X-ray

Part science fiction novel, part unauthorized autobiography, and completely Ray Davies` way of distancing himself from his own story in order to tell it better, X-RAY begins with its young protagonist ( my name is of no importance... ) being assigned by his employers, the mysterious Corporation, to chronicle the reclusive fictional Davies` life, with a view to eventually destroying him. It`s a measure of Davies` storytelling powers that this 1984-like device doesn`t distract from the book`s main purpose--a behind-the-scenes look at the neuroses, machinations, tantrums, excesses, and musical brilliance of one of the 1960s` most creative songwriters. Davies recounts the roots of his early mistrust of authority, his exposure to the boredom, backbiting, and drudgery of a real job, and his realization that even the wealth and trappings of pop stardom couldn`t free him from the strictures of a society he despised. It`s not all bad, of course--the assorted traumas produce some great songs, and the drugs and debauchery provide some interesting diversions; but the overall impression Davies gives in this unsparingly honest work of semi-fiction is that he`s a man born out of time, a misfit in his own age. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.