[REVIEW] The Long Shalom by Zachary Rosenberg
Image from Off Limit Press
“You know how to kill a god?”
“Same way you kill anything, with the right ammo.”
From Off Limits Press, Zachary Rosenberg’s The Long Shalom is a 1927-set pulp novella that blends noir, horror, and the weird with Jewish folklore and tradition.
The novella follows Detective Alan Aldenberg, a Jewish detective who finds himself without any work as mafia families, corrupt police, and greedy politicians pressure the wronged into not seeking justice. That is until Alan’s ex-lover Erica Nakamura, a curator of Jewish cultural and historical artifacts, arrives on his doorstep and requests his aide in finding her brother Lucas in your classic noir call-to-action.
While Alan initially dismisses Erica’s concerns, Erica pushes back, advocating for not only her brother’s benefit but also the other Jewish and minority members of the community who have disappeared without so much as a modicum of police intervention. Alan and Erica team up with transgender World War I veteran Lenore Zielienski and fellow investigator Roger McAllister to look into the seedy, though opulent underworld of New York City. The makeshift crew are quickly swept up into mafia politics, government corruption, and even supernatural terrors as they face off against murderous golems and old gods.
Considering that the noir genre is traditionally a very W.A.S.P-centric genre, I was quite impressed with the way that Rosenberg succeeds at incorporating diversity into his novella. Instead of taking the controversial historical revisionism route with his version of 1927 New York City, Rosenberg doesn’t shy away from tackling the discrimination and violence that the Jewish, LGBTQIA+, and other minority communities faced in the United States post-World War I.
The main characters in this novella come from different backgrounds but share the experience of being oppressed by society. It is this common factor that causes these unlikely allies to become a strong, united front against both mundane corruption and world-threatening, supernatural events. I was particularly impressed with Rosenberg’s characterization of Lenoir, a trans woman who was motivated to become an excellent soldier and combatant during World War I to guarantee her survival so she could return home and live as her authentic self. In a world where trans people in mainstream media are often depicted as ‘fragile’, I was glad that a trans woman proved to be more of a brawler than even her detective counterparts.
Rosenberg’s incorporation of Jewish culture, history, and folklore into the novella is a particular standout. As a gentile, I never felt like I had to put the novella down and do additional research, because Rosenberg roots this story and its characters in Jewish culture and historical context. Alan undergoes a compelling transformation as he realizes the importance of protecting his community from supernatural and mundane forces alike. And it is ultimately Alan’s faith that gives him an advantage over the horrifying ancient gods that he faces off against.
My biggest critique of this novella is that I almost wish it was novel length due to the way it drew me in, kept me guessing, and refused to be forced into any one box, but luckily The Long Shalom’s ending leaves room for possible sequels. For an author just getting his start, I have no doubt that Zachary Rosenberg will continue to push the envelope when it comes to Jewish representation in genre fiction, as well as deliver frightening, evocative prose that will draw in and impress horror fans.
The Long Shalom was released from Off Limits Press on June 24th, order it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or directly from Off Limits Press.