Alobar, an eighth-century king who refuses to die, escapes his ritual execution and begins an odyssey across centuries alongside a clever peasant girl named Kudra. They travel from the forests of Bohemia to the Himalayas, seeking a secret method to achieve physical immortality and eventually encountering the goat-god Pan. Their quest focuses on a unique fragrance based on beets, a scent that travels through time to modern-day New Orleans, Paris, and Seattle. In these contemporary settings, eccentric perfumers and waitresses attempt to recreate the ancient formula while evading a mysterious corporate conglomerate and a janitor obsessed with the history of laundry.
Readers who enjoy satirical fiction and linguistic playfulness gravitate toward this book to see logic subverted by absurdity. It appeals to those interested in the intersection of chemistry, mythology, and radical individualism. The audience walks away with an unconventional perspective on aging, a hyper-detailed understanding of the olfactory arts, and a cynical view of organized religion. It provides a blueprint for an irreverent lifestyle that prioritizes personal freedom and sensory pleasure over social expectations.
Balanced in tone; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1984
- Language
- EN
