The first few pages of this novel are not so compelling, but once the story begins, it takes off. I found most fascinating the character of the Redeemer, a dwarf pseudo-preacher who is perhaps the mastermind of a slave-stealing and reselling scam, or perhaps the creation of a voodoo priestess. He exists or does not exist.

Wray tells his story in the first person, but the narrator changes by chapter. This gives us different insight into the same events. Yet the events are hard to pin down.

The basics, on the surface, is a story about a group which steals and resells slaves. But dig down a bit and strange things are happening. The main character, blind in one eye, a rationalist who goes over the other side, is the main lense through which we see the story unfold.

I found the story to be compelling as long as the Redeemer was the focus. I found him fascinating. Once he left the scene (although it's not clear whether he actually ever does), the story seemed to bog down somewhat and I found it less compelling.

Overall, however, Canaan's Tongue is a good read, and may even tell us something about the contemporary US. ( )