The Liminal People

“Ayize’s imagination will mess with yours, and the world won’t ever look quite the same again.”

“Ayize Jama-Everett has brewed a voodoo cauldron of Sci-Fi, Romance, Crime, and Superhero Comic, to provide us with a true gestalt of understanding, offering us both a new definition of “family” and a world view on the universality of human conduct. The Liminal People—as obviously intended—will draw different reactions from different readers. But none of them will stop reading until its cataclysmic ending.”

“The Liminal People has the pleasures of classic sf while being astonishingly contemporary and savvy.”

“Fast and sleek and powerful—a skillful and unique mix of supernatural adventure and lived-in, persuasive, often moving noir.”

"Sci-fi meets noir meets damn good writing. The Liminal People is filled with intrigue and crazy-good plot twists. Finally a multicultural novel devoid of cheese, pretense and pretension. Jama-Everett has a style all his own:fresh and hella cool. The book is sprawling in scope yet Jama-Everett holds his world together with the of confidence of a true fabulist. Like everyone else here, I loved it. Loved the characters, loved the story, loved every second. Make sure you have a few hours on hand because once you start reading you will not want to put The Liminal People down."

"I have had this on my list for over a year and finally found it in a bookstore the other day. Great story, very well written. It's a hard one to describe, but it did remind me of an updated, more realistic X-Men story while I was reading it. If you loved comic books growing up and have found your tastes maturing, definitely give this one a try. It's a short book at under 200 pages, but it does not leave anything out. There is really no fluff in this one. I think it would make a great movie too - despite the 'powers' that many of the characters have, it is very emotional, raw, and violent. Recommended for anyone looking for a good read."

"An amazing and refreshing take on superpowers. Be forewarned, this book will suck you in. I honestly wasn't sure what to expect going in but several people had recommended it so I went in knowing very little. By chapter four I couldn't put it down, I had to keep reading. The characters, Taggert and Tamara in particular, are incredibly developed. Even smaller (as in time on 'screen') characters, like Samantha, are written such that the reader gets a true connection and feeling for the character. The way Jama-Everett approaches "superpowers" in this world is invigorating. There are so many possibilities for how things could play out but you only start to get a tease of the broader powers at play throughout the book. Taggert's quest for freedom and his humanity is profound and despite his flaws he is an easy hero to root for. I am so thrilled I finally read this book and am already counting down the days until I can get my hands on the next installment in this world."

"This is an impressive first novel and one that's well worth reading. It avoids or recasts many of the common superpower tropes, so somehow it ends up feeling fresher than it really should. Viewed in retrospect through an analytical lens, the cranks and pulleys do show through. Still, it's a fun and well-written ride. The book is also, and unfortunately, a cautionary example of what happens when a writer fails to "show, not tell." Most of the character exposition comes third-hand in the form of the protagonist's descriptions. We're told who the characters are and how we should react to them, but the characters are rarely developed through their own words and actions. In the end, not much about these characters and their evolution rings true at a human level. This seems doubly unfortunate because Jama-Everett is in fact very good at writing dialogue. Taggert reminds me quite a bit of the heroes of Alistair MacLean's adventure novels: gruff, competent, superhumanly skilled. It's great to meet this guy again in a more modern context."

