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600 Devils: From refugee to redemption, a life impacted by smuggling, cannabis, psychedelics, conmen, cops and assorted holy men.
2023 International Book Awards Finalist - 45 years later, a spiritually tormented smuggler reveals his shocking secret life. Born in a refugee camp, the author sidestepped hallucinogens, gangsters, law enforcement and conmen, graduating from pot dealer to personal gopher for a world-class smuggler to an undercover operative for an “adjunct arm” of the U.S. government. Marjan’s path took him to places he really didn’t need to be long before he arrived.
- GenresBiography Memoir
470 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2023
12 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Marjan.
1 book2 followersMarjan walked away from an outlaw life over 40 years ago. He moved his wife and five children into the Montana wilderness where he grew most of his own food and became an entrepreneur, co-founding and selling a number of businesses. Marjan is now retired and has a passion for helping others, writing, billiards, motorcycling, mountain lakes and watching his grandchildren grow.
From the Author - About the time I transitioned from being an emotionally disturbed teenager to a hardcore outlaw, I began to view the material world as a temporary illusion crippled by human boundaries. My doleful attitude was further exasperated by the multitude of ideologies I discovered along the way. The deeper I probed the more confusing life became. I tried to determine if the religions I encountered had been encouraged by celestial beings as some claimed, or merely shaped by the egocentric arrogance of the human intellect. Torn between the freewheeling lifestyle of a smuggler and being an austere spiritual seeker, there was a lot to sort out.
From the Author - About the time I transitioned from being an emotionally disturbed teenager to a hardcore outlaw, I began to view the material world as a temporary illusion crippled by human boundaries. My doleful attitude was further exasperated by the multitude of ideologies I discovered along the way. The deeper I probed the more confusing life became. I tried to determine if the religions I encountered had been encouraged by celestial beings as some claimed, or merely shaped by the egocentric arrogance of the human intellect. Torn between the freewheeling lifestyle of a smuggler and being an austere spiritual seeker, there was a lot to sort out.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 23, 2025
600 Devils: From refugee to redemption, a life impacted by smuggling, cannabis, psychedelics, conmen, cops, and assorted holy men by Marjan is a memoir detailing the life of the author. He takes the readers on a journey through his life, playing each notable event like a tape, meticulously highlighting important details and tying them up nicely. From events before his birth to occurrences during his lifetime that led to the life he lived in his youth and the path he took in search of fulfillment.
I love Uncle Aloyz. He had a strong sense of family and ensured that family values, history, and roots were not lost. He was a mentor to Marjan right from an early age. His words and teachings molded Marjan and helped him in certain areas of his life as he got older.
Some of the themes in this book include morality, family, and loyalty. Morality is subjective. What is right and wrong in one area or among one group of people might be different from another area or group. Who dictates the moral code of a country? These mind-boggling questions gnaw at the readers, urging them to critically ponder on certain established beliefs. Family and loyalty are entwined themes in this book. The importance of family is emphasized. Though members of Marjan's family keep secrets, they do so to protect their own, as they believe that some things are better left unsaid. Uncle Aloyz is known as someone who makes spur-of-the-moment decisions, yet his brother and friends have been known to follow him through these choices, forging a bond so strong that it lasts the test of time.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The author used words that were simple and easy to understand. His use of native language adds an air of authenticity, and its immediate translation kept my attention intact. Additionally, the quotes at the beginning of each chapter are endearing and act as a preamble, enticing me and getting me excited to read the next chapter.
I recommend this book to fans of memoirs and fast-paced action. This book encourages introspection and promotes readers' sense of adventure.
I love Uncle Aloyz. He had a strong sense of family and ensured that family values, history, and roots were not lost. He was a mentor to Marjan right from an early age. His words and teachings molded Marjan and helped him in certain areas of his life as he got older.
