“With their minds ground down by their own education system, the men of science learned how to hate those of us who do not accept their indoctrination. And when their Militia come, all we can do is run and hide and hope not to be found…”After an atrocity that claimed the lives of millions, the New Order of Enlightenment has come to power, a New World Order of eugenics and fanatical science that seeks to destroy all creativity, spirituality and the very soul of humanity. Those who do not fit into the new way of thinking are isolated into ghettos and are slowly being purged from society.Hiding beneath the floorboards of an abandoned house, the main character tries to make sense of why the Militia are coming for him. Three days on the run have cost him his home, his wife and have left him on the edge of insanity as he attempts to come to terms with being hunted down. After a brief respite, his pursuers soon catch up with him and once again he is forced to flee, knowing that if caught, a world of agony and degradation awaits.Originally released in 1992, Persecution is another dark novel from award-winning anarchist writer D G Jones. The novel contains often difficult to read subject matter with toe-curling, explicit violence as it takes the reader on a journey culminating in the total destruction of a human being. Set at a slow, brooding pace, it is a highly experimental piece where the central character is isolated from some of the main storylines which are played out in hints and glimpses in the background. As he is caught in his own struggle to survive, the reader is trapped along with him in an unfolding claustrophobic nightmare. Although not a prequel to THE MACHINE, this is the novel in which it first appears, and as always with D G Jones’ work, the novel is full of secrets, hidden meanings, and subtexts for the reader to discover. This is a special 20th Anniversary edition, substantially reworked and exclusive to Kindle.“In 1992, Persecution was described as ‘vile and deeply distressing’, which indeed it is. It is not, however, as some would argue, an anti-science novel per se. Science has brought us some great innovations, such as better healthcare, transport and communications. However, it has also brought us eugenics, vivisection and the atomic bomb. The original version was about religious persecution, but over the years, I turned that on its head and looked at the darker nature of science, particularly when it gets mixed up with governments. In truth, the novel is a metaphor and hopefully I have left enough clues for the reader to decipher its true nature without making it too obvious.” D G Jones (Interview 25/07/12)Proofread by Sharon Davidson from Type it Write Transcription Original 1992 cover art by Steve Wood-Holland.WARNING: Contains explicit material, graphic violence, and distressing scenes of sexual violence and torture. Website: www.theflayedprince.co.ukFollow on Twitter: @theflayedprinceThe Machine trilogy: THE MACHINE. Lynchpin. Persecution.
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