- ISBN13: 9780684839295
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Reissued to coincide with the release of One River–a chronicle of Davis’ exploration of the Amazon rain forest–The Serpent and the Rainbow presents the author’s account of his venture into the heart of Haiti, on a search for a powerful sedative–a “zombie drug.” “Exotic and far-reaching.”–The Wall Street Journal…. More >>
Right, First of all, this is a damn good book, and anyone intrested in the subject matter should find it really intresting.
But know the bad points(outweighed by good):
1). I want to make a zombie goddamn it(sorry only joking). Bue the author does tend to spend a lot of time talking about things, that whilst being intresting, and in a sense relevent, i feel move the subject matter away from a history of voudan, and more towards a history of the island. Of Course the two are connected, but does the author need to put that much detail in to the subject matter.
Rating: 4 / 5
The author takes us on his own macho trip to find the truth about Haitian zombies, prying his way into the ceremonial temples called “hounfours” where dancers in trance hold fire to their lips and are not harmed. Financed by academic money, Davis made a number of trips to the island and managed to uncover much information about the practice of what we call “voodoo” and specifically about the making of zombies. Yes, there really are zombies, people supposedly dead and buried, but who emerge from the grave to become mindless slaves. How is this accomplished?
By buying his way into the favor of various “houngans,” the author appears to have found the answer. As an ethnobotanist, the author has the knowledge and skills to determine if the various wierd ingredients (ground human bones, lizards and toads, various plants, etc) actually have any pharmacological basis for causing a simulation of death and/or subsequent “resurrection.” While he watched as the houngans prepared the powder, he noted there were different formulas used, but each contained some of the same ingredients, and those could produce a death-like effect.
As I read this book, by the middle of it I found I did not like the author’s methods nor much like the author; he blithely lied to people numerous times to get what he wanted, and the preparations he brought back were used on hapless rhesus monkeys to test their potency. In order to get at the methods and reasons for creating zombies, the author had to finally adopt a Haitian mind-set that brought conflicts with his Harvard Sophisticated background. It turns out that people are not snatched at random to be turned into zombies, but rather the practice is part of the fabric of Haitian culture, which, reflecting the African origins of its people, is actually governed by interlocking secret societies. The legal government could not exist without the consent of these societies, which are generally headed by houngans. The zombie “poison” is used on people who break what appear to be perfectly reasonable rules, and only after a judgment by their peers in which they have a chance to defend themselves.
The author ultimately finds that it is the beliefs — the “magic” — that makes the zombifiction possible. The powders he brings back to his civilized laboratories are crucial to the process, but it is the web of cultural beliefs that allow it to happen. As I got further into the book, I was glad the author finally saw that the best thing he could do is back off and recognize that he is not Haitian and he cannot penetrate the ultimate secrets of Haitian culture. I thought he went too far in buying his way into knowledge best left for those who can understand it. Some of his travels around the island were for tasks that were not well explained. Was he on a personal quest, a scientific mission, or just a traveler soaking up the local color?
The book provides much information on how Haiti came to be. I was surprised by the information that for 100 years Haiti was the only black-led nation. The history of the slave uprising is fascinating. Haitian culture is essentially African because the slave turnover was so great and many who participated in the final revolt had been born in Africa.
This book, while worthwhile for what it reveals about Haiti, made me think about the excesses of science in pursuit of knowledge. The Haitian people, through their interaction with the author, have proven that not all knowledge comes from logical discovery. The dancers who gyrate to the drums in trance and serve the loas do not need an explanation of why the fire does not burn them. Perhaps we do not need an explanation either.
Rating: 3 / 5
The concept of zombie is credible. I see people on the street every day who used… in the 80’s and walk around like zombies today. I think that the zombie issue is most important in that Haitian people were poor and uneducated, and unfortunayely believed lots of rubbish. In the 1970’s and 1980’s the Duvalier dictstorship took advantage of this. Francois Duvalier convinced the people that he and his wife had magic power and could harm the people if they rebelled. I think that the Duvalier family gave voodoo a bad name from this….
Rating: 5 / 5
I accidently bought two of these books, so I gave my good friend the other copy. Make sure to check your purchase order over before purchasing.
The book is maturley exciting and very interesting as well. I am half way through it now, havent had a lot of time to read I have too many kids. Amazon is an excelent site to order from, your purchases are thouroghly sent to you! Thanks
Rating: 4 / 5
According to Haitian friends this book is very factual even though it is written in the fictional form. If this subject interests you this is a must read
Rating: 4 / 5