Here is a review before it was edited for a newspaper.
Steve Anderson’s first novel, Dark Sighted, is the story of Mole, a male Wampanoag Native American coming of age as a shaman in the 1620’s. Anderson writes, “Behind his back in whispers, they called him Dark Sighted. To his face they called him Mole “It seemed he could see better in the dark ‘without eyes’ than most people could see with eyes in the daylight…Mole had known...that he was going to journey that night; he always knew before hand. His body would stay where it was; it was his spirit that would travel.”
Mole’s spirit guides tell him that he shouldn’t kill another human being if he wants to continue to receive ‘Other-Worldly’ guidance. He learns to listen, understand and act upon his visions and astute powers of perception through a series of trials and adventures his wisdom and powers increase. He realizes that the ‘White People’ from across the ocean are not to be trusted and are about to descend upon his people in droves. He helps a fellow Wampanoag whom considers Mole his enemy exorcise a vengeful ghost and is given the new name Medicine Knife. He becomes a vital component in the leadership of his Wampanoag community.
Anderson has written a vivid account of a Wampanoag’s life during pressure from inevitable change that came to all Native American cultures. He writes in a description and dialogue between Wampanoag council member Samoset and the leader Tisquantum, “Samoset’s voice, without any flourishes, expressed genuine, quieting dread. ““Nothing will ever be the same again…”” ““Great changes are coming”” Mole heard the Antlered Warrior’s words echoed in that lodge… Samoset continued. ““This time the English are not here only for a short time to trade or fish or steal a few people. This time, they are here to stay. This time they…”” ““They have brought their women and children.”” Tisquantum finished Samoset’s statement… ““Yes, they have brought their women and children.”” Samoset said this as though he were pronouncing a death sentence.”
Teaching on a Navajo reservation for sixteen years Anderson’s knowledge of Native American culture and lore is unmistakable. He has the ability to make the reader think they were transported back in time to the 1620’s and given the opportunity to eavesdrop and in some cases interact with Mole and his people. Dark Sighted begins as a good yarn that is entertaining and informative that one could easily develop empathy for the characters and get caught in their story, all good traits for a first novel (in fact, all good traits for any novel). Unfortunately, the narrative is uneven. The first 150 pages or so, one is captivated by a well written story of a young shaman’s rite-of-passage and self-discovery during turbulent times of a changing world. The last 48 pages are written more like play-by play commentary full of unnecessary expositional material that doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the novel. Anderson seems to run out of steam, as if completing the history of his main protagonist and exploring his thoughts and continue to place the reader in a fictional narrative is too daunting of a task. In the beginning of Dark Sighted the reader is immersed in a story with such well developed characters that one forgets one is learning history. In contrast, Anderson attempts to sum up another 50 -75 years in two short chapters. He bombards the reader with facts and personal opinions until his author intrusion is as blatant, abrupt and unforgivable as having a door slammed in one’s face. The flow of the narrative is disrupted and the character’s voices are stifled with what might be called ‘Storious Interruptus’
This reviewer hopes Anderson avoids this condition in his next novel.
Steve Anderson was born and raised in the Chicago area. His lifelong emotional involvement with Native American issues led him to become a teacher on the Navajo reservation for sixteen years. He now resides in upstate New York. Dark Sighted is his first novel.
-Lee Gooden 6-3-2005
Steve Anderson’s first novel, Dark Sighted, is the story of Mole, a male Wampanoag Native American coming of age as a shaman in the 1620’s. Anderson writes, “Behind his back in whispers, they called him Dark Sighted. To his face they called him Mole “It seemed he could see better in the dark ‘without eyes’ than most people could see with eyes in the daylight…Mole had known...that he was going to journey that night; he always knew before hand. His body would stay where it was; it was his spirit that would travel.”
Mole’s spirit guides tell him that he shouldn’t kill another human being if he wants to continue to receive ‘Other-Worldly’ guidance. He learns to listen, understand and act upon his visions and astute powers of perception through a series of trials and adventures his wisdom and powers increase. He realizes that the ‘White People’ from across the ocean are not to be trusted and are about to descend upon his people in droves. He helps a fellow Wampanoag whom considers Mole his enemy exorcise a vengeful ghost and is given the new name Medicine Knife. He becomes a vital component in the leadership of his Wampanoag community.
Anderson has written a vivid account of a Wampanoag’s life during pressure from inevitable change that came to all Native American cultures. He writes in a description and dialogue between Wampanoag council member Samoset and the leader Tisquantum, “Samoset’s voice, without any flourishes, expressed genuine, quieting dread. ““Nothing will ever be the same again…”” ““Great changes are coming”” Mole heard the Antlered Warrior’s words echoed in that lodge… Samoset continued. ““This time the English are not here only for a short time to trade or fish or steal a few people. This time, they are here to stay. This time they…”” ““They have brought their women and children.”” Tisquantum finished Samoset’s statement… ““Yes, they have brought their women and children.”” Samoset said this as though he were pronouncing a death sentence.”
Teaching on a Navajo reservation for sixteen years Anderson’s knowledge of Native American culture and lore is unmistakable. He has the ability to make the reader think they were transported back in time to the 1620’s and given the opportunity to eavesdrop and in some cases interact with Mole and his people. Dark Sighted begins as a good yarn that is entertaining and informative that one could easily develop empathy for the characters and get caught in their story, all good traits for a first novel (in fact, all good traits for any novel). Unfortunately, the narrative is uneven. The first 150 pages or so, one is captivated by a well written story of a young shaman’s rite-of-passage and self-discovery during turbulent times of a changing world. The last 48 pages are written more like play-by play commentary full of unnecessary expositional material that doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the novel. Anderson seems to run out of steam, as if completing the history of his main protagonist and exploring his thoughts and continue to place the reader in a fictional narrative is too daunting of a task. In the beginning of Dark Sighted the reader is immersed in a story with such well developed characters that one forgets one is learning history. In contrast, Anderson attempts to sum up another 50 -75 years in two short chapters. He bombards the reader with facts and personal opinions until his author intrusion is as blatant, abrupt and unforgivable as having a door slammed in one’s face. The flow of the narrative is disrupted and the character’s voices are stifled with what might be called ‘Storious Interruptus’
This reviewer hopes Anderson avoids this condition in his next novel.
Steve Anderson was born and raised in the Chicago area. His lifelong emotional involvement with Native American issues led him to become a teacher on the Navajo reservation for sixteen years. He now resides in upstate New York. Dark Sighted is his first novel.
-Lee Gooden 6-3-2005
posted by Lee Gooden | 6:43 PM
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