Zimbabwe
The Hangman’s Replacement
By
Taona Dumisani Chivenenko
Full of intrigue, mystery, humour and secretive; well, that
about covers the author! This book has been written by the above named person,
who has no immediately available image on ‘Google’, translated by ‘somebody’
and ‘another person’. There doesn’t appear to have an easily trackable ISBN and the title, although central to the
plot line has very little to do with erasing the idea that this is a gloomy,
morbid tale, which it isn’t. So, what is it?
Science fiction, horror, satire, humour and an investigation
of ‘what if...’ It starts with a simple man applying for the job, as stated in
the title. He may be a simple man, but he certainly is no simpleton. Following
several logical, humane but somewhat difficult philosophies, we will leave him
part way through the story, only for him to return at the appropriate time. For
example, to précis a segment of his interview; how he would feel if he found
out that he had dispatched a third of his prisoners who were in fact innocent.
He remarked that as his wage would keep his entire village in food and drinks,
which numbered many more than in the prison, he would still be saving lives by becoming
the hangman. Difficult to argue with, I think but alien to our sense of
decency? Discuss.
As we move through the tale, we meet the super rich, the
politicians that might just be veering ever so slightly down their own path,
with somewhat obscure motives and plans. So now all we need is the introduction
of the flesh eating plants! Oh, and I
nearly forgot to mention the human organ smuggling gang that use living cattle
to transport across the borders. But who
will be the winners and losers in this battle that resembles ‘The Day of the
Triffids’ and ‘Frankenstein’? There are
chapters entitled ‘The man with two brains’ (which will make sense when you get
there, and there is an encounter with a dead, naked man, found in the lake,
completely wrapped in a full sized condom! Again, this will make sense at the
right time.
This is a book that is easily looked over, with a title that
does not automatically lend itself to further investigation. But I cannot
recommend highly enough that you resist the urge to pass it by, take it off the
shelf, look on your e-reader, or if you have to, contact me and I will point
you in the right direction – but please do try and find time. Just put your
disbelief to one side for a short time, immerse yourself into every conceivable
genre that 300 pages can manage to accommodate and get stuck in. I promise, you
will not read about or experience the last moments on any criminal’s life.
I am told by the author (whoever that may be) that there is
to be a sequel. I, for one, can’t wait. I hope it will be just as quirky and
odd, but it must remain as true to humanity; and humane philosophies as this one.
I can’t recommend this one highly enough!