Some of the themes in this book include morality, family, and loyalty. Morality is subjective. What is right and wrong in one area or among one group of people might be different from another area or group. Who dictates the moral code of a country? These mind-boggling questions gnaw at the readers, urging them to critically ponder on certain established beliefs. Family and loyalty are entwined themes in this book. The importance of family is emphasized. Though members of Marjan's family keep secrets, they do so to protect their own, as they believe that some things are better left unsaid. Uncle Aloyz is known as someone who makes spur-of-the-moment decisions, yet his brother and friends have been known to follow him through these choices, forging a bond so strong that it lasts the test of time.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The author used words that were simple and easy to understand. His use of native language adds an air of authenticity, and its immediate translation kept my attention intact. Additionally, the quotes at the beginning of each chapter are endearing and act as a preamble, enticing me and getting me excited to read the next chapter.
I recommend this book to fans of memoirs and fast-paced action. This book encourages introspection and promotes readers' sense of adventure.
January 8, 2026
600 Devils by Marjan is the story of a man who lived an unusual and dangerous life, shaped by smuggling, hidden deals, and, eventually, a deep spiritual reckoning. This memoir follows his journey and shows us how one choice led to a chain reaction of choices that led him down a risky road.
Marjan was born in a refugee camp in Austria to Slovenian parents. They later migrated to the United States, seeking a fresh start and a way to escape the horrors they had witnessed after the war. His parents carried their own struggles and inner demons, and this shaped the environment he grew up in. As he came of age, Marjan became a drug smuggler, working under Mario, a man his Uncle Aloyz had once saved. This took him on a path of secrecy, danger, redemption, and spirituality.
This memoir is raw. Marjan does not try to justify or sugarcoat his past. He lays everything out for us, and that is what makes the book so compelling. Marjan has a way of putting words together. It feels like an old friend is sharing a few stories with you. I felt like I was part of a conversation and his journey. You see his emotions, the messy parts, and every other thing. Marjan lived a really adventurous life filled with unexpected turns. He met all kinds of people. From ordinary individuals to unforgettable ones, each played a role in his life.
One of the things I like about this book is the inclusion of historical events, most especially the atrocities that happened in Slovenia during WWII. They are told through the experiences of Marjan’s father, mother, and his Uncle Aloyz, who lives through them. They never remained the same. Hearing these events firsthand makes you feel the fear, loss, and trauma immensely. We see how these events affected his own life as well as his family’s. l learnt a lot from this book, not just about Marjan’s life, but about the world he lived in. It taught me about historical events, different cultures, and ways of life. The book takes you to places like Thailand, and reading about them felt like I was traveling with him, seeing the sights, and learning their culture.
600 Devils is unforgettable. I was hooked from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. It is perfect for readers who enjoy memoirs.
Marjan was born in a refugee camp in Austria to Slovenian parents. They later migrated to the United States, seeking a fresh start and a way to escape the horrors they had witnessed after the war. His parents carried their own struggles and inner demons, and this shaped the environment he grew up in. As he came of age, Marjan became a drug smuggler, working under Mario, a man his Uncle Aloyz had once saved. This took him on a path of secrecy, danger, redemption, and spirituality.
This memoir is raw. Marjan does not try to justify or sugarcoat his past. He lays everything out for us, and that is what makes the book so compelling. Marjan has a way of putting words together. It feels like an old friend is sharing a few stories with you. I felt like I was part of a conversation and his journey. You see his emotions, the messy parts, and every other thing. Marjan lived a really adventurous life filled with unexpected turns. He met all kinds of people. From ordinary individuals to unforgettable ones, each played a role in his life.
One of the things I like about this book is the inclusion of historical events, most especially the atrocities that happened in Slovenia during WWII. They are told through the experiences of Marjan’s father, mother, and his Uncle Aloyz, who lives through them. They never remained the same. Hearing these events firsthand makes you feel the fear, loss, and trauma immensely. We see how these events affected his own life as well as his family’s. l learnt a lot from this book, not just about Marjan’s life, but about the world he lived in. It taught me about historical events, different cultures, and ways of life. The book takes you to places like Thailand, and reading about them felt like I was traveling with him, seeing the sights, and learning their culture.
