The Tempest Tales

By Rex Burns, Special to the Rocky

Published May 22, 2008 at 5:50 p.m.

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* Fiction. By Walter Mosley. Black Classic Press, $19.95. Grade: C

Plot in a nutshell: Mosley, author of first-rate detective stories and many other forms, moves into fable with the story of Tempest Landry. An "African-American Everyman," Landry finds himself standing before St. Peter after being gunned down by white cops for no reason. Condemned to hell because of his sins, Landry refuses to accept judgment. In an effort to maintain the cosmic balance between heaven and hell, St. Peter returns Landry to earth in a different body and assigns a guardian named "Angel" to convince Landry that he must accept the judgment as just.

A black man forced to survive in a white-dominated world, Landry refuses to see his illegal acts as immoral ones. He steadfastly repeats that he did what he had to in order for him, his family and friends to survive. Though he stole, it was for a good cause; though he lied, it was to send to jail a man who deserved it.

The real focus of the story is Angel, who transforms to become more human and less certain of St. Peter's judgment. Told from Angel's point of view, the story follows the arguments between him and Landry and the angel's growing sensitivity to the complexities of the human condition. When Satan arrives to capture Landry's soul, Angel finds himself rejecting heaven's definition of sin and defending Landry against the devil - and St. Peter.

Sample of prose: Speaking of the concept of personal sin versus behavior caused by a corrupt society, Landry states, "How can you learn without a book? How can you want to learn without food in your stomach and a mother's love? How can you know you're right if every time you say something somebody hits you and says to shut up?"

Pros: The strongest elements of the tale are its situation, Landry's voice and the elevation of humanity over religious dogma.

Cons: Too often the arguments for conventional religion - both those of St. Peter and Satan - are oversimplified, leaving the reader with an easy contempt for their shallowness.

Final word: Despite a lack of philosophical depth, Mosley draws an occasionally moving conflict between black and white concepts of justice.

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