide margin. So imagine my surprise when Walter Mosley, known for novels about a private detective named Easy Rawlins, produced a collection reaching a level of quality I thought unattainable.
Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned follows Socrates Fortlow, who is the opposite side of the Easy Rawlins coin. An ex-convict, Socrates spent 27 years in prison for rape and two counts of murder. Not by any means your typical wrongfully-accused and imprisoned character, Socrates was actually guilty. Nor was he rehabilitated. While inside he killed two more men that the authorities knew--or perhaps cared--nothing about. Upon release he decided to get as far from his home state of Indiana as possible. We meet him living in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
Socrates is a contemplative man, and yet a man of violence who would rather not resort to its use--but for whom violence remains his first instinct. He is trying to find his place in the world, practically as well as philosophically. Initially he lives by redeeming found cans and bottles for the deposits. Over the course of these stories Socrates creates a life for himself. For the reader it is as much an exploration of his world as it is of this one man.
I have no idea what it means to be poor and black and, let’s say, older, as I have now reached the age represented by Socrates. I’ve only had a few real-life glimpses of his kind of world. I was once driven down a street in Chicago, the quickest way from wherever we were to wherever we were going, and I was told no one ever stops on this street, no matter the color of your skin; if you get a flat tire you keep on moving on the rim. Another time somewhere near Philadelphia--I can’t say exactly where because I was not the lead vehicle--we were forced to pull over on the highway, and I could see in the distance a city street where the few cars present were empty husks, abandoned and long ago stripped clean of anything of value. And finally I was once coming east, driving solo, and had just reached the other side of St. Louis when I found myself up against my log book and required to stop for the night. As a result I had the following exchange with a police officer at a truck stop:
“Excuse me, can you recommend a motel nearby where my truck won’t get broken into?”
“You mean where you won’t get killed?”
“Yeah, that too.”
This cop was a black man. Race was not the issue. Regardless of color, the surrounding violence was a fact of his working life. Just as crime is a fact of Socrates Fortlow’s life. It was as much a part of Watts in the Eighties as street corners and storm drains. Navigating it--deciding when to become involved and when to mind your own--was a daily choice for its residents. Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned is a brilliant representation of a way of life completely foreign to me.
But my recommendation does come with a warning. As stated, this is a collection. The actual book, my copy anyway, does not state this. It carefully does not call it a novel either. As publishers are wont to do with a book of short stories, the cover does not classify what follows. Only at the bottom of the copyright page is there reference to where some of these stories appeared previously. “Some” is the key word. Apparently about a third of the stories included were specifically written to fill out this collection. In concept, this was executed as brilliantly as the rest of the book. They were created to mark certain points in Socrates’ philosophic evolution, allowing the collection to showcase a particular slice of his life. It permits the book to be laid out like a novel--even if it’s not.
Then why not 5 Stars? As I said, I’m not qualified to judge what is true-to-life as it relates to the world represented in this work. I am qualified to comment on the literary presentation of such, of whether it works or not, and why. There was one story early on where I could not see Socrates taking the stand he did, not as aware as he was of the realities he faced regularly. Its resolution also felt convenient; it came about from outside the confines of the story. Deeper into the book there is a second story with another convenient ending, but at least this time a character had been introduced who was working offstage to bring it about.
Ultimately faults, though minor, are still faults. Sometimes brilliance is so bright that faults go unnoticed. Sometimes perfection is so cherished that any imperfection draws your attention like a beacon. Each case is individual, each person different, each reaction varied. There is only one constant. We are the better for the experience. I am the better for Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned.
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2
I have never read a 5 Star collection of short stories. I’m not denying that such a mythical creature exists. I suspect it's my reading habits that are keeping me from making this discovery for myself. I primarily read novels. And yet, when one of my favorite writers releases a story collection, of course I am going to follow. But if you’re working in an area that’s not your forte there’s going to be a dip. Barely perceptible in some cases, but a dip. Even if shorts are your forte, there are still outside influences that can affect the quality of a single outing. You are often asked to contribute to an anthology with a theme, for example. Though the characters may be yours, at least in some cases, the situation is not. Also there is the possibility of a tight deadline. So you would think being adept at both artforms would spare you the pitfalls associated with each of the above. It actually opens you up to others. For example, Joe R. Lansdale was once asked to write a short as a promotional piece to an upcoming novel. Years later it turned out to be the weakest entry in his Hap and Leonard collection--by a wide margin. So imagine my surprise when Walter Mosley, known for novels about a private detective named Easy Rawlins, produced a collection reaching a level of quality I thought unattainable.
Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned follows Socrates Fortlow, who is the opposite side of the Easy Rawlins coin. An ex-convict, Socrates spent 27 years in prison for rape and two counts of murder. Not by any means your typical wrongfully-accused and imprisoned character, Socrates was actually guilty. Nor was he rehabilitated. While inside he killed two more men that the authorities knew--or perhaps cared--nothing about. Upon release he decided to get as far from his home state of Indiana as possible. We meet him living in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
Socrates is a contemplative man, and yet a man of violence who would rather not resort to its use--but for whom violence remains his first instinct. He is trying to find his place in the world, practically as well as philosophically. Initially he lives by redeeming found cans and bottles for the deposits. Over the course of these stories Socrates creates a life for himself. For the reader it is as much an exploration of his world as it is of this one man.
I have no idea what it means to be poor and black and, let’s say, older, as I have now reached the age represented by Socrates. I’ve only had a few real-life glimpses of his kind of world. I was once driven down a street in Chicago, the quickest way from wherever we were to wherever we were going, and I was told no one ever stops on this street, no matter the color of your skin; if you get a flat tire you keep on moving on the rim. Another time somewhere near Philadelphia--I can’t say exactly where because I was not the lead vehicle--we were forced to pull over on the highway, and I could see in the distance a city street where the few cars present were empty husks, abandoned and long ago stripped clean of anything of value. And finally I was once coming east, driving solo, and had just reached the other side of St. Louis when I found myself up against my log book and required to stop for the night. As a result I had the following exchange with a police officer at a truck stop:
“Excuse me, can you recommend a motel nearby where my truck won’t get broken into?”
“You mean where you won’t get killed?”
“Yeah, that too.”
This cop was a black man. Race was not the issue. Regardless of color, the surrounding violence was a fact of his working life. Just as crime is a fact of Socrates Fortlow’s life. It was as much a part of Watts in the Eighties as street corners and storm drains. Navigating it--deciding when to become involved and when to mind your own--was a daily choice for its residents. Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned is a brilliant representation of a way of life completely foreign to me.
But my recommendation does come with a warning. As stated, this is a collection. The actual book, my copy anyway, does not state this. It carefully does not call it a novel either. As publishers are wont to do with a book of short stories, the cover does not classify what follows. Only at the bottom of the copyright page is there reference to where some of these stories appeared previously. “Some” is the key word. Apparently about a third of the stories included were specifically written to fill out this collection. In concept, this was executed as brilliantly as the rest of the book. They were created to mark certain points in Socrates’ philosophic evolution, allowing the collection to showcase a particular slice of his life. It permits the book to be laid out like a novel--even if it’s not.
Then why not 5 Stars? As I said, I’m not qualified to judge what is true-to-life as it relates to the world represented in this work. I am qualified to comment on the literary presentation of such, of whether it works or not, and why. There was one story early on where I could not see Socrates taking the stand he did, not as aware as he was of the realities he faced regularly. Its resolution also felt convenient; it came about from outside the confines of the story. Deeper into the book there is a second story with another convenient ending, but at least this time a character had been introduced who was working offstage to bring it about.
Ultimately faults, though minor, are still faults. Sometimes brilliance is so bright that faults go unnoticed. Sometimes perfection is so cherished that any imperfection draws your attention like a beacon. Each case is individual, each person different, each reaction varied. There is only one constant. We are the better for the experience. I am the better for Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned.
February 23, 2025
Socrates Fortlow is my new hero. His resilience, humility and accountability for past wrongs is beyond remarkable.
Socco's (nickname) unrelenting willingness to help his fellow man in the face of blatant racism, violence and extreme poverty brought tears to my eyes more than once.
That being said, what really sold me about this incredible man in Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned, is the lengths he went to get justice for mistreated animals. Just don't make this ultimate avenger angry because he's wielding sone serious boulder busting fists.
Highly recommend. Already downloaded a library copy of Walkin' the dog (Socrates Fortlow, #2).
Socco's (nickname) unrelenting willingness to help his fellow man in the face of blatant racism, violence and extreme poverty brought tears to my eyes more than once.
That being said, what really sold me about this incredible man in Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned, is the lengths he went to get justice for mistreated animals. Just don't make this ultimate avenger angry because he's wielding sone serious boulder busting fists.
Highly recommend. Already downloaded a library copy of Walkin' the dog (Socrates Fortlow, #2).
