title: Best way to extract text from a Word doc without using COM/automation?
body: <p>Is there a reasonable way to extract plain text from a Word file that doesn't depend on COM automation?  (This is a a feature for a web app deployed on a non-Windows platform - that's non-negotiable in this case.)</p>
  
  <p>Antiword seems like it might be a reasonable option, but it seems like it might be abandoned.</p>
  
  <p>A Python solution would be ideal, but doesn't appear to be available.</p>