New
Urban Novel Steps Outside The Predictable and Boldly Into
The Future
-- Book fuses hip-hop, hoop,
and humor, to paint a brave near-new world --
"If Nas, Ivan
Van Sertima, and Samuel Delaney were morphed to write a novel
about the near future, it's a good possibility they would
come close to what Melki has done here. The book bristles
with lively, creative language, profoundly interesting characters,
and a plot from outta space. Buckle yo' seat belts and soar
with Melki." -- Herb Boyd, historian and author, We Shall
Overcome, Brotherman, and Along The Glory Road
Bookcover
Temple
Hills, MD (BlackNews.com) - Far from the futuristic genre
that includes the Matrix, and Terminator, 21 Hustle
by Melki is a fresh step into the not so distant future. Its
a quick-moving novel full of wit, satire, hip-hop and hoop.
The book dives headfirst into the questions of life and the
stress of living and pulls no punches concerning the possibilities
for the planet-both good and bad.
In the not-to-distant future,
the continent of Africa is experiencing a renaissance. The
land is healing itself. Its people are building an economic
superpower while opening their minds and souls again to the
forgotten ancient spiritual and mythical traditions.
The United States government
is concerned, since a re-vitalized Africa shifts the world's
balance of power. So Federal Agent John Shadow, a combination
of Clarence Thomas-meet-Anakin-meets John Shaft, and the agencys
token Black, is put on the case. His mission: find out what's
going on, so the United States can either stop or control
it. He's learned that there is a staff of power, that is the
key to the continents rebirth.
Ellis
Rey, a sportswriter for The Nubian, New York City's
remaining Black-owned newspaper, knows none of this.
But he's slowly drawn into the drama through his connections
to the sagas players on and off the basketball court.
It's not the only drama Ellis is facing. His girlfriend
Maya wants him to take life seriously and make up his
mindabout his life and about her.
Jay, Ellis' best friend and a former city hoop legend,
whose life has spiraled downhill into a myriad of get-paid
hustles. Despite his criminal proclivities hes loyal
as a St. Bernard and will have Ellis' back, regardless
of what goes down.
It might be hard for Jay to protect Ellis, because Wardell,
the brother of another of Ellis' best friends, is a
wild card, and out to get paid anyway he can. Unlike
Jay, the only back Wardell will watch is his own. Will
Wardell sell out his birthright and an entire continent
for the Bling?
Melki's debut novel 21 Hustle is a hilarious
and exciting journey into the world of the issues Black
people face at the turn of the century. The novel, an
adventure story of the internal and external, is part
The Alchemist, part Sankofa and part The Bourne Identity.
Its a layered story about hoop and the Hood, about hip-hop
and hypocrisy, about the complex relationship between
fears and dreams. 21 Hustle is a futuristic and
satiric fable about the power of self-perception can
change the world and change the individual.
"This
novel represents my life experience and what Ive learned
thus far," explained Melki. "I wrote it so that all
people can see that they can choose to break any psychological
chains that hold them, whether its materialism, fame
or any other obstacle to the true self."
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