June 23, 2018
Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins books reflect some of his skills in portraying what Los Angeles was like for people of color during the period after World War II. Brutal and unfair, it made each and every man, woman and child fearful of what might happen to them by the people that should have been protecting their rights to life, liberty and property.
With the character, Socrates Fortlow, Mosley adds another layer in his dramatization of this situation and it may be one of the most insightful books into a minority's plight in urban America that I have ever read.
I agree with my GR friend, Manuel Antão, that Mosley gives us Fortlow's world full of moral dilemmas. I doubt whether anyone can read this book without reflecting on where we are right now.
With the character, Socrates Fortlow, Mosley adds another layer in his dramatization of this situation and it may be one of the most insightful books into a minority's plight in urban America that I have ever read.
I agree with my GR friend, Manuel Antão, that Mosley gives us Fortlow's world full of moral dilemmas. I doubt whether anyone can read this book without reflecting on where we are right now.
March 18, 2013
So close to being a 5 star read, Mosley has scaled new heights in my estimation with this wonderful series of vignettes featuring Socartes Fortlow
Read on the plane from London to Copenhagen
It might even get upgraded to 5 stars after some more time but this took me by complete surprise after finding it for a measly 50 pence in a Colchester charity shop.
Technically these are short stories featuring the same character but the way that they put together in this volume it works as something similar to John Steinbeck's Cannery Row sequence but from a late 90s Black American perspective. Set in the black slums of LA these are the adventures of a proud man fighting against his roots and his past.
Always seeking morality in his situation and constantly working towards redemption but never suspecting it Socrates really is heroic in his outlook. Mosley never lets his stories become race centred but is always asking questions of his protagonist and his readers; Why do you live this way? What is your purpose in life? Is there a better way? Without ever getting preachy or judgemental. His character is a strong man who knows/believes he is weak and this is the perfect vehicle for Mosley's observations on life and these probing questions he wants to ask.
I enjoyed the Easy Rawlins series enough to want to finish it but this book really set Mosley at a whole new level. Very impressive indeed.
Edit: Just found out this was a made for TV movie starring Laurence Fishburne in 1998, if anyone has a lead on where I can see a copy, please leave a comment.
Read on the plane from London to Copenhagen
It might even get upgraded to 5 stars after some more time but this took me by complete surprise after finding it for a measly 50 pence in a Colchester charity shop.
Technically these are short stories featuring the same character but the way that they put together in this volume it works as something similar to John Steinbeck's Cannery Row sequence but from a late 90s Black American perspective. Set in the black slums of LA these are the adventures of a proud man fighting against his roots and his past.
Always seeking morality in his situation and constantly working towards redemption but never suspecting it Socrates really is heroic in his outlook. Mosley never lets his stories become race centred but is always asking questions of his protagonist and his readers; Why do you live this way? What is your purpose in life? Is there a better way? Without ever getting preachy or judgemental. His character is a strong man who knows/believes he is weak and this is the perfect vehicle for Mosley's observations on life and these probing questions he wants to ask.
I enjoyed the Easy Rawlins series enough to want to finish it but this book really set Mosley at a whole new level. Very impressive indeed.
Edit: Just found out this was a made for TV movie starring Laurence Fishburne in 1998, if anyone has a lead on where I can see a copy, please leave a comment.
June 20, 2012
I read this book over 10 years ago and it still stands out in my mind. Socrates Fortlow is a wonderfully complex and humane character. I still remember vividly his experience trying to get a job shortly after his release from prison. Mosley writes very convincingly about the life and struggles of an ex-con and the problems of urban America. This is one of my favorite books. One of these days I'll read it again so I can write a proper review.
September 10, 2022
I loved listening to the descriptive gritty writing wonderfully read by Paul Winfield in a low gravelly voice. The main character is Socrates Fortlow an ex-convict who lives a hard life in a tough neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. This book is made up of short stories of Socrates Fortlow's escapades as he struggles to establish life beyond prison in more than trying circumstances.
Favorite quotes:
From Midnight Meeting:
"A smile came to his ragged lips. Even his scars seemed to grin."
From History:
"Socrates imagined all of the sweet knowledge buried in her 'hello,' made him happy."
"Winnie and I couldn't have children so we started the [book] store forty-nine years ago. It's always been more spiritual than anything, but we keep books for everybody."
I'm not sure which story this is from but I loved this visual:
"The basket of his hand."
Favorite quotes:
From Midnight Meeting:
"A smile came to his ragged lips. Even his scars seemed to grin."
From History:
"Socrates imagined all of the sweet knowledge buried in her 'hello,' made him happy."
