Transitioning from success at nonfiction writing -- and journalism especially (well, real journalism) -- to fiction is a very difficult thing. I've seen a number of talented writers attempt it, with varying degrees of success. For many people with active imaginations, coming up with a good plot isn't challenging; however, translating that into compelling words on paper can be agonizing. Add to that the necessity of creating believable characters, emotional interest in them and the action, and generally creating pictures in the readers' minds, and it's easy to understand why many fiction authors describe their art as bleeding onto paper.
When I first learned some years ago that libertarian journalist Vin Suprynowicz was working on a novel, my response was mixed. His nonfiction books, Send in the Waco Killers and The Ballad of Carl Drega, are both excellent; I hoped his novel would follow in their compelling craftsmanship. I was also concerned that it would not, and thereby might cost him some credibility, and thereby shrink his audience. While I was concerned in part for someone who's a good friend, the number of libertarian journalists in the U.S. who are taken seriously is far too small; freedom lovers cannot afford for those ranks to be shrunk. Fortunately for us all, my concerns were for naught.
Simultaneously substantial and stylish, The Black Arrow is the best how-to novel for the freedom underground yet published. Suprynowicz weaves a compelling story around believable characters, and shows that the movement isn't about winning an intellectual debate, but about living free. Anyone whose goals include living in a free society needs to read The Black Arrow.
The main character is a Batmanesque chap -- wealthy, eminently capable, and seemingly above reproach, he's also a leader of an anti-government resistance movement who's not above doing some of the "dirty work" himself. Although the character is quite stylized, his interactions with others in the movement are not -- rather, they're complex, realistic, and span the gamut of human relationships. How do you come to trust someone when you're an outlaw? How do "ordinary" concerns such as friendship, love, and wanting a family mix with activism, particularly activism that could claim one's life at any time? These are just two of the many interpersonal issues Suprynowicz addresses in The Black Arrow, and does so in a way that will have activists nodding in agreement time and again.
And then there's the how-to element. Absent excessive pontification in either dialogue or narrative, Suprynowicz still provides the attentive reader with many interesting ideas on ways to go about the sneaky business of beating back the statists. I found myself Googling many things while reading The Black Arrow, and being impressed (but not surprised) at Suprynowicz's solid information. While some of the ideas are limited to urban areas, much of it is applicable to resistance in general, and others could be tweaked.
The Black Arrow unfolds from a female point of view -- of one of the main female characters. A risky technique for even an accomplished male novelist, Suprynowicz succeeds at it scarily well. His ability to create rich characters and consistent narrative from an unfamiliar point of view invites comparisons with Heinlein and F. Paul Wilson, two authors who are at the top of that craft for me.
The Black Arrow is a unique novel. It's a complex blend of stylization, inspiration, and information that works wonderfully at portraying personal, interpersonal, and logistical challenges the freedom movement faces. Suprynowicz has a reputation for being a master wordsmith, and The Black Arrow adds a new dimension to his well-deserved acclaim. Suprynowicz's tale combines superhero stylishness with realistic problems and strategies, resulting in an inspiring portrayal of freedom activism and people whose lives are centered on winning liberty.
If this review seems on the dispassionate side, that is somewhat deliberate. As I've already written in some detail on The Black Arrow's personal impact upon me, I wanted to largely keep that separate from this review. At risk of boring readers with repetition, The Black Arrow came to me at a time of great difficulty and unhappiness. Reading Vin's tale of living, loving, and fighting for freedom provided me with a generous infusion of inspiration and motivation. While it may not have the same impact on others, it nonetheless is an impressive novel.
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Currently, advance orders for The Black Arrow are being accepted in two options:
Leatherbound, hardcover limited edition -- only 1000 copies -- for $51.95 (S&H included); or
Leatherbound limited edition plus trade paper edition for $76.90 (S&H included).
[The leatherbound edition will ship soon -- this winter -- while the trade paper edition is expected to be delivered in April 2005.] See the Liberty Book Shop to order your copies.
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