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The Prophecy Machine (Investments)
 
 

The Prophecy Machine (Investments) [Kindle Edition]

Neal Jr Barrett
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

Print List Price: $6.50
Kindle Price: $5.99 includes free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet
You Save: $0.51 (8%)
Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
This price was set by the publisher

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Hooters, Hatters, and menacing evil...

Even in a mystical world where centuries ago animals were magically changed into humans, the land of Makasar is considered strange. Its two major religions are Hatters and Hooters. During the day, Hatters, wearing hats of course, wander about jabbing pointy sticks into bystanders. The night is ruled by the Hooters, who hoot and set fire to people and things. Hospitality is considered a capital crime. And Newlies, the humanized animals, are treated lower than scum.

So when Finn, the Master Lizard Maker, finds himself stranded in Makasar--along with his lover, an attractive Newlie named Letitia, and the grandest, most magical creation of his illustrious career, a talking, thinking, rather cantankerous mechanical lizard named Julia Jessica Slagg--his first thought is a quick exit.

But the Nuccis--strongman son, mad father, and ever madder grandfather--have other plans for Finn and his loyal companions. There's an odd machine in their basement that needs fixing, and who better to do it than a Master Lizard Maker? There's more here than meets the eye, however, and Finn soon realizes that the future he faces could be very dark indeed.


From the Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

Hooters, Hatters, and menacing evil

Even in a mystical world where centuries ago animals were magically changed into humans, the land of Makasar us considered strange. Its two major religions are Hatters and Hooters. During the day, Hatters, wearing hats of course, wander about jabbing pointy sticks into bystanders. The night is ruled by the Hooters, who hoot and set fire to people and things. Hospitality is considered a capital crime. And Newlies, the humanize animals, are treated lower than scum. So when Finn, the Master Lizard Maker, finds himself stranded in Makasar-along with his lover, an attractive Newlies named Letitia, and the grandest, most magical creation of his illustrious career, a talking, thinking, rather cantankerous mechanical lizard named Julia Jessica Slagg-his first thought is a quick exit.

But the Nuccis-strongman son, mad father, and ever madder grandfather-have other plans for Finn and his loyal companions. There's an odd machine in their basement that needs fixing, and who better to do it than a Master Lizard Maker? There's more here than meets the eye, however, and Finn soon realizes that the future he faces could be very dark indeed.

Product Details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 1251 KB
  • Print Length: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Spectra (December 24, 2008)
  • Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B001ODEQ0M
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #327,741 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
5 star:
 (3)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Strikingly Original, December 3, 2000
By 
'The Prophecy Machine' is the answer to the homogeneity so many are decrying in the fantasy genre: an original piece of work. Rather than being yet another Tolkien knock-off, The Prophecy Machine defies description. The characters are bizarre. The setting is absurd. And the prose is delicious. In short, another Neal Barrett novel.

The story isn't the best. In fact it may leave you feeling a little off-kilter, saying to yourself, 'What exactly happened there?', but in the end it's an enjoyable, relaxing, fast-paced read. This one is worth reading solely for the pleasure of encountering Bizarre's twisted universe. Even though it lacks the Importance of other novels, I place this one near the top of my favorite fantasy books of 2000. I eagerly await the promised sequel.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Custard and Clamsause!, December 9, 2000
By A Customer
I read books extensively. Occasionally I'm fortunate enough to come across a excellent piece of prose such as this book. Esoteric but enormously entertaining. The way it is structured constantly keeps you turning pages. Neal builds a "Alice in Wonderlandish" world where what you can expect is the unexpected. You get a chance (that you don't get in other novels) to visit a place you've never been before. In the case of this book...a very strange place indeed. The inside of Mr. Barrett's head must contain contain a amusement park for the eccentric.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A very odd story..., February 8, 2002
By 
Robert Anderson (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

An odd couple (inter-species?) with an odd vocation (lizard-maker) and an unusual companion (a mechanical lizard) get waylayed in a strange land with weird customs and nonsensical religions and are forced to take refuge in a bizarre house with a strange family and fight through a ton of weird situations to extricate themselves.

A variety of plotlines are left hanging and the "prophecy machine" itself is not explored very much and even in the end there are a lot of unanswered questions. Furthermore the action itself is somewhat unsettling, kind of like watching a sci-fi fantasy train-wreck spoil the heroes' vacation. Although it's a page-turner that keeps you reading I couldn't really call it enjoyable - the house, offkilter and dizzying, could in fact be a metaphor for the effect this book has on the reader.

I give it three stars for general quality and a fourth star just for the weird originality that is it's defining characteristic.

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