Mojo: Conjure Stories (Paperback)

by Nalo Hopkinson (Author) "When old Wilmer guarded Block Twelve, there was no radio, because old Wilmer mistrusted people sitting around a box harking at nothing..." (more)
Key Phrases: Daddy Mention, Uncle Monday, Mambo Marie (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Many Americans know "mojo" is Southern slang for powerful magic. But few Americans know the word originated in West Africa and referred to a small cloth bag containing protective magicks. The origin of mojo is as obscure to Americans as the religious, spiritual, and magical beliefs of Africa, which are far less familiar than the religions and myths of Europe and Asia. Acclaimed author/editor Nalo Hopkinson addresses this imbalance with her anthology Mojo: Conjure Stories, which collects 19 original stories of magic and gods and mortals, set in locales that range from a pre-Civil War plantation to modern Oakland, from Nineteenth-Century England to underground New York City.

Contributors range from big names like Steven Barnes, Neil Gaiman, and Barbara Hambly to exciting new authors (however, editor Hopkinson unfortunately does not contribute a story). The anthology avoids such inaccurate, offensive Hollywood stereotypes as the pin-stuck "voodoo doll," and the overall quality is very high, with a few weak tales offset by the far more numerous excellent stories. Among the best works are Sheree Renee Thomas's poetic myth "How Sukie Cross De Big Wata"; Marcia Douglas's lyrical "Notes from a Writer's Book of Cures and Spells," the best story about the writing process since Jaime Hernandez's "How to Kill A" (Love & Rockets); and "The Tawny Bitch," Nisi Shawl's classically gothic tale of a wealthy, quadroon British heiress held captive by a greedy, lustful relative.

The anthology opens with a brief but informative editor's note from Nalo Hopkinson and an evocative introduction by Luisah Teish, priestess of the Ifa/Orisha tradition and author of several books, including the spiritual classic Jambalaya: The Natural Woman's Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals. --Cynthia Ward

From Publishers Weekly
The 19 stories in this all-original anthology, edited by the author of Skin Folk, skillfully blend West African magic, fantasy and horror, along with plain old-fashioned readability. Some deal with familiar aspects of that magic in unfamiliar ways, such as the zombies of Steven Barnes's "Heartspace" and Neil Gaiman's "Bitter Grounds." Others explore social issues, like Tananarive Due's disturbing "Trial Day," which highlights injustice against African-Americans during the 1920s. "The Prowl" (Gregory Frost), "The Horsemen and the Morning Star" (Barbara Hambly) and "How Sukie Cross de Big Wata" (Sheree Renee Thomas) offer grim views of slavery days. Marcia Douglas's somewhat tongue-in-cheek "Notes from a Writer's Book of Cures and Spells" amuses more than it unsettles. A.M. Dellamonica applies magic to food in "Cooking Creole," while Barth Anderson's "Lark till Dawn, Princess" takes place on the drag queen circuit with an assist from a magical Elvis impersonator. Since some authors develop their themes or handle dialect better than others, the mojo level varies from story to story. Luisah Teish (Jambalaya: The Natural Woman's Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals) provides an introduction.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Aspect (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446679291
• ISBN-13: 978-0446679299
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #368,778 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chills, Thrills and Goose Flesh, February 8, 2004

By	Elle Ackers "Dulce_Quod_Utile" (Somewhere in time) - See all my reviews

I wanted to devour this anthology in one sitting and at the same time savor it. There are 19 stories with African magic at their roots, yet all the stories are different. 19 different authors each with her/his own style and voice. All are fabulous. Some tales are contemporary and some are historical. Some are set in Africa, some in the Caribbean, and some in the Americas. Some are rather funny and some are too sobering. Little chills will run down your skin giving you goose flesh. Every story is wonderful beyond words. I can't tell you which story or which author I liked the most. Read the book and choose your own. This anthology is edited by Nalo Hopkinson and includes authors, in order of appearance: Andy Duncan, Kinni Iburi Salaam, Barth Anderson, Steven Barnes, Gregory Frost, Jenise Aminoff, Tananarive Due, Jarla Tangh, Tobias S. Buckell, Nnedima Okorafor, Barbara Hambly, Gerard Houarner, A. M. Dellamonica, Eliot Fintushel, Nisi Shawl, Neil Gaiman, devorah major, Marcia Douglas, and Sheree Renee Thomas. There is an introduction by Luisah Teish.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mojo: Conjure Stories is off da chain!, June 26, 2003

By A Customer

I read Nalo Hopkinson's first novel, Brown in the Ring a while ago and have been a fan ever since. I like the way she reinvents Afro-Caribbean rhythms and traditions to her storytelling, especially in her short stories, but her anthology is good, too. There are wild stories in here that made me rethink my stance on 'mojo' and conjure. There are too many good stories to name, and I'm still reading, but I really like the Neil Gaiman story, the "Fate" story by Jenise Aminoff, Nisi Shawl's "Tawny B---," Marcia Douglas, and Sheree Renee Thomas. The only thing missing so far is a story from Nalo herself. Maybe next time!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tasteful Tales of Terror, June 2, 2003

By	The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

Hopkins tastefully begins this consortium of tales by defining and distinguishing between religion and magic. She explains that "religion is an institutionalized system of spiritual beliefs...magic is the practice of altering the fated progression of events to suit one's desires." She then reminds us that magic is dangerous, and the ensuing stories support her statement.

From the Plateye, mischievous ghost who roam the earth changing shape and identity for deadly self-serving purposes, to the mysterious Udu pots that preserve, and don't forget Uncle Monday who steals souls...or Anansi, a trickster god disguised as an eight legged, wrinkled face spider, these conjured anomalies float through the pages of Mojo to form exquisite stories of characters performing self-serving magic. This anthology mixes modern fantasy with magic folklore and voodoo curses, the result being eerie and mysterious tales that spread your imagination and prickle the back of your neck.

Hopkins assembled an impressive reticulation of great writers. Steven Barnes, Tananarive Due, Barbara Hambly, and Marcia Douglas are just a few of the talented contributors. Barth Anderson's "Lark Till Dawn Princess" was the most intriguing to me. It was more mystery than mojo, and told of singing & performances in the alternative drag queen world. You'll love the point of view. Gregory Frost's "The Prowl" was among the cleverest because it is an explosive snatch of black history spun on vengeance. Denise Aminoff had the most daring and disturbing story. It reminded me of an early episode of the X-files.

If you enjoy the unknown, the far-reaching, and don't mind stretching beyond the familiar parameters of belief, you'll enjoy these conjure stories.

Reviewed by KaTrina Love (MissLove)
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers