Cannibals of West Papua

Father Torturo #2

by Brendan Connell

Few indeed have penetrated the remote areas of West Papua, a land abounding in ritual and magic, and learned its secrets. A breviary of anthropophagy and the supernatural, Cannibals of West Papua recounts the remarkable adventures of Fr. Massimo Tetrazzini when he gets drafted into the proselytizing exercises of Dom Duarte Ramiro under the auspices of the Pontifical Mission Guild.

Though Cannibals of West Papua is a sequel to The Translation of Father Torturo, it also acts as a stand alone novel. Where the previous work trembled between gothic horror and decadent giallo, the present treatise veers into unexplored territories of crisis, to the furthest edge of uninstitutionalized cravings, delivering an indispensible and bloody feast for psychologists, beasts, and epicureans alike.

Genres: Fiction

198 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[Karl · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say that this book was good enough to eat, I'm sure would either cause groans or stomach rumblings among some. To say this was a great book would be an understatement of vast proportion.

The region described in this book West Papua is the least populous province of Indonesia even today. It's first recorded history was during the 14th century (1365). Roman Catholicism never took hold in the region. This book is the story of two Catholic priests who venture into these unexplored lands to convert the natives to the way of the Lord. Mr. Connell's writing is highly accessible and there are no issues with getting into the lush textured story.

As the two Fr.'s begin to explore the vast area's looking for civilizations to convert, flying in a homemade helicopter, piloted by a colorful man, this tale of relentless adventure draws the reader into is obscure jungle both natural and surreal and strange. The two protagonists, Fr. Massimo Tetrazzini, whom we have previously met in Mr. Connell's "The Translation of Father Torturo" (Prime Books, 2005), and Fr. Dom Ramiro witnesses brutal things among the natives. These characters are well crafted and intriguing letting us see events transpire through their eyes.

Mr. Connell takes us on a marvelous journey unlike any adventure I have ever encountered, and never answers the question - 'Do missionary's taste like chicken ?'.

Most Highly recommended.

Note: it is not necessary to read "The Translation of Father Torturo" prior to reading this beautifully produced book.

[Alcebiades Diniz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer, in a particularly fierce aphorism of their Dialectic of Enlightment latter section – a treatise about the rationality booby traps – saw some similarities between the haruspex in a pagan altar and the professor working on a dissecting table of a ultra-modern laboratory. For the two German philosophers both the priest and the scientist represents the Man and the Humanity devoted to the ecstatic observation of Nature in bloody agony, slowly tasting the perverse pleasure that such activity can provide. Of course, it is not the suffering of Nature as a totality, since the focus is on the potential and preferred victims, seen as the weakest links in the terrible chains of natural and social logic – captured animals, the natural sources with easy access, peaceful and isolated communities, segregated human groups, women – chosen for sacrifice. When faced all the blood, viscera, and the torment of open wounds, the owners of knowledge (scientific or ritualistic) seek signs, evidence, portents. So this brief aphorism, titled “Man and beast”, presents the thesis, central to Adorno and Horkheimer philosophy, that the brutal and fearful exploitation of Nature reflects the brutalization of man from the remotest origin, the most distant historical sign and myth. The devastated Nature and the Humanity enslaved reflected each other, lighting points, details and degrading aspects. Thus, the fierce and brutal Cannibals of West Papua, a novel by Brendan Connell recently launched by Zagava Press not only takes up the thesis of the philosophers like Adorno and Horkheimer as the turns inside out their propositions, thanks to the almost unlimited resources of an intricate and fluid narrative, which gives the reader the vertiginous sense of risk, as we should possibly feel when entering an unknown and uncivilized jungle.

On your journey to South America in 1832, Charles Darwin was deeply impressed with a native tribe of Tierra del Fuego living in a primitive state bordering the unthinkable to the young Victorian naturalist: “One can hardly make oneself believe that they are fellow-creatures, and inhabitants of the same world”. This tribe, the Selk'nam, had a kind of photographic testament in a brief peaceful moment before the extinction thanks to the Martin Gusinde, an Austrian priest, between 1918 and 1924 (these photographs were published in the book The Lost Tribes of Tierra del Fuego). The Gusinde arduous struggle to preserve at least the image and the memory of the Selk'nam conflicted with the genocidal fury of Julius Popper, a Romanian engineer who performed manhunts since the early 1890s with the intention of pacifying the territory, facilitating the work of miners and ranchers. It would not surprise if the Patagonian Indian hunters – adepts, by the way, of the documentary photography, especially to record the dead human prey – imagined that the Selk'nams, with their stylized and complex rituals, were cannibals, a powerful argument to help in the rationalization of murders. A hypothetical meeting between Gusinde and Popper (impossible, for the second died peaceful in 1893), in turn, would be an interesting opportunity to put face to face antagonistic perceptions of savagery, civilization, progress, dialogue, peace. The Cannibals of West Papua central characters, Don Ramiro Duarte and Fr. Massimo Tetrazzini embody the extreme positions of civilizational scope in the similar manner as Popper/Guslinde – the first, preaching the forced conversion and the imposition of industrial rationality; the second, adept at a less radical position, searching for some understanding with the natives. This does not mean, however, that the novel is based on manicheistic oppositions; apart from the secondary characters contributed with some nuances to the question (as Sergio Manuel, the helicopter pilot, or Vali, a native of Patntrm tribe) the position of the two main characters is far from solid. An initiatory path is imposed on those two Catholic priests, a way that the reader follows anxiously, though that's not to say that the Connell’s novel is a kind of conventional thriller in the same pattern as The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan. It is a narrative much more complex, which approximates the Hades of Dantesque feature to the eastern Buddhist hells, the prose of gothic horror to the criticism of the Nature and Culture destruction by the illicit interests, the ethnographic poetry of oral indigenous people to the visions about the infernal gears of Natural World worthy of the Fitzcarraldo, the Werner Herzog movie. The unique structure of the Connell's fiction comes in a flash on the first page of the novel, when Don Ramiro notes terrified “that vast expanse of green, deceptively beautiful, without any signs of highways, housing or civilization – instead a flowing sea of hypnotic violence."

Cannibals of West Papua is a sequel of a previous novel, involving one of the protagonists (Fr. Massimo Tetrazzini), The Translation of Father Torturo (Prime Books, 2005). However, despite this relationship of continuity, clear at times in passages related to the past of Fr. Massimo, the new novel works very well alone. With the focus on the enhancing a wide evocative universe that goes far beyond the West Papua, Connell elegantly avoids the pitfalls of novels serialization. Such elegance is expressed in every detail of the novel, from the language to the creation of a timeless atmosphere, despite all the signs of modernity that appear particularly in the novel's introductory four chapters. After the discovery of the isolated and aggressive tribe of Up-Rivers in the chapter V, the plot leaves any strictly realistic or casuistry restriction to plunge into a chaotic universe full of violence and supernatural (a exquisitely and unique supernatural proposition, in fact), although without losing the subtlety and the systematic development of the narrative structures. As in The Day of Creation or The Crystal World, both by J, G. Ballard, Connell's novel is crisscrossed by two conflicting principles: the reversal and the hybridization tendencies. The central characters, in their successive and agonizing metamorphoses, put both principles in collision and conflict. Not coincidentally, the tradition (in pictorial or narrative terms) enshrines these two foundation concepts to the characterization of hell and thanks to the old and new potentates of the Earth (which are the subject of the author's disgust and anger in the epigraph that opened the book) our planet acquires the features of a continuous and exquisitely Hades, bureaucratized and inescapable, as described in detail by the Connell’s sulphureous prose.

The book as an object, produced by Jonas Ploeger of Zagava Press, is intensely beautiful. There are two editions with covers based in the random and unique patterns of leaves – one of this editions with only 26 copies in leather. These patterns suggest, both in visual and tactile terms, a dense, mysterious rainforest. It is impossible not to continuously contemplate, in the reading intervals, this strange and beautiful cover, in search of some hypnotic revelation. Each edition is signed by the author and, although there is no illustrations – just an amazing mask appears in the first pages of the book – the general layout and the paper have a perfect balance, which greatly facilitates the reading. A simple and competent editorial jewelry, the perfect way for a novel that affects the reader, as described by Kafka, like an ax blow.

(Originally published at Bibliophage weblog: http://bibliophagus.weebly.com)

[Geticus Polus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everytime I am reminded of The Rite of Trebizond and Other Tales (that's the first Ex Occidente Press book) I become anxious and frightened and sorrowful. If only I can convince the undiscerning collector that it is not worth hunting down that book. And that not because the tales inside are dreadful (The Rite of Trebizond, the story, remains to this day, one of my all time favourites from Mark Valentine and John Howard) but because I cant really call that a book. It is more of a patchwork than anything else; let's just say it is something that I am not proud of in the least. But will them collectors ever listen? Never! And so we came to witness the true first book by Zagava of Dusseldorf. I say it is the first although Malingerer (by Thomas Phillips) should be considered the first title entirely edited and designed by Zagava. That's true as well. I envy Zagava. How so? Because when he will look back to his first books he will not feel any distress nor any crude disappointment. He started with a bang. A sumptuously clothed book, an elegant layout, a something something which speaks to all bibliophiles. When I see such a book on a shelf in a library, the first instinct is to buy it; it is only after that that I become interested in the text too. It could be a book about gardening or a treatise on how to decorate your living room using only beer cans; it does not matter. Luckily enough, the story inside this book is also a great story as well. I did not read Brendan Connell's first Father Torturo yarn so I don't know what I have been missing. Cannibals of West Papua is the kind of faux New Weird fiction book which I imagine Jeff VanderMeer would love, if only he could take a break from reading the mainstream, puffy-meets-edgy stuff which he keeps promoting lately. So take a break Jeff, go buy this book and start reading something serious for once and you will see you will become once again one of my kewl guys.

[Seregil of Rhiminee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published at Risingshadow.

Brendan Connell never ceases to amaze me with his novels and stories, because he seems to have an endless imagination and an inborn ability to surprise his readers with stunningly original stories that defy easy categorisation. Cannibals of West Papua is his latest novel and what a novel it is! It's an excellent adventure novel with plenty of blood, beautiful prose, surprises and intriguing fantastical elements.

Cannibals of West Papua is a sequel to the author's earlier novel, The Translation of Father Torturo (Prime Books, 2005). Although it's a sequel, it can be read as a standalone novel.

In my opinion, Cannibals of West Papua is a good example of Brendan Connell's imagination, because it's so unique and intriguingly different - not to mention shocking - that you won't find anything like it anywhere else. It's pure Brendan Connell from start to finish.

This novel is in equal parts original, ingenious, clever, entertaining and shocking, because Brendan Connell combines anthropophagy, religion, faith, proselytism, primordial cravings, supernatural elements, violent acts, fantasy and decadent elements in a stunningly effective way. The author coats his story with delicious absurdity and darkly humorous elements that manifest themselves wonderfully in the characters' dialogues and doings (the author has a wonderful sense of black humour). There are even certain scenes in this novel that reminded me a bit of Dante's Divine Comedy.

I'm honestly amazed at how well the author has combined different elements, because nothing feels forced about the story. The story flows naturally and becomes increasingly addictive as the events begin to unfold. When I began to read this novel, it immediately grabbed hold of me and I had to read it in one sitting. The story was so thrilling that I couldn't stop reading it.

Here's information about the story:

- This novel tells of what happens to Fr. Massimo Tetrazzini when he meets Dom Ramiro and accompanies him into the jungle. The events take place in West Papua.

- At the beginning of the story, Dom Ramiro is flying to Patntrm Village. He is keen on proselytizing the primogenous and turning them from the worship of their own gods towards the Christian faith and Christian God. When he arrives in the village he meets Fr. Massimo Tetrazzini. Dom Ramiro thinks that the land must be tamed, its people introduced to God and its rotting jungles transformed into a heavenly country.

- The Awi village that is near the Patntrm Village is under the command of false preacher, Roy Tombuku. Dom Ramiro travels there with a few people, including Fr. Massimo Tetrazzini. When they arrive near the village they come upon a cave that is surrounded by carved images of humans and animals (the cave is believed to be an entrance to the underworld and spirits of the dead enter there). They also see a number of human skulls and Dom Ramiro is told of cannibalistic activities among some of the tribes...

This is the beginning of an unforgettable story that pushes the boundaries of adventure fiction to exciting and unexpected directions. I can honestly say that this is the first time that I've read an adventure story like this one, because it was something totally different. This novel dares to venture along paths not often trodden and goes way beyond the boundaries of normal adventure fiction into the realm of fantastical strangeness.

The author's descriptions of the characters are amazingly vivid and memorable. For example, at the beginning of the novel, he fluently introduces the pilot of the helicopter, Manuel, to his readers with a few carefully chosen sentences and expressions that reveal what kind of a person he is and what he does. He also does the same to Dom Ramiro and Fr. Massimo Tetrazzini, and he gradually deepens these characters.

Dom Ramiro is an interesting character, because he is eager to spread the word of God and convert heathens and native people to Christianity. He's almost like a holy warrior that fights against God's enemies. He's a sturbborn man who doesn't give up easily. He witnesses brutal things among the natives, but still wants to continue his mission to spread the word of God. I enjoyed reading about Dom Ramiro's childhood and what happened to him when he was young, because it added depth to his character.

Fr. Massimo Tetrazzini is also an intriguing and well-created character. He's almost like the opposite of Dom Ramiro, because he has more patience and understanding about the world and people around him. I won't reveal more about him, because I might write too many spoilers, but I'll mention that the author reveals interesting things about him and his past.

Brendan Connell writes convincingly and fluently about how Dom Ramiro and Fr. Massimo Tetrazzini get stranded in the middle of the jungle and what they have to face there when they meet the Up-River tribe whose members practice cannibalism. The experiences of Dom Ramiro and Fr. Massimo Tetrazzini are both shocking and horrifying, because they have to endure captivity and witness horrifying acts that are done to people.

What happens to Dom Ramiro will shock and surprise many readers, because he gradually loses sight of himself and becomes involved in cannibalism and horrifying acts that render him into something else than a civilised human being. These disturbing and violent acts free him from the restraints of his old life and he surrenders himself to primordial cravings and desires. He finds a new place for himself among the cannibals. The author writes about his transformation from a priest to a cannibal in a brilliantly shocking and memorable way.

Fr. Massimo Tetrazzini also experiences new and different kind of things, and he has to do certain things that he wouldn't normally do. When faced with difficult situations, he boldly does what he must do. He even visits the underworld and talks to demons.

The dialogues between Fr. Massimo Tetrazzini and Dom Ramiro are interesting. They reveal how different views they have about many things. Dom Ramiro is a strict follower of his faith, but Fr. Massimo Tetrazzini is more open-minded and knows how to get along with the native people and understands what they need and gives room to them. Dom Ramiro has a tendency to criticise everything that differs from his point of view of how things should be and it results in interesting comments and remarks.

The cruelty related to the cannibalism of the Up-River tribe is described perfectly. The author doesn't sugarcoat any happenings, but writes about different kind of cruelties and violent acts in a realistic way. He writes unflinchingly about how men are being eaten and what kind of things the members of the tribe do to the bodies and body parts.

There are several thought-provoking elements in this novel that will make readers think about what happens in the remote areas of the world to native people who are forced to face our modern way of life and are not capable of defending themselves and their culture against invaders. When you read this novel, you'll most likely begin to wonder if progress and our modern way of life is good for native people, because they and their way of life may be permanently harmed in the process of forced modernisation.

It was interesting that the author examined such problems as the negative and unwanted effects of mining and logging. The benefits of modernity are often denied to the local people, but the disadvantages, which include pollution and cutting of trees, are heaped on these people in great portions and the results can be extremely bad and dangerous to them.

Brendan Connell easily evokes realistic images of lush jungles by writing fluently about the landscapes and plants. His descriptions of the surroundings, trees and plants are excellent.

The author writes beautiful literary prose. Because he uses words and expressions in a perfect way, it's a pleasure to read his prose.

Cannibals of West Papua is a bit akin to the author's amazing Dr. Black stories that were recently published in a short story collection (The Metanatural Adventures of Dr. Black, PS Publishing 2014), but differs from them. This novel is more explicit and visceral than any of the Dr. Black stories, but just as good and original as them.

I give this novel full five stars on the scale from one to five stars, because it impressed me. This kind of original and beautifully written literary fiction appeals to me, because it's great to read a novel that contains good prose and differs from other novels.

If you haven't had an opportunity to read any of Brendan Connell's stories or novels yet, please read them as soon as possible. His fiction may not be to everyone's liking due to its intelligent, absurd, terrifying, clever and humorous contents, but this kind of quality fiction seldom is to everyone's liking. In my opinion, Brendan Connell is a talented author who deserves to be read by all who enjoy beautifully written fiction with plenty of style and originality.

If you enjoy reading original, beautifully written and mesmerising stories with shocking scenes, Brendan Connell's Cannibals of West Papua belongs to your reading list. It's one of the most intriguing and well written adventure novels you'll ever have a chance to read, because it offers readers a veritable feast of blood and imagination that is difficult to forget. It will please readers who want originality and style from their novels.

Highly recommended!

[Alexandre · Rating 5 out of 5]

god damn, há poucos livros que me deixam honestamente sem palavras depois de os ler. vou tentar juntar qualquer coisa. peças de um puzzle entornadas em cima da mesa. não prometo nada.

de início o livro parece mais uma reinterpretação do heart of darkness do conrad, com helicópteros em vez de navios a vapor e a papua ocidental em vez do congo. rapidamente, porém, a narrativa e as personagens são engolidas (get it?) pelos terrores que a selva mantém escondidos, humanos e sobrenaturais. ao mesmo tempo, a violência macabra coexiste com diálogos absurdos saídos de sketches dos monty python, fazendo lembrar um misto entre o lincoln in the bardo do george saunders e a saga hellraiser. não sei como, mas funciona. a modernidade, submergida a meio da obra, regressa no final do nada, como apenas outra fera. contudo, nunca chegámos a sair da selva.

como todas as análises deste livro apontam, este é uma espécie de sequela de outro livro que se aguenta bem sozinho. certamente que irei explorar melhor a obra do autor, mesmo admitindo que será difícil encontrá-la à venda.

[Des Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fr. Massimo, in this substantive chapter, visits the Underworld, burdened, I only infer, with his own Torturous backstory, to neutralise his own failing to save the soul of his Nun companion, the trappings of his normal Churchly Christian methods having indeed faltered when praying for her survival from illness.
Some readers will see this as a significant episode, a tactile engagement with some mission like Christ’s facing out the Devil, to succeed in which will solve the ills of our world.

The detailed review of this book posted elsewhere under my name is too long or impractical to post here.
Above is one of its observations at the time of the review.