"Winnie and I couldn't have children so we started the [book] store forty-nine years ago. It's always been more spiritual than anything, but we keep books for everybody."
I'm not sure which story this is from but I loved this visual:
"The basket of his hand."
December 20, 2025
"In prison, he had learned to live without desire. And now that he had let desire in, he wanted everything."
Walter Mosely has always been one of my favorite writers- though I've dabbled in the genres he has written in. I've read "The Man in my Basement", "Devil in a Blue Dress" and two works of erotica, "Diablerie" and "Killing Johnny Fry". I have been wanting to read "Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned" for the last 20 years now, ever since I saw clips of the Laurence Fishburne film on TV and that I've read its one of Mr. Mosley's best.
Socrates Fortlaw is an example of a person that I feel many Americans would want to run away from. Because he is black, an ex con, having served 27 years of prison time for murder and rape, with a physique that can be interpreted as downright strong and terrifying, to many out there who do not have compassion, and those who want to say they are against the rehabilitation of those who serve felonies do not deserve a second chance, Socrates is a complex character who does try to do right after his release.
He's a symbol of an American who has been the victim of systemic racism and has the inability to fight impulses that have been used as a defense mechanism: unfortunately, often leading to violence because of his physical strength. As he is released from Indiana and make East Los Angeles his home, he often hovers from being invisible and continuously mistreated to the point where he is marginalized and powerless.
Socrates' memorable and heartbreaking desire to work at the Bounty Supermarket with petty supervisors, his desire to shield a petty criminal name Darryl from repeating the vicious cycle in which African American men in America often find themselves in; and to finally seen as a moral, yet violent man for protecting a dog about to be beaten, he is funny, tiresome, complicated and human.
I am looking forward to reading more about the adventures of Socrates Fortlaw in other books about him and his adventures, and Mr. Mosley writes with scenes that crackle with violence and tension, yet with a tenderness that shows nothing but compassion for those left behind.
Walter Mosely has always been one of my favorite writers- though I've dabbled in the genres he has written in. I've read "The Man in my Basement", "Devil in a Blue Dress" and two works of erotica, "Diablerie" and "Killing Johnny Fry". I have been wanting to read "Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned" for the last 20 years now, ever since I saw clips of the Laurence Fishburne film on TV and that I've read its one of Mr. Mosley's best.
Socrates Fortlaw is an example of a person that I feel many Americans would want to run away from. Because he is black, an ex con, having served 27 years of prison time for murder and rape, with a physique that can be interpreted as downright strong and terrifying, to many out there who do not have compassion, and those who want to say they are against the rehabilitation of those who serve felonies do not deserve a second chance, Socrates is a complex character who does try to do right after his release.
He's a symbol of an American who has been the victim of systemic racism and has the inability to fight impulses that have been used as a defense mechanism: unfortunately, often leading to violence because of his physical strength. As he is released from Indiana and make East Los Angeles his home, he often hovers from being invisible and continuously mistreated to the point where he is marginalized and powerless.
Socrates' memorable and heartbreaking desire to work at the Bounty Supermarket with petty supervisors, his desire to shield a petty criminal name Darryl from repeating the vicious cycle in which African American men in America often find themselves in; and to finally seen as a moral, yet violent man for protecting a dog about to be beaten, he is funny, tiresome, complicated and human.
I am looking forward to reading more about the adventures of Socrates Fortlaw in other books about him and his adventures, and Mr. Mosley writes with scenes that crackle with violence and tension, yet with a tenderness that shows nothing but compassion for those left behind.
November 14, 2018
I bought this book because everything about it made me think it was a detective novel. It has a big ol' gun on the front, it is listed as "Socrates Fortlow #1" (which just screams "detective series"), and Goodreads users have it listed under "mystery".
If you had told me that this was a collection of slice-of-life stories following an old ex-con trying to get by after getting released from prison, I probably wouldn't have picked this up. That would have been a shame, too, because this is now one of my favorite short story collections ever.
What sells it is that Mosley really knows how to write people. He writes them so well that even when they aren't doing anything terribly interesting, you are still riveted to the page. This, in turn, makes you really care about the characters.
I also appreciated how much depth Socrates had. He isn't a guy who did his time and is now a saint. He is a bad man and he knows and accepts that fact. He is, however, trying to do the best he can with who he is and what he has, and everyone can identify with that to some degree.
I can't recommend this book enough to just about anyone. I hate short stories and there aren't too many slice-of-life stories that I enjoy, but this book is just so good it transcends genre and becomes its own wonderful thing.
