Ten Indians [Mass Market Paperback]

Mike Devlin seemingly has it all, a successful psychiatric practice, a nice home in one of the wealthier suburbs, a loving wife and a daughter getting ready to go off to the college of her choice in a year. He is also a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and as the top student in his Master's school, Devlin is sent to start a new branch. This branch is set up in the inner city of Baltimore. It is here that the rest of our cast is introduced.

We meet many inner city youth at his school: Trig, Gyp, Kool-Whip, Freon, Sharmane, Tamara, Buster, D-Trak, Clayvon, Stuttz, amongst others. Here we see the opposite life to Devlin's; those with nearly nothing. Living in projects, one or maybe no parents, and children way before they were ready.

There are virtually no minor characters in this novel besides maybe some of Devlin's patients. They are used to foreshadow some events and to allow the reader the possibility that Devlin is not satisfied with his current life. Over half of the dope dealers and those residing in the projects are fully realized. We understand what they do, how they do it, and sadly, why they do it.

Bell is one of the few authors out there seriously writing about race issues. It's as if he needs to do so, as if his writing about the problem will help him come to some conclusions. In lesser writer's hands, this set up could lead to a very cliché book. In the hands of Bell it becomes anything but. His use of language is true; as the story alternates between various narrators (including an omniscient third person narrator), the language takes on the structure and vocabulary expected.

To the outsider, as Devlin gets more involved in his school, he begins acting strangely. To some it would appear as some sort of a mid-life crisis. Even his wife, an ex-social worker with some professional acumen, feels he is sliding down a tunnel of depression and warns him he won't drag her along. He even struggles himself at times to come to words for what he is doing, but before his final actions he comes to a realization.

He is not succumbing to the notion that one individual can't make a difference. He is following the words of his Master and doing what he says, not just saying it. He is getting involved in lives, trying to make a difference. For an hour a day, he is fairly successful. It is the other 23 that put him to the test.

There is plenty of action throughout the novel; both in and out of the Tae Kwon Do school. Bell does a great job of describing hand to hand combat. His writing allows the reader to visualize each action, almost well enough to believe he or she is learning Tae Kwon Do, banging along with the characters, or watching Devlin's patients describe their lives.

You won't soon forget Devlin, his daughter Michelle, Trig or any of the other characters in this book; their efforts, actions and plight will stick with readers for awhile. Amazingly enough, Bell published this book in between volumes I and II of his Haitian trilogy. With ten novels in print now, and two short story collections, Madison Smartt Bell has enough to keep you busy reading for a long time. Take advantage.