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Xianne: A Comedy of Cultures: Volume One
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by:
ISBN:
0-7414-6472-1
©2011
Price:
$14.95
Book Size:
5.5'' x 8.5''
, 220 pages
Category/Subject:
FICTION / Science Fiction / General
In the 24th Century...Jane Austen, Robert A. Heinlein, Sophia Loren, and the Texas/Arkansas 1969 Shootout...all have one thing in common: Captain Tom Duncan's interplanetary freighter, XIANNE....
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Abstract:
At ARTHUR C. CLARKE station, four 24th century youths—Jim Street, Keira Bond, Suki Takeda, and Saxon Caine—join the System's most famous ship, the luxury yacht/freighter XIANNE. There they encounter the mysterious, highly-eccentric, Captain Tom Duncan; his lovely CMO, Dr. Sharon Miles; and Chief Engineer Moses Jones. They escape an Earth burdened beneath heavy-handed laws, injustice, and fear; yet, liberated by abundant power—thanks to Helium-3 Fusion Reactors—and the Porn Culture's near-eradication of the sexual taboo. The time of their lives...will change their lives forever...as their journey begins aboard XIANNE....
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Customer Reviews
LOVE & SEX IN JAYCE GRAYSON'S "XIANNE: ACOMEDY OF CULTURES"
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05/12/2011
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Reviewer:
Terry Langford
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How will the PORN CULTURE affect the institution of marriage as the decades of exposure to internet porn continue to roll by? As a NEW MORALITY becomes the norm--THE MAINSTREAM?
JAYCE GRAYSON's new sci-fi novel, XIANNE: A COMEDY OF CULTURES: VOLUME ONE, delves into this very subject in a surprising and unorthodox way. Killing several birds with one stone, (the book gives nods all around--honoring Robert A. Heinlein, Jane Austen, Sophia Loren, astronauts Sunny Williams, Tracy Caldwell and Karen Nyberg, and even the 1969 Texas Longhorns!), the main thrust of the plot centers around the premise that in a society immersed in a glut of nearly unrestrained sexuality, a new type of orientation developes--a NAY community (derived from marking "N/A" when indicating sexual orientation on the "ASK/TELL"). A community which does not desire sex...but which is still influenced by the culture in which they exist!
Since it seems to also be a satire of society today, you will no doubt recognize the seemingly-contradictory reasoning of characters when it comes to relationships, sex, nudity, and love. Funny AND relevant. ENJOY!
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Not at all what I expected
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10/01/2011
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Reviewer:
Sam David Taylor
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I'm a Heinlein fan, and when I came across a reference to this book, I was immediately interested. Then, I searched for it and discovered that it was a self-published novel, whereupon my enthusiasm waned just as quickly. After all, we all know that self-published books are automatically trash, right? Still, I liked the general synopsis and decided to risk another bad reading experience from a "vanity" author. And I am very pleased that I did.
XIANNE is not at all what I was expecting. While it IS a tribute, of sorts, to sci-fi legend Robert A. Heinlein, it is also much, much more than that--containing within its meager 200-page length a vast array of interesting situations and discussions that I truly feel will entertain a wide variety readers. This isn't just a science-fiction story. Yes, it's setting is the future, but the focus is very much on TODAY. If it were up to me, I, personally, would classify it under "Social Commentary". Jayce Grayson is pointing a finger directly at our current times. And while very nearly poking our eyes out with that finger, he does it so smoothly that if we aren't paying attention, we may not even notice.
Comedy and Romance play a very important role in the novel, but in one of the most unique and interesting ways that I've ever read. I believe that Mr. Grayson deliberately avoided giving away any of his surprises--of which, there are many--instead, the back cover presents a very general idea of what's inside, providing little indication of what's REALLY on the author's mind.
As I said, there seems to be something for everyone in XIANNE. Grayson obviously knows his Heinlein. I was grinning through most of the book--when I wasn't laughing outright--very pleased to find that the Grand Master of Science-Fiction himself, through his works, is actually used as a plot device! But, in addition, there are so many subtle "references" to those works, that I gave up counting them, and actually began to wonder if Mr. Grayson even intended them in every case. For instance, when he writes that one characters, during an EVA, plays out the umbilical which connects him to the ship and then dangles for a moment on his "life-line"...is he actually paying tribute to Heinlein's first sale, the short story LIFE-LINE? And there are so many other of these incidences which fit perfectly into the text--without a clashing of cymbals to announce their presence--that I'm sure I didn't catch them all the first time through.
I'm confident that fans of Jane Austen will be just as pleased as I was. And Sophia Loren fans. And football fans. And music fans. And movie fans.
Meanwhile, a story is being told--in a recognizably Heinlein-esque way--that doesn't depend on the above-mentioned "bonuses". In fact, my wife devoured the book in about two days, and loved it. She only knows that Robert A. Heinlein is one of my favorite writers--she didn't get ANY of the subtle references to his work that I feel is in there. However, she loved XIANNE.
The story is controversial, funny, intriguing, and will probably even prove to be true one day! But sooner than Grayson imagines...I DO agree with some other reviewers that it seems too short, but I attribute that to how much I enjoyed it and how quickly I read it--I cannot wait for its continuation in volume two!
