Zanesville (novel)

For other uses, see Zanesville (disambiguation).

Zanesville

Cover of first edition (paperback)

Author| Kris Saknussemm
Cover artist| Christopher Sergio
Country| United States
Language| English
Genre| Science fiction
Published| 2005 (Villard Books)
Media type| Print (paperback)
Pages| 496 pp
ISBN| 0-8129-7416-6
OCLC| 57641675

Dewey Decimal

| 813/.6 22
LC Class| PS3619.A425 Z24 2005

Zanesville is a science fiction novel written by Kris Saknussemm and published by Villard Books, an imprint of Random House in 2005.[1]

## Plot summary[edit]

The story is set forty years into the future, in an America in which distinctions between government, religion, and corporations have vanished. The main character, Elijah Clearfather, is found by a resistance cell outside their camouflaged borders in Central Park, New York City. After the cell witnesses the Clearfather's powers, they learn a little about his true identity but decide, in the interests of everyone, to send him away, with the only safe clues to his identity they can provide: a bus pass marked with three important locations and a note written in disappearing ink. Clearfather is set on a journey of self-discovery pursued by murderous Vitessa Cultporation agents, and accompanied by Aretha Nightengale, once a lawyer, now a cross-dressing resistance leader; Dooley Duck and Ubba Dubba, hologram cartoon characters leading a sexual revolution; and the mysterious Kokomo.

## Reception[edit]

Zanesville has been called a "revolutionary work of surreal black comedy,"[2] and touted as being "pretty cool" with "good word play" by Rudy Rucker.[3] The novel was hailed by The Austin Chronicle in 2005 as "the most original novel of the year."[4] The novel is said to have offended fringe feminist groups and conservative organizations like the Right to Life movement, the Catholic Church and the Republican Party.[5] In 2007 the author of Zanesville threatened to sue Michael Jackson upon reports that the singer was going to erect a giant robotic model of himself in Las Vegas, claiming the idea was his.[6]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Random House Listing
2. ^ Hays, C (2005). Starred Review, Booklist.
3. ^ Rucker, Rudy. "The Narcotic Moment of Creative Bliss". Zanesville., Rudy Rucker Praises Zanesville, May 27, 2006
4. ^ Klaw, R (2005). The Austin Chronicle
5. ^ Zanesville's Dong Rings Plenty of Bells, MyWire, June 2, 2005
6. ^ Michael Jackson Robot Draws Lawsuit Threat, Baltimore At Home, April 3, 2007

## External links[edit]

* http://www.krissaknussemm.com/
* Listing, Synopsis, Excerpt & Reader's Guide
* Saknussemm Responds to Film Studio's Pressure
* Zanesville Author Kris Saknussemm's Terrorist Conspiracy

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