Travels to the Enu, Jakov Lind's first novel to be written in English, is described by his publishers as a "funny and fantastic satire on modern European life", and it is dedicated to "all Jakov Lind 1927– © Jerry Bauerseafaring travellers into unknown worlds, above all to our Master, Jonathan Swift." Claims like these encourage the reader to pull up his socks; even to get out his disbelief suspenders, dated and frayed though these may be, from the back of the drawer.

Jakov Lind's command of English is impressive though not impeccable. A native speaker would not have referred to "lapidary wisecracks". Like Vladimir Nabokov and Joseph Conrad, he makes use of the word "pal" (though not "chum")—which must reflect some felt inadequacy in our language. Where the dialogue sounds peculiar ("Cut the shit, you alien devil") he has at least the excuse that it is being spoken...