If you had told me that this was a collection of slice-of-life stories following an old ex-con trying to get by after getting released from prison, I probably wouldn't have picked this up. That would have been a shame, too, because this is now one of my favorite short story collections ever.
What sells it is that Mosley really knows how to write people. He writes them so well that even when they aren't doing anything terribly interesting, you are still riveted to the page. This, in turn, makes you really care about the characters.
I also appreciated how much depth Socrates had. He isn't a guy who did his time and is now a saint. He is a bad man and he knows and accepts that fact. He is, however, trying to do the best he can with who he is and what he has, and everyone can identify with that to some degree.
I can't recommend this book enough to just about anyone. I hate short stories and there aren't too many slice-of-life stories that I enjoy, but this book is just so good it transcends genre and becomes its own wonderful thing.
February 11, 2021
Fantastic! I was surprised at how much I loved Walter Mosley's Socrates character. I've been a huge fan of his Easy Rawlins series, so I don't know why I should be surprised that Mosley knocked another one out of the park.
Socrates is an ex-con, who handles bad situations and solves neighborhood problems using philosophical wisdom, somewhat in the manner of his namesake, while backing up his talk with a healthy pair of fists.
This book is comprised of mostly interwoven stories set in 1980s LA...mostly. Things jump around a little bit in order to take in the Black American experience anywhere from the early '60s to about the riots of '92. The timeline isn't important. Socrates' ability to remain true to himself, while keeping his ass out of prison, is the main focus. I enjoyed the way detective fiction writer Mosley created an otherworldliness to Socrates' adventures and a mysticism to the man's philosophy. These stories about life on the streets sometimes attained a larger than life aura.
Socrates is an ex-con, who handles bad situations and solves neighborhood problems using philosophical wisdom, somewhat in the manner of his namesake, while backing up his talk with a healthy pair of fists.
This book is comprised of mostly interwoven stories set in 1980s LA...mostly. Things jump around a little bit in order to take in the Black American experience anywhere from the early '60s to about the riots of '92. The timeline isn't important. Socrates' ability to remain true to himself, while keeping his ass out of prison, is the main focus. I enjoyed the way detective fiction writer Mosley created an otherworldliness to Socrates' adventures and a mysticism to the man's philosophy. These stories about life on the streets sometimes attained a larger than life aura.
January 29, 2009
Socrates Fortlow has been out of prison for eight years after having spent the previous twenty seven incarcerated for the murder of two people and rape of one of them. This book chronicles some of his experiences in Los Angeles, mainly Watts, effectively portraying the culture and the character of Socrates and his interlocutors. I was impressed with the humanity evident in the protagonist's (dare I say hero?) actions and thoughts, particularly his rationality. He has developed an understanding of himself leading to a control that he did not have in his youth. The episodic nature of the novel provides for the introduction of a variety of characters and leads to several memorable scenes. They range from Socrates interaction with a young man whom he leads away from the life of crime to a touching scene at the end of the book where Socrates helps a dying man maintain some dignity as his life ebbs away. Mosley's spare writing style is very effective in this impressive read. Highly recommended.
November 8, 2023
Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned. CD by Walter Mosley.
Story teller thy name is Walter Mosley. Walter Mosley they name is storyteller. Fortunately, I didn't realize this was a book of short stories which I try to avoid. W.M. pulls it off with only the very best stories and never short changed this reader. Totally into each story and the life of Socrates. another character one should not underestimate.
Highly recommended to all lovers of this author's works.
Story teller thy name is Walter Mosley. Walter Mosley they name is storyteller. Fortunately, I didn't realize this was a book of short stories which I try to avoid. W.M. pulls it off with only the very best stories and never short changed this reader. Totally into each story and the life of Socrates. another character one should not underestimate.
Highly recommended to all lovers of this author's works.
September 17, 2025
I'm not a big fan of short story collections, but Walter Mosley's episodic look at a hard-luck "Socrates" trying to stay straight in the ghettos of Los Angeles has unexpected wisdom and perfect pitch for the urban environment in which these chapters are set.
Socrates is a believable character, and an ex-convict more stoic than bitter. He is, if I may say so, a community activist, although he does not think of himself as such (and is all the more authentic for that lack of vanity). He knows his own strengths; he knows his limitations, and, refreshingly, he lives by a moral code. This is gritty fiction made memorable in good ways.
Socrates is a believable character, and an ex-convict more stoic than bitter. He is, if I may say so, a community activist, although he does not think of himself as such (and is all the more authentic for that lack of vanity). He knows his own strengths; he knows his limitations, and, refreshingly, he lives by a moral code. This is gritty fiction made memorable in good ways.
