On a tangental, though related note: The book [*Gadsby*](http://www.spinelessbooks.com/gadsby/) by Ernest Vincent Wright was written entirely without the letter 'e'. He tied the e bar down on his typewriter when finishing the manuscript. The book is a little over 50,000 words in length. Edit: Also, I notice you later mention our cultural "13" phobia. Some suggest that's a result of the arrest order for the Knights Templar being opened on Friday, October 13th, 1307. Thus resulting in Friday the 13th being considered an unfortunate day, and 13 an unlucky number in general.