Scorza concludes his pentalogy initiated with "Redoble por Rancas" with this superb novel. Book after book of that series, the drama of insurrections in Peruvian indigenous communities unfolds in the Central Andes. In a cycle of optimism and tragedy every insurrection against the despotic domination is mercilessly crushed. Ominous, huge like the Andes the shadow of a powerful mining corporation remains as the backdrop for most of the novel until the end when it engulfs in blood and death the main characters. Scorza paints the struggle of the Peruvian peasants with a master's brush. Incredibly exquisite subordinate tales intertwined with the central thread of the story to give it a deeper meaning: the story of Maca Albornoz and her forbidden love for his brother, prophecies announced in a weaving (parallel to The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury), the honest lawyer Genaro Ledesma sent to study by the communities, etc. Yet, the novel also relates the constant lack of vision of leftist politicians who fail to evolve out of their dogmas to learn from social movements as they unfold with originality and audacity. To reinforce how involved the author was in the struggle for social justice in his own country he includes himself into the story. "La Tumba del Relámpago" is not only a denunciation of the abuses committed by transnational corporations and their caporals, i. e. corrupt local officers, but also of the shortsightedness and selfishness of some seemingly progressive militants. Then the universality of Scorza's tale becomes more relevant if one compares those Andean communities with Chiapas. Just change the geography but the exploitation and the ever-present bully remain the same.

Redoble por Rancas is part of the pentalogy of novels written by Scorza, that constitutes along with La Danza Inmovil his immortal legacy to Latin American literature. Rancas, that humble village in the middle of Peru is just a metaphore for the underprivileged all over Latin America. The abuses of the dominant elite, the absurdity of this oppression are challenged against all hope by the indigenous peasants. Behind the inevitable humor is a fierce criticism of the landowners, the big corporations, and the complicity of corrupt local authorities. It is the brutality of the repression that brings the reader to think of the immense tenderness that Scorza uses to paint his characters. However, this book cannot be read alone. You must try to get the other four: El Cantar de Agapito Robles, Garabombo El Invisible (my favorite), El Jinete Insomne, y La Tumba del Relampago.

Scorza concludes his pentalogy initiated with "Redoble por Rancas" with this superb novel. Book after book of that series, the drama of insurrections in Peruvian indigenous communities unfolds in the Central Andes. In a cycle of optimism and tragedy every insurrection against the despotic domination is mercilessly crushed. Ominous, huge like the Andes the shadow of a powerful mining corporation remains as the backdrop for most of the novel until the end when it engulfs in blood and death the main characters. Scorza paints the struggle of the Peruvian peasants with a master's brush. Incredibly exquisite subordinate tales intertwined with the central thread of the story to give it a deeper meaning: the story of Maca Albornoz and her forbidden love for his brother, prophecies announced in a weaving (parallel to The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury), the honest lawyer Genaro Ledesma sent to study by the communities, etc. Yet, the novel also relates the constant lack of vision of leftist politicians who fail to evolve out of their dogmas to learn from social movements as they unfold with originality and audacity. To reinforce how involved the author was in the struggle for social justice in his own country he includes himself into the story. "La Tumba del Relámpago" is not only a denunciation of the abuses committed by transnational corporations and their caporals, i. e. corrupt local officers, but also of the shortsightedness and selfishness of some seemingly progressive militants. Then the universality of Scorza's tale becomes more relevant if one compares those Andean communities with Chiapas. Just change the geography but the exploitation and the ever-present bully remain the same.