Radix [Paperback]

A. A. Attanasio (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1981

Interior Illustrations by James O'Barr. Cover Art by James Bergin "An Instant Classic"-Washington Pos "Sheer Pleasure"-Minneapolis Tribune "A Truly amazing, original, towering talent"-L.A. Times A young man's odyssey of self discovery in a world eerily alien, yet hauntingly familiar. Set thirteen centuries in the future, A. A. Attanasio meticulously creates a brilliantly realized Earth, rich in detail and filled with beings brought to life with intense energy. In this strange and beautiful world, Sumner Kagan will change from an adolescent outcast to a warrior with god-like powers and in the process take us on an epic and transcendent journey. Nebula Award Nominee

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co (July 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068800508X
• ISBN-13: 978-0688005085
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,114,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I love fantasy fiction. I love the courage of the human spirit to invest with real emotion experiences we know are entirely imaginary. And I love all of what 'fantasy' means to poetic thinkers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Radix, book of changes., October 6, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Radix (Paperback)

i met this book ten years ago. and i still live with it inside. This is the book of changes... How can i say?...(my english is bad). Read it and you 'll be different.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars is 5 really the highest?, September 27, 2005

By 

Anthony Bevel (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Radix (Mass Market Paperback)

Paradoxically enough, the mark of a good book is when you forget that you're reading. This book was one of those.

I was so thoroughly engrossed with Sumner Kagan's life that I began to cancel dinner plans and sat for hours pondering Mr. Attanasio's revelations throughout. This book is a living, breathing organism of wisdom. I agree with a former reviewer, if you haven't read this, I envy you! You are in for a surprise.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enriching, January 13, 2005

By 

Wandering Wonderer "seeking balance & harmony" (The Philippines) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Radix (Mass Market Paperback)

I've read through A.A.Attanasio's Radix and I'm captivated by his vivid mastery of the senses, emotions, uncertainty and the unknown. These very human components are deliciously composed together with the barely knowable aspects of reality and the very fringes of fantasy. It was a deeply spiritual journey that presents a panclusive view of the world, life in general, the universe and everything. The book's last piece of poetry sums it all up,

Pain is a rose of great peace.
Silence is the depth of a song.
And stillness is the space of our lives,
So empty it can hold everything.

Without the context of the plot, the poem sounds kinda dark. On the contrary, the book is a celebration of life and all its wonders, possibilities and even impossibilities.

Objectively speaking, the ending got a bit sticky and scattered but the impact this book made on the core of my personality overshadows the minor lapses in the flow of the plot. I'm guessing it's a matter of unavoidable editing. But I'm definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the Radix Tetrad.

If you're daunted by neologisms and poetry don't even try. BUT. If you're up for challenging reality and pushing your imaginations beyond your current world-view then enjoy this beautifully crafted piece of literature.