September 22, 2009
This is possibly my favorite book of all time. The character Socrates Fortlow is an incredibly intriguing character. There's so much depth, complexity and realism to him. He is a recently paroled convicted murderer living in the slums of LA trying to retain his humanity and manhood despite being constantly surrounded by violence, poverty, and humiliation. Can't say enough about this book. It was adapted (really well) to a film with Laurence Fishburne. Definitely should check that out too.
March 23, 2013
An ex-con in late middle age lives each day as an opportunity for redemption. Recently released from prison after a 27-year prison sentence for rape and murder, Socrates Fortlow has a hardscrabble life in South Central L.A. where violence is part of the everyday and intimidation is currency. Yet in spite of his circumstances and barebones existence, he has an admirable focus on self-awareness. It’s hard not to like this character and you suspect he is not as evil as he believes himself to be. Mosley does a wonderful job of creating a three-dimensional character whose remorse and talent for self-examination inspire interest and sympathy throughout these linked stories.
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September 30, 2018Episodes from the life of one Socrates Forlow, an aging con, recently out of prison, trying to find a way to survive without compromising his late-developed moral code. Anyone who’s read City Dreaming will know I have a thing for genre stories told in non-traditional formats, and though some of these, presumably because they began their life as short stories, fall a little too hammer-heavy with the moralizing, the stranger ones – a first visit to the beach, euthanizing an old friend – are really fabulous. Overall this was quite strong, I mean I went out and grabbed the sequel pretty quick.
January 12, 2020
Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned by Walter Mosley
Anyone who reads a synopsis of this novel can easily learn that the protagonist, Socrates Fortlow, served 27 years in prison for a double homicide and rape. The action in this book takes place 8 years after Socrates has been released from prison. When I reflect on this book I really feel as though it is akin to a series of James Baldwin stories, but set in Watts instead of Manhattan. Like Baldwin’s characters, Socrates Fortlow is dealing with issues that affect him but also have broader implications for his neighborhood, society and humanity. It differs from Baldwin because the person struggling with the issues in these stories is not an artist or sophisticated frequenter of Manhattan jazz clubs but a regular man really living within the experiences of poverty who finds “abundance” in life (shout out to Kiese Laymon and “Heavy” for putting the word to this). Mosley also deals creatively with the different viewpoints on life in the African American community by interposing conflict and conflict resolution among a rich variety of characters.
This is the third novel I have read by Mosley and this is my favorite. Like his novel “John Woman” this book is attractive to me because it does not follow a template. In other words, once one has read enough, each genre tends to follow patterns which make books into “marketable products”. This book, however, does not fit neatly into a typical genre. The stories which become a story of Socrates life in poverty allow the reader insights into life after prison, among many other experiences. Through his flashbacks the reader has a window on life in prison as well. Socrates comes through that dehumanizing experience holding on to key ingredients of humanity: friendship, loyalty, concern for others, concern for the defenseless and recognition of his own potential and limits. In a number of stories the reader is allowed to see the edge of violence simmering below the surface that Socrates manages to contain in the face of infuriating and dangerous circumstances. Mosley portrays this with such clarity that one is left thinking that this is actually the mind of a real person at work and not a character in a novel.
I have come to enjoy Mosley’s work a great deal and I look forward to the next novel of his that I read. I recommend this book. (Is that stating the obvious and thus unnecessary?)
Anyone who reads a synopsis of this novel can easily learn that the protagonist, Socrates Fortlow, served 27 years in prison for a double homicide and rape. The action in this book takes place 8 years after Socrates has been released from prison. When I reflect on this book I really feel as though it is akin to a series of James Baldwin stories, but set in Watts instead of Manhattan. Like Baldwin’s characters, Socrates Fortlow is dealing with issues that affect him but also have broader implications for his neighborhood, society and humanity. It differs from Baldwin because the person struggling with the issues in these stories is not an artist or sophisticated frequenter of Manhattan jazz clubs but a regular man really living within the experiences of poverty who finds “abundance” in life (shout out to Kiese Laymon and “Heavy” for putting the word to this). Mosley also deals creatively with the different viewpoints on life in the African American community by interposing conflict and conflict resolution among a rich variety of characters.
