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What if the Second Coming didn't quite come off as advertised? What if "the Corpse" on display in that funky roadside zoo is really who they say it is--what does that portent for the future of western civilization? And what if a young clairvoyant named Amanda reestablishes the flea circus as popular entertainment and fertility worship as the principal religious form of our high-tech age? "Another Roadside Attraction" answers those questions and a lot more. It tells us, for example, what the sixties were truly all about, not by reporting on the psychedelic decade but by recreating it, from the inside out. In the process, this stunningly original seriocomic thriller eating a literary hotdog and eroding the borders of the mind. "Written with a style and humor that haven't been seen since Mark Twain... it is a prize."-- "Los Angeles Times."
The discovery of a mysterious corpse at a roadside zoo triggers a series of events that challenge the foundations of Western religious and cultural belief. The narrative follows Amanda, a clairvoyant, and her associates as they navigate a world defined by the eccentricities of the 1960s counterculture. Their objective involves managing a flea circus and grappling with the implications of their discovery, all while facing opposition from institutional forces and the absurdity of their own circumstances. The story utilizes a non-linear, highly stylized prose framework to deconstruct the era's social and spiritual climate.
Readers frequently highlight the author's distinct, playful prose style that blends high-concept philosophy with irreverent humor. Discussion often centers on the book's effectiveness in capturing the atmosphere of the psychedelic era without relying on traditional historical reporting. Critics note the balance between the eccentric character development and the underlying critique of Western civilization's rigid structures. The narrative's pacing is often described as erratic yet intentional, reflecting the chaotic spirit of the characters and the time period they inhabit. Many readers find the blend of satire and spiritual inquiry to be a defining characteristic of the work.
Page Count:
352
Publication Date:
1975-01-01
Publisher:
Ballantine
ISBN-10:
0140040048
ISBN-13:
9780140040043
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