Book Review: “The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington” by P. Djéli Clark
(Four Stars)
“For the blacksmith understood what masters had chosen to forget: when you make a man or woman a slave you enslave yourself in turn.”
Excellent speculative historical fiction. Since the root–that George Washington bought the teeth of nine slaves as his own rotted away–this might have made an excellent historical fiction. The speculative musings–while fun–are so over-the-top that they dull the edge on what would be righteous indignation over the behavior of our first president.
“… from the ramparts English mages hurled volleys of emerald fireballs that could melt through iron.”
The storytelling is compact and fast moving. Clark makes his points and moves on. Good job.
“When George Washington wore Solomon’s tooth, he dream of a place of golden spires and colorful glass domes …. It both awed and frightened him at once.”
2019 Best Short Story Hugo Award finalist. Published in Fireside Magazine, February 2018.
As a Matter of Fancy 