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"Xianne" is OK, BUT not really Sci-fi
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05/02/2012
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Reviewer:
L. Jenkins
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(posted on Amazon.com on May 22, 2011)
I'm giving this book 3 stars even though I'm not really sure it deserves that many. For one thing I'm a huge sci-fi fan, but not really a Robert Heinlein fan. The things of his that I've read seem too preachy, and I've heard other people say that too. But the synopses got me interested because I do like sci-fi, but I don't think this is really sci-fi. It takes place in the future, but NOTHING REALLY HAPPENS. I know it is only the first part of a series, but something needs to happen I think besides talking. The people in the story do seem very interesting, but it was really like watching an indie film for 200 pages. It could take place in a college dorm or my apartment bldg! There is some funny stuff sometimes, and I want to know more about the characters, but I also want to see some action in the next one. The people in the story is the only reason I'm giving it a 3rd star.
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Xianne - Space and time fun
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05/09/2012
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Reviewer:
John J. Marnien, Jr.
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XIANNE is an enjoyable, easy read. Not satisfied with simply another space adventure, the author develops an array of interesting, if somewhat exotic characters. The plot demonstrates the possible results of a society which has fallen prey to unbridled pornography. Naturally, the author has to present adequate character interaction to cover his subject. However, he manages to do this with considerably lighthearted humor and without subjecting the reader to excessive or overly explicit sexual situations. As the storyline progresses, like good, classic fiction, the characters in many ways become the story. Mr. Greyson provides a scenario in which we can observe his cast of personalities as they interact and their various and diverse relationships evolve. Too funny to be merely described as humorous, many of the scenes will have the reader actually laughing out loud. While reminiscent of other writers, the author brings his own flavor to the craft. (No pun intended.) This is just Volume One of a four-part novel, so we'll have to anxiously await the next episode of XIANNE.
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Masterpiece!
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08/06/2012
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Reviewer:
Cynthia Shepp
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Xianne: A Comedy of Cultures: Volume 1
I have to say that this is one of my favorite books. Not only is it funny, and hot as a firecracker, but it has an underlying message that I hope everyone gets. It is a satire and it deals with societies problems in a humorous way. Jayce Grayson really did it for me with this book!
Welcome aboard the Xianne, a famous spaceship, and journey with the characters through an adventure that will have your blood pressure rising (in a good way!) and your brain churning, as you go from a space station in the orbit of the earth, all the way to Mars, in the 24th century. Earth has been “burdened beneath heavy-handed laws, injustice, and fear; yet liberated by abundant power-thanks to Helium-3 Fusion Reactors-and the Porn Culture’s near-eradication of the sexual taboo,” (straight from the back cover).
Along the way you will meet four people that hope to board the Xianne, which is owned by the mysterious and extremely rich Tom Duncan. The main character, Jim, is a young man who hopes to find passage and work on the Xianne. He applies for the job by filling out a strange questionnaire, where he meets the other three people that eventually join him aboard the ship. They are Sax, Suki, and Keira. These three people could not be any more different than Jim if they tried. In the questionnaire room, they look over Jim’s shoulder while he is filling in his answers and began a conversation about the ask/tell question, which asks your sexual orientation. They realize that Jim is NAY, which means that he is not sexually attracted to anyone. Yes, I know, how weird is that??
That sparks off a friendship between one nay and three highly-charged sexually active people. Once aboard the ship they meet Tom Duncan, Dr. Sharon Miles, and Moses Jones, who are the only three people aboard the ship besides a crotchety old artificially intelligent computer. This begins a trip like you have never taken before, unless of course you have been on a swinging cruise or something similar lol. Jim’s adventure takes him on a ship where sex is enjoyed and shared by everyone publically, besides him and Moses. Jim has to learn how to handle, and deal with, all the sexually charged tension, while fitting in and becoming a part of the group. He stays true to himself, even though he is given many opportunities to join the “party” so to speak, as well as a very close relationship with Dr. Miles. I could go on and on about this book, but I do not want to post any spoilers so I have to stop.
The bad thing about this is I do not know how to explain it to its full potential. Yes, this book is a panty-drenching, hilarious ride that will have you gasping for more when you hit the last page, but it is also a look into humanity and what our culture is coming to. This is a world where almost nothing is taboo and even marriage is not sacred, but then again, people are free and liberated to do what they like. Regardless, you will have to make up your own mind about this book and I urge you to give it a chance.
Xianne is super-entertaining, perfectly edited, and a laugh-out-loud, make you think Masterpiece! I give this book 5 stars and I cannot wait to read Volume 2!
Quotes from the book:
“I think that beautiful people are beautiful-even if they’re naked. Sometimes, especially if they are naked.”
It’s a Porn world-a Porn Solar System, now-No attractive woman alive expects to find all of her panties the next time she looks.”
“Sexual orientation is just a matter of our preference.”
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A glimpse into the future?
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09/02/2012
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Reviewer:
Michael
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(posted on Amazon.com on March 17, 2012) The author is quite artful in describing how things may and probably will be in the future. The skillful descriptions of all things space wise, the manner in which the vessels flew and moved, the G force variances; all were very understandable and made me able to picture myself being there, the purpose of reading, after all. The encounters among the crew were, as one reviewer said, subtly funny. I found myself smiling a lot. What I really liked was every character having a story and never getting left behind, a common mistake many other writers make after building them up in the first two or three chapters. The author gives us a chance to continue to like each character, somewhat of a change of pace. I only give the book 4 stars because I wanted to know what happens next. It's like a continuation of one of my favorite TV shows, "to be continued next week". Screw that, I want to know now! But overall a really good read and this comes from an actor and author who has never heard of Robert Henlein, although I have drunk his beer.
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