Serpentine

<p><strong>Serpentine</strong>: A mineral or rock consisting of a hydrous magnesium silicate H<sub>4</sub> M<sub>3</sub> Si<sub>2</sub> O<sub>9</sub> and having usually a dull green color often with a spotted or mottled appearance resembling a serpent’s skin. It occurs usually in masses which are sometimes foliated sometimes fibrous … Presence of iron may give it a red or brownish hue. Precious or noble serpentine is translucent & of a rich oil-green color. Serpentine results from the alteration of other magnesian minerals esp. chrysolite amphibole & pyroxene and is frequently found in large masses …  —<em>Webster’s 1914; from a note preserved in the author’s papers</em></p><p><em>Serpentine</em> was first published in by Oasis Books London in 1985. It received little distribution and minimal notice at the time somewhat to the author’s distress and the publisher’s regret. It has never reappeared complete although selections have appeared in subsequent compilations. </p><p>    A collection of experimental prose texts—although the author forbade such a definition from appearing anywhere in the first edition presumably in case it frightened off potential readers—Christopher Middleton described it as being a series of texts “on the nature of evil”. </p>