"Superheroes are extremely prevalent in pop-culture at the moment. It seems that half the books in my To-Read Pile feature some form of super human shenanigans. With all these options it takes a lot to rise above the mediocre reads and offer something truly gripping. Ayize Jama-Everett has written a book that does just that. THE LIMINAL PEOPLE is a supernatural crime thriller that reads like NBC's failed television drama Heroes meets the hit action film Taken starring Liam Neeson. I make the comparison because when I'm reading a review, comparisons often catch my interest and help me form a basis on which to start considering whether or not I should fork over the cash. THE LIMINAL PEOPLE undoubtedly reflects shades of Heroes and Taken, but in the end it eclipses both. Taggert is a member of the razor-neck gang, hired muscle for a very dangerous and mysterious master. Taggert can exert his influence over his own body's natural processes, as well as the bodies of other people. He is a healer, but the best healers are the ones who know how to hurt. Out of the blue, Taggert gets a call from his ex. In the flash of a synapse, Taggert is on his way to London to aid the only girl he ever loved in finding her missing daughter. As it turns out, the missing girl has supernatural abilities quite like his own, and there are some very powerful people who would like to use those powers for their own agenda. Well that's as good a set-up as I've ever read. Simple enough, familiar with a nice science fiction twist. The story is told from the first person perspective of Taggert who has got to be one of the best anti-heroes I have read about in ages. The whole anti-hero concept has worn pretty thin on me as of late. A lot of authors think they can just write a no-nonsense, wisecracking, hard fighting, womanizing, profanity spewing caricature and give the character the label of "rogue" and get away with it. No. Taggert is a rare specimen, a true anti-hero full of depth and complexity. Taggert is a killer. But he is not a killer by nature. He has gotten mixed up with the wrong crowd, he is the slave of a power hungry enigma. He is more than human and undeniably human at the same time. Taggert's history combined with his demeanor make him heart achingly sympathetic and blazing cool all at once. Authors take note: this is how you write an anti-hero. The other characters are just as well written, though not nearly as deep. Tamara, for example, is part teenage girl, part super powered killing machine. If you think badly written anti-heroes irk me you should hear my opinion on badly written female protagonists. Tamara dodges that bullet, demonstrating the pluck and guts of a strong and intelligent young lady while remaining realistically vulnerable. She may be only fourteen years of age but underestimating Tamara could be the last mistake you ever make. We've got great heroes and we have also got great villains. What divides THE LIMINAL PEOPLE from the rest of the super human fiction out there is the moral ambiguity. Taggert goes toe-to-toe with some pretty nasty specimens in his journey to find his ex's daughter, but his own boss might be the most despicable villain of all. Even better than the sinister and illusive aura these baddies seem to just ooze is the fact that they are driven by some very real and human foibles. It's this gray tone that permeates the novel that sustains the gritty, colorful atmosphere. The heroes and villains alike dance the line between humans and gods. Dubbed "liminal people" later in the novel, Taggert and those like him often live as isolated outcasts on the very edge of society. These super humans avoid conflict whenever necessary because when disagreement devolves into fighting it often gets messy and attracts far too much attention. The powers displayed in the book are nothing new in concept but the way they are applied is extremely creative. I regularly find myself wondering what super power I would want were I to be granted any. Well I have my answer: Taggert's ability to manipulate people's bodies. After reading some of the things Taggert does (including an especially brutal interrogation) you might find yourself feeling the same way. THE LIMINAL PEOPLE is an astounding first novel. Right now it has been published by a smaller agency called Small Beer Press but I see a big future for Ayize Jama-Everett. THE LIMINAL PEOPLE is a noir juggernaut with startlingly genuine themes of salvation, emancipation, and family. As of now, this book is my favorite of the year and I desperately hope that Jama-Everett chooses to pen a sequel. Recommended Age: 16+ Language: Strong language throughout. Violence: Violence is a major aspect of the book, including one super awesome/sadistic interrogation scene. Sex: Yes, but not graphic or explicit in any manner."