This is the third novel I have read by Mosley and this is my favorite. Like his novel “John Woman” this book is attractive to me because it does not follow a template. In other words, once one has read enough, each genre tends to follow patterns which make books into “marketable products”. This book, however, does not fit neatly into a typical genre. The stories which become a story of Socrates life in poverty allow the reader insights into life after prison, among many other experiences. Through his flashbacks the reader has a window on life in prison as well. Socrates comes through that dehumanizing experience holding on to key ingredients of humanity: friendship, loyalty, concern for others, concern for the defenseless and recognition of his own potential and limits. In a number of stories the reader is allowed to see the edge of violence simmering below the surface that Socrates manages to contain in the face of infuriating and dangerous circumstances. Mosley portrays this with such clarity that one is left thinking that this is actually the mind of a real person at work and not a character in a novel.
I have come to enjoy Mosley’s work a great deal and I look forward to the next novel of his that I read. I recommend this book. (Is that stating the obvious and thus unnecessary?)
August 10, 2023
I sit here shaking my head. This guy writes atmosphere and dialogue so raw that it bleeds from the page, while he slips in characters that live and breathe and move and sweat. Nothing wrong with the narrative either:
'Socrates imagined all of the sweet knowledge buried in her hello. It made him happy.'
'Brenda Marsh spoke in her own fashion, as usual, pronouncing each word separately as if it had come in its own individual wrapper.'
'Her soft voice was ethereal, like the voice of ghosts in old black-and-white movies.'
'Her good-night handshake was like a handful of icy feathers in a dream.'
I will likely finish this series first, sample another or two, then move back to Easy Rawlins.
'Socrates imagined all of the sweet knowledge buried in her hello. It made him happy.'
'Brenda Marsh spoke in her own fashion, as usual, pronouncing each word separately as if it had come in its own individual wrapper.'
'Her soft voice was ethereal, like the voice of ghosts in old black-and-white movies.'
'Her good-night handshake was like a handful of icy feathers in a dream.'
I will likely finish this series first, sample another or two, then move back to Easy Rawlins.
July 19, 2012
"Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned" by Walter Mosley is a moving story of an ex-con living in Los Angeles, told in a series of interconnected short stories. Mosley is a great writer who captures an unflinching (and often unflattering) glimpse into the African-American experience. Honest and real.
April 21, 2023
Walter Mosley is one of the best characterization authors I know. This novel reminds me of “Of Mice and Men.”
January 3, 2022
This is the third, maybe fourth, time I've read this book. A collection of linked stories that (mostly) defies genre, it's a character study as well as a portrait of Black LA in the 1990s. I can't speak to the accuracy of that portrait, but I can say that it's a melancholy, philosophical work that brings the humanist out in me. It is not for everyone, and not all it has to say is easy to hear, but I think the Fortlow books may be the defining works of Mosley's long, varied career. If you are a fan of either the author or recent works like Harlem Shuffle, this is a must.
June 9, 2022
I recently read an op-ed by the Black linguist John McWhorter, who admitted that he came late to the Walter Mosley party. Long ago he resented being condescended to by a librarian who recommended Mosley's books to him, so he resolved to teach her a lesson by never reading them. He admits to his foolishness and is now committed to reading all of Mosley's work, partly because, unlike most writers who attempt it, he gets Black English right. As far as I can tell, that's true, but even more fascinating to me are these stories themselves. The official description is quite accurate, so I won't repeat it here. But I was especially interested in the way Socrates Fortlow struggles to figure out, in interior monologue, and in (Socratic) discussion with his friends, the right thing to do in complicated situations. It's amazing how successfully Mosley adapts this method of ancient moral inquiry to Watts of the 1990's. I think there are three collections of these short stories, and the title of the last one is telling: The Right Mistake.
August 6, 2011
This is why I love reading. You open a book, start reading, and are whisked off to adventure. This is not a crime novel such as the author's Easy Rawlins Mysteries. Instead this book is an extraordinary character study of an uneducated black man, ex-convict Socrates Fortlow, who has spent 27 years in prison for rape and murder. Upon release from an Indiana prison he travels to Los Angeles and begins his new life in a rough section of town. Along the way, the reader is witness to his inner struggle to control his violent rage and attempts to do the right thing so that his life has purpose. The language, the characters, and place are all so authentic. The timing of the story is the late 1980's and early 1990's and includes references to the Rodney King riots. This is the first of three, so far, books with Socrates Fortlow as the main character and I look forward to the others.
November 16, 2022
I loved every story. I loved how Socrates evolved through each one. Great book!
June 17, 2018
Socrates Fortlow, is an ex-con, who had spent nearly 30 years in prison for murder. Working on his eighth year of freedom, he is still struggling to make ends meet and to keep his volatile temper in check. Living in a tiny run-down apartment in Watts, he is surviving by collecting aluminum cans.
