my Goodreads review: Demonstra

Demonstra by Bryan Thao Worra

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is one of the most remarkable – and, at times, the most frustrating – speculative poetry collections I’ve read in a long time.

Bryan Thao Worra’s Laotian-American view of the Lovecraft Mythos, Japanese monster movies, American pop culture in general, and the mythologies of several other cultures makes for a heady reading experience. The poems themselves (mostly free verse) are well-crafted and diverse, with a few more mainstream offerings among the speculative ones. The poet’s voice is sure and experienced, with a strong love of story.

My frustration came when I tried to understand these poems more completely, rather than being swept away by that story-telling and imagery. Although this collection offers two very useful appendices, I was still getting lost in the richness of the Lao language/cultural references. Many readers might benefit from a few actual footnotes, and “A Lao American Bestiary” could be expanded considerably with no loss of interest.

Speculative poetry enthusiasts looking to widen their worldview will find Demonstra well worth acquiring.




View all my reviews