The Further Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

This book is one of my all-time favorites. It taught me about bravery and standing up for what you believe in amidst fear, discrimination, and 'the norms'

I must admit that I was doubtful about starting a sequel to Mark Twain’s masterpiece. That is a hard act to follow. But I think the author has done a very good job of keeping the tone and language of the original while developing the characters beyond where the Twain left them. In fact, a good subtitle for this book would be “Huck Grows Up.” After all his adventures in the original, Twain left Huck basically the same person. In this sequel we can see Huck grow into manhood and wisdom through some truly horrific experiences. In this process, Huck, and Jim as well, comment on the rabid racism and other human flaws with an explicitness not possible for Twain. This also frees Jim’s character to assume an assertiveness and defiance that would not have been acceptable in Twain’s time. This work may not have the genius of Mark Twain but it attacks human cussedness in a manner I think he would approve.

[The following story was actually produced in four pieces, but my only interesting follow-on prompt was a suggestion at the end that maybe Jim should show up.

I think Chat is better at parodying the Bible, Shakespeare and Chaucer, but it's not too bad at Mark Twain either. I would say its main problems are it's too grammatical and not cynical enough.]

mannyrayner: Can you write an account of what happened on Jan 6 2021 in the style of Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn", fancifully assuming that Huck has somehow arrived in Washington and been caught up in the crowd of Trump supporters?

ChatGPT: Sure! Here's a fictional account of the events of January 6, 2021 in the style of Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn":

"Well, I never thought I'd end up in Washington D.C., let alone in the middle of a mighty ruckus, but that's just what happened to me. I was aimlessly wanderin' about the city when I stumbled upon a crowd of people, all fired up and carryin' on about some election that had taken place. I ain't much for politics, but I was curious all the same, so I pushed my way through the mob to get a closer look.

Before I knew it, I was caught up in a sea of angry folks, all shoutin' and hollerin' and carryin' signs that read "Stop the Steal." They was marchin' towards a big white building with columns, and it didn't take me long to figure out that this was the U.S. Capitol.

As we got closer, the crowd grew more and more rowdy, until suddenly there was a loud crash and folks was rushin' towards the building. I couldn't hardly believe what I was seein', but it was plain as day – these folks was tryin' to storm the Capitol!

I was rooted to the spot. But then, I remembered what my pa used to tell me about always standin' up for what's right, even if it ain't the popular thing to do. So, I pushed my way back through the crowd, decidin' that I didn't want to be a part of what was happenin' here.

As I made my way back, I could hear the sound of glass breakin' and people shoutin' inside the Capitol. I couldn't believe what I was seein', and it made me right uneasy. I don't take kindly to folks causin' trouble and breakin' the law, and that's just what was happenin' here.

Eventually, I found my way out of the crowd and back onto the streets. I sat down on a nearby bench, tryin' to make sense of what I'd just witnessed. I've been in some tight spots before, but I ain't never seen nothin' like this. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen next and if folks would ever learn to get along.

I was still tryin' to wrap my head around what had just happened when I stumbled upon a little tavern with a TV blarin' in the corner. I wandered inside and ordered me a sarsaparilla, tryin' to calm my nerves. As I was drinkin', I couldn't help but catch a glimpse of the news on the TV.

The newscaster was talkin' real fast, and it was hard to make sense of what he was sayin', but I could tell it was about what had just happened at the Capitol. They was showin' pictures of folks breakin' windows and rushin' into the building, and I couldn't hardly believe what I was seein'.

I listened to the newscaster for a while, learnin' about what had happened and the aftermath of the events. Folks was sayin' it was an attack on democracy and that the country was in turmoil. I couldn't help but feel real worried about what was gonna happen next.

I finished my drink and headed back out into the city, still tryin' to make sense of what I'd seen and heard. I may not know much about politics, but I know right from wrong, and what had happened at the Capitol that day just ain't right.

I was still ponderin' on what I'd seen when I heard a familiar voice callin' my name. I turned to see Jim, my old friend and companion from our adventures down the Mississippi.

"Huck! What in tarnation are you doin' here?" he asked, a surprised look on his face.

I filled him in on what had happened and showed him the news on the TV. Jim listened intently, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Dis be a mighty serious business, Huck," he said when I finished. "Dis country's in a right fix if folks is stormin' the Capitol like that."

I nodded, agreein' with him. "I don't know what the future holds, Jim, but I hope folks can learn to put aside their differences and work together."

Jim nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. "I sure hope so too, Huck. Dis country's gotta find a way to come together if it's gonna make it through these troubled times."

We sat there for a while, ponderin' on what we'd seen and heard, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of worry for the future of the country. But I knew that as long as folks like Jim and I were around, there was still hope for a better tomorrow."

Greg Matthews has written a great book true to the spirit of the original. Mark Twain would have been proud!

A creditable extension to the original by Mark Twain, but a wee bit drawn out in places.
Borrowed it in the library many moons ago.

Greg Matthews knows how to tell a story. I have read several of his books. I took up this one after reading the original Huck Finn and the great book, James, which focuses on Jim. Matthews focuses on Huck and touches on several themes. Both Huck and Jim grow in the story. The story and the characters are well-written. Anyone who enjoys a good story will enjoy this book. It is a must read for reader who enjoyed Twain’s Huck Finn and Percival Everett’s James.

Not bad. Plot wise it got a little formulaic which got old by the end, but it did end with Huck’s innocence declared which made me happy.

Kudos to the author for getting Huck’s character right (mostly) and Jim’s. He did flub on Tom Sawyer’s character though (I think Tom would have believed Huck and helped him escape west), and I didn’t like that he kept Pap alive even though it served the main catalyst for the plot. It would have been more mysterious and adventurous without Pap, especially since his character is changed to sniveling and whiny.

SO RACIST. Not surprising, given the time period, but still. EVERYONE who isn’t white is genuinely treated like dirt and it’s AWFUL to see after while. Definitely righteous anger on the part of POC. I would seriously like to know what idiot on earth is responsible for that UNBIBLICAL and DEGRADING view that POC were inferior and white superior, and why on earth it lasted so damn long in the US? Seriously.

It made sense for Huck’s character to travel the world because of his wanderlust nature, but I wanted him to settle down with the Plains Native Americans, and become like Thaddeus.

Only other big problem I had with the book (aside from the racism) is the Atheistic/Anti-Christian view of religion. Granted, it’s not wrong as hypocrisy and nominal/cultural “Christianity” still abounds (sadly), and Huck’s character was leaning that direction since he wasn’t getting proper teaching and discipleship as was evidenced by the OG Huck Finn, but it was still sad to read that.

A worthy successor to the classic American novel. Matthews did a great job of maintaining the tone and flow of the original, as well as the flavor of characters. But here, the characters are slightly more developed, and the scenes a bit more mature. This book would receive a PG-13 or possibly R for mature themes. I feel like, if Twain had taken a stab at a sequel in the early 21st century, this might very well have been the result.