Told in a series of vignettes, we follow Socrates, as he tries to pull himself forward, while doling out useful life advice, to those around him.
This is the first in another series, for Mosley and I thought it was very well done and Socrates is a great character to follow.
**It was also excellent on audio, with the late Paul Winfield narrating.
Told in a series of vignettes, we follow Socrates, as he tries to pull himself forward, while doling out useful life advice, to those around him.
This is the first in another series, for Mosley and I thought it was very well done and Socrates is a great character to follow.
**It was also excellent on audio, with the late Paul Winfield narrating.
June 18, 2025
I can’t fathom why there’s a close up of a gun on the cover, especially since the protagonist prides himself on having only used his hands for violence. An excellent short story collection, one where each story is about the same African-American ex-con, Socrates Fortlow, who has a lot of thoughtful philosophies on life despite having murdered. Socrates is so compelling you kinda wish this was a novel, it could have been a meandering one like Tortilla Flat, but the short story structure allows each story to be its own Aesop’s Fable.
October 23, 2023
I listened to this in an audiobook form. I really enjoyed this collection of short stories by Mosley. Despite his violent past, I grew to like the main character named Socrates Fortlow. He was a very interesting and thought provoking person and an observer of life. The reader for this particular audiobook was Paul Winfield and I thought he did an excellent job.
June 12, 2018
Excellent and engaging short stories about Socrates Fortlow a man working to come to terms with the chaos, poverty and violence around and within him.
December 18, 2024
3.5 stars. An easy to read linked short story collection featuring Socrates Fortlow, an ex convict who lives in a tough neighbourhood in Los Angeles, California. He was in jail for 27 years for murder. He finds himself in a number of awkward situations due to the color of his skin and being an ex convict. There are some touching stories in this collection.
This book was first published in 1997.
This book was first published in 1997.
October 27, 2017
Socrates has a story to tell, always a story. I think I liked this novel but then again Socrates angered me. I am a person who likes to listen to people, to hear their tales and to hear their reasonings, if it makes sense but with Socrates there came a point where I wanted to pull the rug out from under him. Socrates is all about what is fair, doing what is right and just until it just doesn’t fit.
Socrates begins this tale living a meager life after being released from prison after 27 years. He’s done his time and he’s not going back. He’s trying to live a clean life, nothing fancy and nothing extreme. Socrates lives day-by-day collecting empties and turning them in, meeting up with his buddies and eating at the local diner. Life is good and life is simple. Socrates has a few run-ins with individuals and stories are shared. When he is offered a few jobs, Socrates turns them down. All of this, I think, has him thinking about his life and his future. It’s when Socrates tries to obtain a job at a grocery store that has me seeing him in a different light. He expects others to do right but in the end, Socrates doesn’t do what is expected of him even when things are pointed out to him (it’s like he casts a blind eye). Oh, this really upset me! Socrates knows the outcome should he do what is right and so, he casts a blind eye. Shame on you Socrates!
Socrates does offer some good remarks to the man at the diner and he is wise when dealing with the South-Central Firebug and I feel that he truly helped Darryl for the time being.
I did like Socrates and I liked this novel but that one time, that one time, I feel he really messed up. He messed up big in my eyes. I understand why he did it but that doesn’t mean I consent to it. And yes, there is no mystery to solve here unless you try to understand the mystery behind Socrates and the way he is.
Socrates begins this tale living a meager life after being released from prison after 27 years. He’s done his time and he’s not going back. He’s trying to live a clean life, nothing fancy and nothing extreme. Socrates lives day-by-day collecting empties and turning them in, meeting up with his buddies and eating at the local diner. Life is good and life is simple. Socrates has a few run-ins with individuals and stories are shared. When he is offered a few jobs, Socrates turns them down. All of this, I think, has him thinking about his life and his future. It’s when Socrates tries to obtain a job at a grocery store that has me seeing him in a different light. He expects others to do right but in the end, Socrates doesn’t do what is expected of him even when things are pointed out to him (it’s like he casts a blind eye). Oh, this really upset me! Socrates knows the outcome should he do what is right and so, he casts a blind eye. Shame on you Socrates!
Socrates does offer some good remarks to the man at the diner and he is wise when dealing with the South-Central Firebug and I feel that he truly helped Darryl for the time being.
I did like Socrates and I liked this novel but that one time, that one time, I feel he really messed up. He messed up big in my eyes. I understand why he did it but that doesn’t mean I consent to it. And yes, there is no mystery to solve here unless you try to understand the mystery behind Socrates and the way he is.
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