The Complex: An Insider Exposes the Covert World of the Church of Scientology is a non-fiction book about the organization and practices of the Church of Scientology, written by former Scientologist John Duignan with Nicola Tallant. The book was published in Ireland on October 7, 2008 by Merlin Publishing. Both of Duignan's parents died when he was very young and as a result he had difficult experiences as a teenager. He met an attractive female Scientologist on the streets of Germany, who convinced him to take a free personality test from Scientology. After the test, he was told he had a result of "Urgent Action Required", and he began to take Scientology courses. Duignan was recruited into Scientology's elite paramilitary organization called the "Sea Org", and spent a total of 22 years in the organization. After attending an event where actor and Scientologist Tom Cruise was given the award of "Most Dedicated Follower", Duignan began to examine the organization more closely and had doubts about remaining. He left the organization in 2006, after taking measures to avoid investigation by Scientology's intelligence agency the Office of Special Affairs.
The Church of Scientology has responded to the publication of The Complex by sending legal letters to several bookstore retailers that were selling the book, claiming the book contains libelous statements about a member of the organization. Merlin Publishing "emphatically denied" these allegations, and an editorial director at the publishing company called Scientology's claim "vexatious". The United Kingdom branch of Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, stopped selling copies of the book after receiving legal letters from the Church of Scientology; booksellers Waterstone's and W H Smith also received the legal letter, and Borders Books may have also been "warned off" selling the book. A representative for Amazon.com in the United States said that the U.S. branch of the company will be selling copies of the book, but is "awaiting arrival of the inventory" to their networks.
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