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: #407673 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-21
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Matt Coward, MORNING STAR
"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."

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

Land of the read this
This excellent book is comparable to Salt and Gradisil in regards to the first person narrative and also equal in terms of quality to those books (his best work). The novel covers the issue of revenge, the meaning of love and you will understand how unfair and unpleasant it is to face injustice and prejudice at the bottom of society's food chain. The middle section follows a futuristic war from the point of view of the poor drafted infantry through brutal training to repetitive but deadly missions in a foreign war zone. An interesting aspect of this is the nature of the computer controlled battles and the cool way in which hacking plays a role. There is plenty of mystery and adventure to go with the political science and the ending is extremely satisfying. Read this, then go and buy Salt and Gradisil at least.

Bizarre and surprisingly gripping!
I'm not sure why I liked this novel quite as much as I did. As has been stated, the protagonist is not a likable character, often infuriating, and the central concept takes some believing. But it hooked me early and held me to the end. I suppose I like novels about ideas, and this is one of those. Not that the plot isn't good! It has something of the Victorian novel about it, the narrative style and the way events conspire against the main character one after the other.

The satire on fundamentalism, that seems to be the theme of the book, is also to be applauded.

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