Product Description

THE LAND OF THE HEADLESS is set in a far future where mankind has taken his religious dogma and the divsions that result from it out into space. On a planet where society is shaped by a strict adherance to the word of God as laid out in the Old Testament and Quran a poet is accused of the rape of a woman. Found guilty he must face the punishment laid down in the Good Book; beheading. Beheaded, he is fitted with a neck valve, ordinator and basic sensory equipment and sent out into the world. But he bears a terrible and very visible stigma. the only way he can make a living is to join the army and serve in the war against the neighbouring planet. And plan his revenge against the man he believes is really guilty. LAND OF THE HEADLESS is a searing satire of religious fundamentalism, a novel of love and war and a study of self-delusion. It is an elegantly written, thought-provoking and unique SF novel.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #559015 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-21
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

Review
"The first person narrative is as peculiar as it is brilliant, the satire subtle and discomforting and the level of invention impressive. One of current sci-fi's most original writers. Watch out for this one on the award shortlists." -- Matt Coward MORNING STAR "It's all that SF should be, packed with brilliant ideas and clever examinations of the human condition. So hats off, if not heads, to Roberts." -- Guy Hayley DEATHRAY "This is a subtle parable, in a grave, perfectly appropriate voice." -- Andrew McKie THE TELEGRAPH "Land of the Headless is a darkly satirical tale that extrapolates an absurd idea into something weirdly plausible. This is not escapist adventure but a dystopian vision in the tradition of Swift, Orwell and Atwood against the cruellest extremes of human stupidity." -- Lisa Tuttle THE TIMES "A self consciously mannered moral fable in the style of Gulliver's Travel's or Pilgrim's progress. A voyage of self-discovery that satirises war, fundamentalist religion and love." -- Dave Golder SFX "Often charming and thought-provoking. Audacious high concept." -- Dave Golder FOCUS

Review
"The first person narrative is as peculiar as it is brilliant, the satire subtle and discomforting and the level of invention impressive. One of current sci-fi's most original writers. Watch out for this one on the award shortlists." (Matt Coward MORNING STAR )

"It's all that SF should be, packed with brilliant ideas and clever examinations of the human condition. So hats off, if not heads, to Roberts." (Guy Hayley DEATHRAY )

"This is a subtle parable, in a grave, perfectly appropriate voice." (Andrew McKie THE TELEGRAPH )

"Land of the Headless is a darkly satirical tale that extrapolates an absurd idea into something weirdly plausible. This is not escapist adventure but a dystopian vision in the tradition of Swift, Orwell and Atwood against the cruellest extremes of human stupidity." (Lisa Tuttle THE TIMES )

"A self consciously mannered moral fable in the style of Gulliver's Travel's or Pilgrim's progress. A voyage of self-discovery that satirises war, fundamentalist religion and love." (Dave Golder SFX )

"Often charming and thought-provoking. Audacious high concept." (Dave Golder FOCUS )

Andrew McKie, THE TELEGRAPH
"This is a subtle parable, in a grave, perfectly appropriate voice."

Customer Reviews

A difficult book to review
I found much of the book to be fairly dull and at times difficult to read. I liked the ideas in the book, but I really disliked the main character which at times made the book drag horrendously. I was also slightly unimpressed with some of the Sci Fi elements of the book they where just to generic and rather lame.

That said I thought the ending of the book to be excellent, the best ending Mr Roberts has come up with so far in his previous books.

A very good but strange book
I was unsettled by the barbaric nature of the punishment but stuck with the story. Much of the phraseology is what you might expect from the English middle ages but it fits in with the story. It's not what you could call hard science fiction but a projection of what a devoutly religious civilization could become if it did not reject all new developments. I recommend it as it's a good story in its own right. It also has a good ending which is a bit rare these days.

Irritating, frustrating and engaging read
This was a toughy - the hero of the story by turns was self pitying , self deluding, and a whiner but ultimately, and you need to perserve here until almost the end of the book before he 'gets it'
The religious fanaticsm is very well done, the persecution of the headless and the casual contempt for their lives by people who feel supported by religion get you to throwing the book and saying people don't think like that - then you listen to the news and yes they do ..
The action is well done, the story as it develops and the hero understands the meaning of friendship and love in retrospect is excellent because the book drags you in and I defy you not to become involved in the story
I won;t spoil the end of the story but the revelation when he realises what matters in life - not cant , or religion but friends is superb