Amazon: A Novel [Paperback]

Barbara G. Walker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1993

Now in paperback--Thelma and Louise-style action and scathing feminist wit reverberate through this explosive novel--the adventures of a woman warrior/time traveler on a mission from the Goddess. "A good yarn with an intriguing time/place dilemma."--Library Journal.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Masquerading as a novel, this New Age feminist tract is basically a polemic on relations between the sexes and women's status in modern society. Imagining an Amazon catapulted from antiquity into the contemporary U.S., Walker ( The Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets ) goes on to claim that the patriarchal society created by the Amazons' traditional enemies, the Greeks, has deprived women of most of their rights and recourses. Walker's Amazon protagonist, Antiope, has just gained adult rights by killing a foe in battle, but she somehow suddenly finds herself at the side of a highway, terrified of speeding cars and injured in an attempted rape. Writer Diana Foster rescues Antiope, heals her and introduces her to modern society, thus affording Walker a vehicle for voicing her dismay at the conditions into which women have fallen. After Diana writes a bestselling book on Antiope and her culture, the two women are alternately revered and reviled on talk shows and other incubi of popular culture. Media attention leads to an encounter between the Amazon and a man who looks just like the soldier she slayed. Walker's stilted language and strident outlook militate against her often keen and pointed observations. $20,000 ad/promo; author tour.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Antiope, a warrior woman from a goddess-worshiping clan battling the Greek invasions, is mysteriously transported to modern New Jersey, where she is "adopted" by 50ish writer Diana. Feminist scholar Walker ( Women's Rituals , HarperCollins, 1990) amusingly and discouragingly chronicles the clash between matrifocal warrior values and the 20th century. Through Antiope's startled eyes, the author scrutinizes, questions, and satirizes everything from attitudes about sexuality and the dangers of excessive religiosity to makeup and feminine hygiene. As is often the case in utopic/dystopic novels, the commentary occasionally overwhelms the story. Nonetheless, Amazon spins a good yarn with an intriguing time/place dilemma.
- Gail Wood, Montgomery Coll. Lib., Germantown, Md.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins (June 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062509446
• ISBN-13: 978-0062509444
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,722 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Barbara G. Walker, author of The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects, and many other books, is a member of the Morris Museum Mineralogical Society and the Trailside Mineral Club of the New Jersey Earth Science Association.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a fun, inspiring read, March 17, 2003

By 

The Captain (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amazon: A Novel (Paperback)

I read Amazon in about two days. It's a nice short, fun read. It tells the story of an ancient Amazon living in the Black Sea area, who enters a Goddess temple for a vision quest, and wakes up in modern day America. The book details her perceptions, as a woman from a matrilineal, female honoring society, of modern day America.

A lot of perceptions are painfully obvious, such as her thoughts on television, food, and spousal abuse. But it's fun to read her reactions to these situations.

It's a juvenile sort of inspiration, but totally worth it if you have a few days and an interest in the Goddess religions.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yanks and twists you out of the fog, May 26, 2005

By 

Jeri L. Studebaker "author Switching to Goddess" (Westbrook, Maine United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Amazon: A Novel (Hardcover)

Opens your eyes to what a farce life is for women and children in the "modern" West. Here's my favorite scene:

She handed him a bag. He pulled a bottle out of it, looked at it, and abruptly slapped the woman just as he had slapped the child. "You stupid bitch," he said. "That ain't scotch, it's bourbon. I told you scotch."

He raised his hand again. The woman cowered against the car, expecting another blow, which never fell. By that time I had my sword out of the mailing tube, had spun the man around with an ankle shove to put him off balance, and had pinned him against the car with the point of my sword at his throat. "Men not hit women and children," I said.

"Who the hell are you?" he demanded, glaring through bloodshot eyes. He was about to attack me. I shoved his shoulder back harder and gave his neck a little warning prick. Blood trickled down to his collar.

"Men no hit women and children," I repeated. "Wrong."

"Mind your own goddamn business!" he shouted. I pricked him again. Then Diana was at my side, saying, "Come on, Ann, you mustn't do this." [Antiope's 20th-century rescuer Diana calls her "Ann"].

"Damn right she mustn't do this!" the man blustered. "Call a cop, you! Get her back to the bin where she belongs! What's she doing with that illegal weapon?"

Ignoring everything, I said, "You swear by whatever spirit you worship, never to hit women or children again -- else I kill you right here."

He stared into my eyes and realized that I meant it. By way of encouragement I let him feel my blade once more. His collar was now quite red. I saw him begin to tremble.

"OK, lady, OK. Don't get excited."

"Swear," I said, tensing my grip.

"OK, I swear. I'll never hit anybody, so help me God. Satisfied?"

I looked at his woman, who stood with her mouth open, holding on to a grocery bag. "You remember," I said. "If he does criminal acts, I will find him." She nodded without closing her mouth...."

~ Jeri Studebaker, author of Switching to Goddess: Humanity's Ticket to the Future

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This was an excellent book!, May 8, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Venezuela, South America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amazon: A Novel (Paperback)

This story takes place during 5 B.C. in ancient Greece. It is about an "Amazonian" woman who is transported through time and reaches present day America. We see our society through the eyes of this Greek Warrior Amazon woman's. It is a commentary on our violent, lawless times and her confusion about our acceptance towards the violence to each other and specifically towards women. The heroine in the book reflects on how women are not allowed to make decisions on how we govern our own bodies and how we are "governed" by men. She cannot understand how we kill each other for the sheer viciousness of it all, whereas the Amazon Warrior woman kills for defense. She sees that women in our society have historically been controlled and exploitated by men, and her society has always been led by strong women, one that respects and honors women. A great commentary on our modern times!