Xman

Xman

Cover of the 1st edition
Author	Michael Brodsky
Cover artist	Mark Beyer
Language	English
Genre	Postmodern literature
Published	1987 (Four Walls Eight Windows)
Media type	Print (clothbound hardcover, paperback)
Pages	539
ISBN	(hc) (pb)

Xman (sometimes referred to as XMAN) is Michael Brodsky's third novel. It tells the parody philosophical tale of Xman, a universal nobody who arrives in Manhattan and drifts between arguments, interviews, accidents, hospitals, derelicts, terrorists, and death.

Xman is noted for its lack of conventional characters or dialogue. The plot is picaresque. Ontological discussion is the norm, especially in regard to symptoms, labels, captions, bracketing, impersonation, and the true work.

Xman was described as a "highly regarded avant-garde novel," an example of what small presses are capable of.

Of Xman's background, we learn he was born an oversized orphan in Eunuque Falls, Iowa, a suburb of Old Balls, raised in an orphanage outside of Cincinnati, and ended up in the city C or C— some time before the novel begins. Xman had minutes of experience in podiatry school, after which he worked on a construction gang in the Berkeley hills.

Xman, seeking to make himself unique, takes a cab to the airport, flies to New York City, then rides a bus to Grand Central Station. He walks up Second Avenue, sometimes giving derelicts a few cents. He finds the hotel his friends recommended, the Microtraumata Royale. Taking a room, he listens to an argument in the room next door between Fatima "Fa", and a man that Xman dubs (-)Xman.

Jed Perlmutter introduces Xman to Jensen MacDuffers, who wants to introduces him to Tom McTomTom, but instead directs him to Amos and Alphonse Finaglie, who run an employment agency high up in the World Trade Center. Rose Baldachino handles Xman's case. While addressing Xman, Rosalie walks in with a folder for Rose. Xman moves in with Rosalie. He gets a temporary job, working for Fish, who delivers, before Xman has actually done anything, a long speech on the quality of Xman's work and work habits, interrupted by the arrival of Brunhildine. When she leaves, Fish continues his speech, including the story of Brunhildine, and how she's trapped.

Next, Xman works for Mitch Rollins. Then Rose B. calls with work for Xaviero, which requires impersonation on Xman's part. He is given an assignment involving patients and one Doctor von der Schmücke. To clear his mind, Xman went for a walk near the marina, and overheard Gottfied and Xaviero, who eventually revealed themselves to Xman. Xaviero tells Xman that all he had told Xman about disease was wrong, since they believed their conversation was being tapped by Fatima Buck.

Next day, dodging Fish, arrives at his assignment with Xaviero and Gottfried, who deny meeting Xman the night before. They introduce Xman to Dr. Q., who talks on about symptoms and patients. Xman takes off for his lunchbreak to see Rollins in his new office. Rollins criticizes Xman for looking for raw material in the wrong way, so he tells Xman the story of Z, the great creator, who would throw himself into the "disaster of the everyday."