The Dread Owba Coo-Coo by M.C. Norris

 

Not all great literature is hundreds of years old. This bizarre historical horror novel blurs the lines between reality, fantasy, and poetry. In a harrowing moment from the bleakest period in human annals, a damaged slave vessel, stranded during the Middle Passage, takes on the grim visage of a nightmarish isle. Here, there's no respite from the oppressive warmth, the predatory sharks, or from the passengers themselves. Yet, amidst them lurks another entity. Ancient and malevolent.

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Drawing from genuine events of the slave trade epoch, this thought-provoking genesis of the zombie tale traces a pestilence spread by flies to its African origins. Through an amalgamation of letters, diary notes, and narratives from both European and African viewpoints, it uncovers a primeval agreement between a fading Vodu sorceress and Sakpata, the deity of maladies. The sinister result of their pact is an entity that's both awe-inspiring and horrifying. Utilizing blood-thirsty bugs and a thriving slave business, it carries its lineage across the seas to its new abode, an isle termed Hayiti.

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Read:

The text in the image below. Focus on that very first paragraph and how it creates a strong image of the scene.

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Discuss:

There is a scene in this novel where a character is tortured. Do you feel like graphic events add or detract from stories in books and movies? Why?