Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned

By: Walter Mosley

Narrated by: Peter Francis James

Departing from his critically acclaimed Easy Rawlins mysteries, best-selling author Walter Mosley introduces Socrates Fortlow, an ex-con struggling to find his place in the world after 27 years in jail.

Living in an abandoned apartment building in South-Central L.A., Socrates is one step away from the streets. He bags groceries at the supermarket, collects bottles and cans to recycle for pennies, and feels himself slipping toward invisibility - that is, until he meets 11-year-old Darryl, whose already committed murder and is perilously close to slipping into a life filled with only violence and bloodshed. Socrates' determination to fight for and save Darryl lights his own pathway to self-forgiveness.

Lyrically written and deeply moving Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned provides an unflinching look into the hopelessness of poverty-stricken inner city life and into the life of one man who refuses to succumb to the despair around him. Narrator Peter Francis James perfectly captures Socrates' struggle to be a better man.

©1998 Walter Mosley (P)2002 Recorded Books LLC by arrangement with New Millennium Emtertainment, Phoenix Books

A Steinbeck for our times

I wish I could give this book six stars. Mosley distills the human condition to its very raw and bare bones. The audio version is not great, a remaster of old tapes, but stick with it and you will be rewarded.

Socrates is a Righteous MFer

Great storytelling, the overall theme is masterfully weaved throughout the story. A truly thought provoking book

The narrator was great! Good book

I enjoyed this book. Socrates's character was complex and made you question what is really right and what is really bad. I would have liked to find out what happened to Darryl.

Awesome

Omg!!!!! This was my first novel by this author. I've heard of the great job he does and they were correct. It was if I was there. It was so vivid and life like. The ending had me in tears. The love he had for that man was just beautiful. I'm now a fan of Walter. Great read. I learned a little more life skills in this title. Awesome!!!!!!!!!

Can you feel it?

Everyone finds one thing or event that makes you think of your own mortality and life’s worth . . . This was that for me. Amen