Publisher: Firebrand Books
Jewelle
Gomez’s book is considered a classic in lesbian literature and the nice thing
about classics is that they can be discovered by other people long after they
are published. Gomez recently announced
that she’s working on another volume of stories about Gilda, so reviewing the
first book seems especially appropriate now.
The
book opens when Gilda is a nameless slave running for her life in Louisiana in
1850. She’s rescued by the original
Gilda who takes her to New Orleans where she runs a brothel with an Indian
woman named Bird. Gilda and Bird take
the girl under their wings, educate her and expose her to a multitude of
experiences that change her from a slave into a confident woman. Eventually it is revealed that Gilda and Bird
are vampires and they offer the girl the chance at eternal life. The original Gilda is tired of her existence
and wants to let go of life, so she arranges for the girl to take her place and
her name. The book then propels the new
Gilda through two centuries, ending in 2050.
During her travels she mingles with her kind and normal humans, witnessing
the rise of African American culture, the civil rights movement and feminism. She also deals with sexuality, racism and
environmental issues.
Gomez
created a different type of vampire, especially for the time when this book was
written. Most of these vampires don’t
kill humans unless forced to do so and the act of taking blood is portrayed as
a mutually beneficial exchange. Gilda is
taught to look into people’s thoughts and find something that is important to
them; then she is to leave them with the belief that they can achieve it. Gomez relies on some of the vampire myths,
but the purpose of this book isn’t to be horror fiction. The motif of the vampire gives her the
ability to take her character through time and observe the changes that take
place.
Gilda’s
story is one of being the ultimate “outsider.”
As a black female lesbian vampire she’s about as outside as a character
can be. She lives in the times that are
examined, but she’s also not part of those times. It gives her a unique perspective as she
examines humans in their development, especially the areas where they have
failed to improve. This is a conflicted
character, but coming from four minorities makes this seem natural. What she does do is gain strength over time
and that reflects the changes that have occurred in American society.
The
most speculative chapter is the last one which takes Gilda into an almost
apocalyptic 2050. What is most
interesting is that Gomez had to guess twenty years ago where the world would
be in approximately sixty years due to environmental degradation. What is sad is that, as the earth has moved
closer to that date, her predictions have become more accurate. Gilda ends the book as she started it, being
hunted, but she also ends it with hope and love.
The Gilda Stories can appeal to a
wide range of readers. The story moves along very smoothly and is very
informative. Vampire lovers, feminists,
lesbians and African Americans will all find something in this book. That’s why it’s a classic.
