LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka) - Black Music

Critical Praise for Amiri Barakas

TALES OF THE OUT & THE GONE (2007)

Winner of a PEN/Beyond Margins Award

A New York Times Editors Choice

An Essence Magazine Best Seller

As this new collection of short fiction (most of it previously unpublished) makes clear, the writer formerly known as LeRoi Jones possesses an outtelligence of a high order. Baraka is such a provocateur, so skilled at prodding his perceived enemies (who are legion) in their tender underbellies, that it becomes easy to overlook that he is first and foremost a writer He writes crisp, punchy sentences and has a fine ear for dialogue In his prose as in his poetry, Baraka is at his best a lyrical prophet of despair who transfigures his contentious racial and political views into a transcendent, outtelligent clarity.

NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

A marvelously vital and creative mind at work.

LIBRARY JOURNAL

Baraka remains a prodigiously skilled writer. Tales of the Out & the Gone is an apt reminder of Barakas unique ability to touch on politics, race, and identity in a biting vernacular style.

TIME OUT NEW YORK

In his signature politically piercing and poetic staccato style, Baraka offers a perspective on social and political changes and a fresh view of the possibilities that language presents in exploring human passions Fans and newcomers alike will appreciate Barakas breadth of political perspective and passion for storytelling.

BOOKLIST

Barakas ability to load his words with so much artillery results from his understanding of storytelling Though the resolutions are often delivered like gut-shot punch lines, the circumstances behind the varied plots are complex, and are something too few people take the time to confront.

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

Baraka makes his prose jump with word coiningouttelligent, overstandand one-liners The humor and off-the-wall jaunts tackle real issues of race, otherness, and power with pointed irony.

NEW YORK PRESS

This literary elders work, no matter what genre, has never failed to excite, never failed to elucidate and examine the human condition with scathing insight The books charm lies in its tautness. No words wasted here. Tales commands you to pay close attention, lest you miss a great joke or a heartbreaking truth.

BLACK ISSUES BOOK REVIEW

Baraka unabashedly steps on toes, but does it in such a way that you close the book thanking him for it. He bends the English language to his liking without stopping to explain himself, which is refreshing from both ideological and technical perspectives.

IDAHO STATESMAN

The short fiction here shows controversy is nothing new for the last poet laureate of New Jersey Baraka certainly hasnt gone soft.

TIME OUT CHICAGO

Tales of the Out & the Gone displays Barakas increasing literary playfulness, intellectual exploration, and passion for intuitive abstract language. The book introduces new readers to Barakas groundbreaking and ever-changing style.

EBONY