One of the most common icebreakers I’ve encountered is the dreaded question: If you could have dinner with any person, dead or alive, who would it be? No matter how many times it’s been asked, I always freeze, struggling to come up with an answer. But perhaps the more interesting follow-up question is: What would you hope to learn from them? That shifts the conversation from a surface-level fantasy to something deeper, exploring the lessons we can take from history and those who lived through it.
In Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert, Bob the Drag Queen takes that idea and runs with it, crafting a reality where historical figures miraculously return to life, confront the modern world, and force us to reexamine the past. It’s a bold, imaginative debut that turns a familiar hypothetical into a thought-provoking and wildly entertaining read.
No one can explain how or why it happened, but everyone agrees—it’s a miracle. Long-dead historical figures have inexplicably returned, alive and well, picking up where they left off while adapting to the modern world.
"It's been a very strange news cycle since The Return. Cleopatra is now an Instagram model, Rockefeller is having public battles of wealth display with Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, and everyone is waiting on pins and needles to see if Jesus will return. I'm not betting on it."
For Darnell, a once-successful record producer whose best days are behind him, the phenomenon takes an even stranger turn—one of these legendary figures not only knows who he is but wants to work with him.
When you think of Harriet Tubman, you likely picture the fearless abolitionist who risked her life to lead hundreds to freedom through the Underground Railroad. But now that she’s back, Harriet quickly realizes that while progress has been made, the fight for freedom and equality is far from over. The journey to the Promised Land must continue, and she’s determined to tell her story in a way that resonates with this new generation. The best way to do that? A hip-hop album.
If that sounds crazy, just ask Alexander Hamilton.
Harriet enlists Darnell to help her bring her vision to life—producing an album and a concert that could change the world. Along the way, he might just rediscover his own purpose, too.
Bob the Drag Queen is a comedian, reality TV star, drag performer—and now, he can add author to that list. Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert is one of the most imaginative, original, and provocative novels I’ve read this year. His distinctive voice leaps off the page, infusing this speculative historical fiction with sharp humor and insightful commentary.
Bob fully embraces the what-if of it all, crafting a fish-out-of-water scenario that places Harriet Tubman in the modern world, balancing levity with moments of deep reflection. While some passages lean a bit repetitive, his undeniable charisma and clear perspective keep the story moving, smoothing over any technical hiccups.
By bringing Tubman into the present, Bob draws a compelling parallel between the abolitionist movement of her time and the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights. The struggle for equality is never-ending, but it’s one worth continuing. This novel serves as a powerful reminder that, no matter our race, gender, or sexual orientation, we all deserve to live fully, freely, and without fear. As Harriet herself puts it: “The biggest struggle in earning your freedom is feeling like you deserve it."
For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2025, 25)
Wow, what an interesting premise.
ReplyDeleteIt is one of the most original things I've read in a while. Great execution, too!
DeleteLove the concept. Seeing what Harriet Tubman would make of our society today really makes you stop and think. We need more original and thought-provoking books like this one. Thanks for putting it on my radar. It's one I definitely want to check out. :D
ReplyDeleteI was hooked on the very idea of it all, and the book really took me on an emotional journey that I wasn't expecting.
DeleteI don't know who I would pick either. It is interesting the way the author set this up. I read something kinda-sorta along those lines (The Dinner List), but it was more a part of the main characters grief journey though some famous dead people were there.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to look into The Dinner List!
Delete"This novel serves as a powerful reminder that, no matter our race, gender, or sexual orientation, we all deserve to live fully, freely, and without fear. As Harriet herself puts it: “The biggest struggle in earning your freedom is feeling like you deserve it.""
ReplyDeleteWith all the people trying to make non-conforming individuals feel small (and actually disappear now) for being themselves, it's worth repeating. Also, this premise is wild! and it's great that Bob made it work so well.
Its as timely as ever, unfortunately.
DeleteWow, very cool and unexpected.
ReplyDeleteAlso, no idea who I would wanna eat dinner with, and ditto for the follow up
It all makes you think, doesn't it?
DeleteNow this sounds intriguing. I am going to see if it is on audio.
ReplyDeleteI think it will make a great listen!
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