For a dark literary stroll on the seedy sexy side of Mexico, one can hardly beat Rick Skwiot's novel Death In Mexico. Yet, this grave tale of grave digging digs even deeper. Nicholas Petrov's south-of-the-border quest for his dead father's body recalls a Maya myth about legendary hero twins who visit the underworld to steal their father's remains from the lords of the abyss. Of course, a father's funeral bell always tolls the son's mortality as well, so it's no surprise this book won the Hemingway First Novel Award. And the tale likewise tolls for thee.Like many boys becoming men, Nicholas Petrov was intimidated by his father's life force and annoyed by his old school ways. His old man was an archaeologist. So, the ancient mariner's boat was anchored on the bedrock of mystical Olmec art and classical Western civilization, while his son's life drifted from shore to shore on the winds of fashion and the whims of the moment. Still, death before dishonor. Dishonor is often defined by sons as having to admit the crusty old fart was often right.
