The only way to describe it is DIFFERENT, and yes, in big letters. It was with some hesitation that i started this novel owing to its unusual format --- it is a purported lexicon about the Khazar people composed of three books, the Red, the Green, and the Yellow book, representing Christian, Islamic and Hebrew record sources respectively. Some of the entries are cross-referenced to each other, but the story/description in one book may be different or even be conflicting with that in another book, so one may end up with different versions of the same story. The book can be read in many different ways, and here the reader can opt how to proceed -- i chose to read the cross-referenced entries first, and then what were "independent" entries --- whether randomly or by a more systematic approach doesn't matter, the entries are folk tales and narratives which are interrelated, but can stand as individual tales in themselves.

The book takes the reader to the realm of dreams, legends, myths, folklore, and there is a lot of beautiful imagery and wonderful prose (I didn't know before this how poor my imaginative skill was!) :-) I had to learn to let go of the usual mindset when reading a novel (plot, characterization, setting, etc) everytime i opened the book because only then do i start to enjoy the vivid images that each page evoke. This is a book recommended for those who are feeling a little adventurous and courageous to try something unusual... ( )

One of the strangest books I have read. Pavic takes both real and imagined events and combines them into three dictionaries (actually encyclopedias) of the three faiths (Christian, Muslim, and Jewish) that participated in the Khazar Polemic in the eighth century CE. This is a book that is hard to classify. It is not for everyone. However, I thoroughly enjoyed it. ( )

Read this in the early 1990's. I recall that it took a while to read, but was entertaining.

The toughest thing I ever read, but fucking brilliant and WELL worth it!