600 Devils is unforgettable. I was hooked from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. It is perfect for readers who enjoy memoirs.
September 10, 2023
This was not what I was expecting, but it was definitely fascinating. True crime is not my favorite genre (I prefer fictional mystery), but I was often left openmouthed as I listened to what he went through. While I suspect that many of the exact details might be a bit murky (he did, after all, partake in the various products), it's possible that some of it was even more nuts than what he remembers. He readily admits that this story is told from his own admittedly fuzzy memories as well as from stories told by others to him. But true or not, what I found really interesting was his constant philosophizing about religion, the meaning of life, spiritual practices, etc. This really distinguished it (in my mind) from other true crime stories. For one, this is semi-autobiographical. He shares family stories mostly told to him by his uncle Aloyz, but of course he also shares many of his experiences with smugglers, gangs, conmen, law enforcement, and even politicians. From his stories, it's apparent that good and evil are not black and white, and some of the most dangerous situations he found himself in were with the "good guys". Sadly, this did not surprise me all that much.
He did not have the most stable upbringing, and the fact that it appears he survived all of this craziness to build a strong partnership with his wife to raise their many children in a stable environment (Montana, I believe, and very much one with nature) is a miracle in itself.
The pacing was at times uneven, and I found myself drifting occasionally, but soon, I would get sucked back into his narrative. The audiobook was narrated by Dustin Pete and while I've never heard anything by this narrator, I thought he did a really solid job.
I received a free copy of the audiobook from the author and publisher, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
He did not have the most stable upbringing, and the fact that it appears he survived all of this craziness to build a strong partnership with his wife to raise their many children in a stable environment (Montana, I believe, and very much one with nature) is a miracle in itself.
The pacing was at times uneven, and I found myself drifting occasionally, but soon, I would get sucked back into his narrative. The audiobook was narrated by Dustin Pete and while I've never heard anything by this narrator, I thought he did a really solid job.
I received a free copy of the audiobook from the author and publisher, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 26, 2023
A Rambling Refugee Memoir of Redemption
The beginning of this memoir is a little slow and clunky. It took a little time to get going but it was worth the read. It is a thought provoking world spanning memoir of the uncertain life of Marian, a refugee turned smuggler turned undercover operative. This book takes the reader on a spiritual journey that is peppered with endless adventures from the jungles of Burma all the way to the halls of Washington DC. The life of Marian is filled with wild tales and dysfunctional relationships and a host of memorable characters especially Marjan’s Uncle Alloyz. The memoir leans heavily on Marjan’s redemption as he makes his way through a gauntlet of drugs, smuggling, conmen, as well as holy men. Again, this is a memoir, and it attempts to pack in every aspect of a chaotic life with a goal of showing the growth and redemption of Marjan at the end.
The beginning of this memoir is a little slow and clunky. It took a little time to get going but it was worth the read. It is a thought provoking world spanning memoir of the uncertain life of Marian, a refugee turned smuggler turned undercover operative. This book takes the reader on a spiritual journey that is peppered with endless adventures from the jungles of Burma all the way to the halls of Washington DC. The life of Marian is filled with wild tales and dysfunctional relationships and a host of memorable characters especially Marjan’s Uncle Alloyz. The memoir leans heavily on Marjan’s redemption as he makes his way through a gauntlet of drugs, smuggling, conmen, as well as holy men. Again, this is a memoir, and it attempts to pack in every aspect of a chaotic life with a goal of showing the growth and redemption of Marjan at the end.
May 5, 2024
What a life's journey! 600 Devils was hard to put down and gave me renewed hope in the power of redemption. Thanks Marjan for having the courage to come forward and bare your soul. Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews