Xen: Ancient English Edition, Complete & Unexpurgated [UNABRIDGED] (Paperback)

by D J Solomon (Author) "It was a dark and stormy night [DJS: as any reader of other English translations well knows, that's the best that English will do with..." (more)
Key Phrases: Minister Esse, Pawkey Seneschal

Editorial Reviews

Review
"A satirical science fiction allegory, where the weather's mastered and the battle of the sexes has been settled for good." -- Wilmington Star-News, March 20, 2005, Ben Steelman

"A triumph expressing a crucial message for counter-culture and would-be world-transformers of all walks of life." -- Midwest Book Review, June 2007, Michael Dunford

"Crafted with genius symbolism. Can be read over and over again and is perfect for book club conversation." -- Pageonelit.com, April 11, 2007, John Weaver

Product Description
As the last testament of mankind, XEN recounts the tale of the 21st century misanthropic scientist who banished evil from the world, marking the end of hate and prejudice. The novel venerates the millions of human beings sacrificed in the protagonist's eugenics program through which he concluded that mankind was innately flawed and must be scrapped for a superior species empowered by women.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: Avar Press; 1st edition (November 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976066009
• ISBN-13: 978-0976066002
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #871,980 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Douglas Adams meets Jon Stewart..., February 15, 2005

By	Lisa Richey "piergazer" (right here) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is NOT your typical, lazy Saturday afternoon novel, although that's when I chose to read it - the first time. My pledge to myself is to read it on as many free Saturday afternoons I have until I solve that puzzle. I do love a great mystery.

So I thank the author for shifting my Saturdays & some of my perspectives; for giving me cause to rejoin the "look it up club"; and for my renewed respect for Water (and Wind).

I hope Tim Burton discovers this book!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One to make you think, laugh, cry, and hope., March 22, 2005

By	robert de vaugondy (Northern California) - See all my reviews

Xen is a stunner! A friend, female, recommended it to me. I will never be able to think about women the same way, after pouring through this work, which was probably her intention. I have already read it twice from cover to cover and continue to glance through it. There are parts that continue to crack me up, each and every time. I have laughed until I thought I was going to cry. Other parts are so ghoulish that I am haunted by the visual imagery.

The vocabulary is intense and I have had to look up many words, like another reviewer noted. But I could have glossed over them and still gotten the point overall. I wonder, how could anyone with such an active imagination be so politically incorrect these days?

This novel will make a lot of people mad. There is something to offend everyone. For example, Solomon's definition of religion is bound to ruffle the feathers of a certain Hollywood producer and those of his faithful, particularly at this time of year. But not just religion is lampooned. So are politics of either and any persuasion, the media, commercialism, and anyone who is closed minded.

Others, and I would like to count myself among them, will get past the anger that caused me to initially throw it down a bunch of times. So much of what he says is so true, although I certainly can't agree with everything.

Still others will be thumping their chests (? breasts) and saying, 'see, we told you so!'

This book has just about everything...the vocabulary, food for thought, a puzzle for which I remain clueless despite multiple cryptographic computer trials (and I am a computer analyst by trade), and it even provides for good causes. The author, sorry 'translator', states that 10% of all proceeds will go to charities!!

If you like to sink your teeth into a good read that can be finished in a couple evenings, buy Xen. You won't be disappointed.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps a new classic!, November 11, 2004

By	Melissa - See all my reviews

Read it the first time for the story; it's truly imaginative, entertaining and unexpected. Read it the second time to catch everything you missed. Then give it to a friend because you are going to want to discuss this book. The author is not afraid to show his characters in realistic, sometimes unflattering situations. The ending is simply not what you would expect; yet it evolves nicely. Some parts of the book are laugh-out-loud funny and others terribly sad. I learned some interesting information along the way. This book is full of thousands of sound bites. I am still clueless about solving the puzzle - but I haven't given up yet. A great choice for a satisfying read.