"If we could use our minds to make others see what we wanted them to see, rearrange people's internal organs and dissolve their musculature, call animals to do our every bidding, or know others' thoughts as intimately as our own, wouldn't we rule the world? Or would we be so preoccupied with fighting with others like us that humans would be mere pawns, little worth toying with? Or, even worse, would we be so damaged by our powers that we would be dangerous to ourselves and others? These are all questions posed by Ayize Jama-Everett's short, powerful first novel, The Liminal People. Jama-Everett's first person narrator, Taggert, introduces himself while in the midst of conducting a drug sale he is conducting on behalf of his mentor, Nordeen Maximus. Taggert is able to keep the transaction from going sour by putting his would-be assassins to sleep with a mental nudge, a skill he's developed from his greater ability to manipulate his own and others' bodies on a molecular level. The deal resolves in his favor, not surprisingly given his advantage, and he returns to his home near Al Hoceima in Morocco. There, he finds a recorded message from Yasmine Petalas, a woman from his past with her own mental ability - to manipulate fire - who broke his heart. She is calling to tell him she needs him, and he must come quickly. Taggert obtains Nordeen's permission to leave the country, doing his best to avoid Nordeen's questions but compelled nonetheless to reveal that Yasmine is "like us"; Nordeen would know if he was lying, apparently as part of his own ability. Taggert makes his way to London, telling us his back story (including his history with Yasmine) as he travels. Once there, he finds that Yasmine is married to a diplomat. Yasmine charges him with finding her daughter, Tamara, who is gifted with telekinesis. No one knows whether Tamara has simply run away or has been kidnapped, and no one knows whether it has anything to do with her ability or merely her status as the daughter of a diplomat. From that point forward, the book is in high gear for adventure, though Jama-Everett never loses sight of the philosophical and moral points, particularly with regard to the responsibilities inherent - or not - in having great power. When Taggart finds Tamara, he finds himself schooling her in the use of her power, both in a practical, how-to sense, and in a moral sense, trying to explain when it is proper to use her power and when it is not. It's an odd lesson coming from a man who has often used his own power in order to run drugs and other contraband in and out of Africa, and Taggart finds himself examining his own life as well. The Liminal People is an excellent first novel full of insightful characters - however gradually they may gain that insight - engaged in a battle that seems to have only just begun. I'm hoping that this novel is the first in a series, as Jama-Everett has built a world and peopled it with characters about which and whom I wish to know more."

"It's like every highly-trained operative going rogue story, except our badass hero legitimately doesn't shy away from his emotions. There's no pasted on romance here, the emotion is genuine and raw. I love it. The healer should be the protagonist of these kinds of stories more often."

"Made me a fan of Jama-Everett. Wow. tasty. read it."

"A SFF novel that takes place in Africa and London. The characters are very well developed. I wish that the book had been longer so that various relationships could have been explored more fully. The plot was fast paced and original. I loved the concept of the novel. It is basically an X-Men type of plot: people with various powers who stay hidden (for the most part) from normals but in many cases gather in groups similar to gangs and are controlled by almost god-like individuals. The descriptions of various battles between those with powers were very interesting. I loved the book and have picked up another by the same author to read in the near future."

"Great read, immediately engaging. Hard-boiled meets super powers. Wonderful description in an intimate, other-consciousness voice. Reminiscent of Andrew Vachss, but with super powers and Jama-Everett's own voice and story to tell."

"Solid debut. Great read that provides moments of reflection, adventure, connection, and hope for the future. This book is located at the intersection of so many styles, genres, and references, which make it all the more interesting. Definitely worth BUYING!"

"Different in a good way. I don't read science fiction at all, but a book that is described as "a voodoo cauldron of Sci-Fi, Romance, Crime, and Superhero Comic" definitely piques my interest. Writing was great and characters had depth. Not like anything I've ever read before."

"One of my favorite reads this year, Liminal People starts off with a bang and keeps going! It's a short book, but an excellent one. Blending themes of love, loyalty, control and power, you'll find yourself racing along with the protagonist to the finish."

"Love the character development, and it is such an original story."

"The book's premise is cliche, but the characters are not. This is a great book if someone is looking for authentic POC superheroes."

"X-Men meets The Dark Knight. "People like us tend to stay away from each other." Before Chapter One is over, you know why Taggert and his ilk are to be feared, both by "norms" (who are blissfully unaware of their existence) and by others with similar mutant-type abilities. More than just learning the specific super-human abilities of these "liminal people," you swiftly come to care about their predicament. How does one make a life (let alone be a hero) in a world of people whose minds you can read, whose ills you can heal, or whose bodies/choices/movements you can control -- without ever giving away who and what you are? The story takes off with a graphic North African drug deal gone wrong, and leads us through the noirish, gritty London of actual Brits -- ethnic imports and rough-and-tumble local upstarts. The book sets up an eye-opening depiction of the gathering storm between those mutants who seek a modicum of normalcy, humanity...and those others with delusions of god-hood who work to control them. Excellent pacing, original characters and imagery, and great, witty writing that kept me turning the pages. I'll be purchasing this author's next book as soon as it comes out. Recommended."

"Could hardly put it down. Well-drawn characters and an exciting story."

"Entirely inventive and entertaining. Subtlely poses philosophic questions about the consequences of power and love. I'm looking forward to reading more from Jama-Everett."

"A damn good read. I just finished reading The Liminal People and I must say, I'm sad it's over! This novel has the grit and intrigue of classic detective noir, with a compelling existential kick you'd expect of the best contemporary superhero narratives. Jama-Everett has created a world where people with incredible supernatural powers live among the "norms," trying to find meaning in something that defines them but they do not understand. But unlike so many other works that has tackled this theme--"X-men" and "Heroes" come to mind--the characters in The Liminal People cannot be described in simple good or evil terms. Rather than treading the line of hero and villain, these characters live their life treading the lines among freak, god, healer, slave, diplomat, mastermind, whore, friend... each line with a unique moral complexity that gives the characters a compelling dose of empathy, despite their awe- and fear-striking power. This is a great read that I would recommend to anyone. Can't wait for the next book from this promising new author!"

"As with all good science fiction, Ayize Jama-Everett creates a slight dystopia enabling us to view race and class through a new lens."

"Fantastic first novel,a gripping read. I found it to be very rich and dense despite its relatively short length. Nothing 2-dimensional here, with believable characters and abilities for this genre. certainly left wanting for more as this world the author has created has just so much potential. Sequel please! Get out and read it now."

"A quick, fun, exciting read whether you need a book for your bedside, or for that vacation you're going on and want something interesting to occupy your mind on the long plane ride."

"First off, The Liminal People isn't the X-Men and [insert some other superhero franchise). Whenever there are characters with extra-normal abilities, someone always wants to toss the X-franchise about. If you wanted to make a more accurate comparison, you would have to compare The Liminal People to the old 60s British television program, The Champions (Google if you don't know)--albeit the book is a lot more diverse. In a Spec/Fic publishing world that loves little white vampires and werewolves, or little white magic users, or little white vampire hunters, or little white companions on a quest to fight the big black enemy, Liminal is a refreshing burst of the real world. It is the first truly global Spec/Fic book of the twenty-first century. I've been to some of the places Jama-Everett writes about, and he presents these places with the skills of both an anthropologist and a cartographer--he has an almost psycho-geographical insight into the unique personalities of the cities and towns he leads us through. Jama-Everett creates a world--granted, its steaming and festering underbelly--that is familiar; a slightly off-kilter version of our own. And in this world are a host of dangerous, and fascinating characters. The primary character, Taggert (who's special talent is depicted in such a way that from now on you will look at every talented healer with a side-eye) is someone you knew in college, but dropped out for reasons unknown. You hear whispers about his doing things that are either too grand or too amoral to be believed, yet you know that damn near every borderline supernatural rumor is true. He isn't a true blue hero, but a person with a gift, with the talent and desire to use it for himself. It was exhilarating to read a `hero' who was not totally selfless. This same quality that Liminal possesses has the creators of Heroes hitting themselves in the heads with stacks of X-Men graphic novels after watching the first three seasons of Misfits. What truly sets Liminal apart from comparable books is a line said by Nordeen, Taggert's boss, benefactor, and master: "That thing that is inside you." Instead of being born with abilities, or developing them as a byproduct of exposure to [insert what would kill you in real life], Taggert's and the other liminal people's powers manifest through an intentionally vague biological process. Thinking of a person separate from their abilities, a host for them makes for a read with a lot more at stake than saving the day--this is exemplified by the gut-wrenching ending of this too short novel. The Liminal People is ripe for a sequel. In fact, the groundwork that Ayize Jama-Everett has laid has the potential to entertain us for a very long time. While I do have my quibbles with the book, they are not worth mentioning as the sheer force of this book blows away my petty criticisms. And, yes, I have kept this review intentionally vague, as I do not want to ruin one paragraph of enjoyment for the reader. All I can say is this: Dude better write a sequel soon. He better use that thing that is inside of him to invite us back into the world of The Liminal People. (Note: This book is not for people who cannot handle coarse language, people of color in spec/fic, graphic violence, and one of the best ways to communicate over vast distances that I have ever read. Stop reading this and buy the book. Now.)"