Mosaic Man

Mosaic Man, Ronald Sukenick, Fiction Collective 2, 1999

This book looks at the Jewish novel through the lens of cyberpunk and contemporary Pop culture. It's part history, memoir, daydream and acid trip.

Part of this book takes place in World War II era New York City, where Ron dreams of bombing missions over Nazi-occupied Europe with baseball commissioner Kennesaw Landis. As a tourist in Jerusalem, he walks through a huge water pipe, still in use, built over 2000 years ago. Included is a take-off on the movie The Maltese Falcon. Also here are tales of getting drunk in 1950s Paris, and hanging out with Solidarity protesters in Poland.

Using the structure of the Old Testament, Sukenick also explores the Golem story, the patterns of history, the differences among Jews, and the return of the Golden Calf, worshipped by the people of ancient Israel.

If one section of this book doesn't hold your interest, sit tight; Sukenick will suddenly take the story in a very different direction.

I really enjoyed this book. It keeps the reader engaged, it's very easy to read, and, for those who like modern, avant-garde fiction, it's especially good.