Decima: A novel

by Eben Venter

A mountain of flesh she is, this Decima, as she lies. She summons her strength to rise, all four feet on sand and shale. Puffs twirl and settle as her toes find their place. Three on each foot. Decima stands.
In the veld of the Eastern Cape a writer imagines Decima – a magnificent black rhinoceros cow. Mother to Tandeka, herself plumped up with calf, Decima and her crash of rhinos await the birth of the new baby. Decima still recalls how she became an orphan many seasons ago, and tension mounts with the passing of each full moon.
Conjuring up the life of Decima, is Eben. How do you write about this animal as a sentient being? he wants to find out. With the story of the rhino matriarch and her kin, comes the various characters that impact on their poachers, their clients, those who practise traditional medicine, also those whose calling it is to protect the animals. Entwined in Eben’s work on the rhino, is an account of his fragile, ageing mother. But ringing loudest in his ear, is the voice of Decima.
Eben Venter’s book, a creative blend of autofiction, animal fable, mystery and scientific enquiry, is an urgent plea to save one of earth’s megaherbivores. An elegiac work for numerous voices, Decima is a moving and thrilling lament to loss in all its many guises.

Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2023

Reviews

[Alistair Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart is so sore having finished this. Exquisitely done, weaving together the stories of poachers and conservationists, Chinese medicine practitioners, historical figures, and - the story of Decima, a rhino mother in the Eastern Cape, and the writer himself and his own mother. Just absolutely beautiful, deeply personal, thoughtful and full of pathos.

[Joseph Schreiber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll admit it, a narrative that enters into the mind of a rhinoceros, an aging matriarch, had me a little skeptical but this unique and deeply affecting novel is so much more. Blending memoir, natural science and history into a broader fictional account of a ranger, two young academics, a couple of inexperienced poachers and, yes, the female rhino, the story that unfolds here works on many levels. The author/narrator is researching and reflecting on the story he want to tell while visiting his mother at the seniors' villa where she lives. Real people, fictional characters and historical figures emerge and recede in a narrative that, although fragmented, is somehow seamlessly woven together. Individuals like King Leopold of Belgium and indefatigable big game hunter Theodore Roosevelt come across as far greater villains than the poor men who are at the lowest rung of the poaching hierarchy while Decima and her kin and the creatures who share her space are afforded a dignity that is vital and alive. This is the first South African novel I've read in some time and the fact that it is set in the Eastern Cape, a part of the country I was fortunate to spend time in with a dear friend back in 2015 brought back memories both happy and sad, but perfectly suited for this novel.

I have been asked to respond to this work for a publication, so I will link more here once I've had time to gather my thoughts.

[ebbl · Rating 5 out of 5]

just amazing. exactly the right way to tell the interwoven story of rhinos, poachers, rangers, researchers, patients, and the author himself. and the admiration for the South African landscape shines through the prose.

[Hannah Boult · Rating 5 out of 5]

never read anything quite like it - wonderful

[aqeelah ❀༉˖ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐ My first delve into autofiction, a genre I previously did not know existed!

Blending autobiographical events and fictional imaginings, Eben Venter aligns the parallel narratives of all those involved in the world of rhinos. This book weaves the stories of conservationists, researchers, rhino poachers, rhino horn traders, traditional medicine practitioners, spiritual advisors, and the author's own life. There is even a small insight into the minds of the vultures who pick on the dead rhino carcasses. At the forefront is the story of Decima, a beautiful rhino matriarch, a sentient self-aware being, who lives with the wisdom and pride of her years.

This was quite an interesting read. There were parts I enjoyed, parts I felt unnecessary, parts that made me feel great emotions, and parts that had me bored out of my mind. I was conflicted about how to rate this one, as the measure between the book's importance and the overall reading experience is difficult to calculate. This book brings forth many important issues of animal welfare and South Africa's socioeconomic climate. Each individual in this book is compelled to action by their specific, and often conflicting, goals. It is a story of desperation where every being, whether human or animal, is doing what it can to survive an unjust world. It's a book that makes you think and learn a lot! I developed a newfound appreciation for the majestic wild beasts, an ongoing frustration over the conditions of the world, and something between anger and sympathy for those who resort to illegal practices to get by.

This book won't be for everyone, but the topics covered should be in everyone's awareness!

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die storie van die stropery lees soos’n spanningsverhaal. Die verskillende gesigspunte gee insig in die rol van al die betrokkenes. Slegs 4* omdat dit soms te pedanties is.