From the previous example

var pub:XML = novel.PUBLISHER[0];
pub.parent();
//Reference to <PUBLISHER>'s parent (which is <BOOK>)

If the pub is a root node (not in this case) the parent() method returns null. (i.e. novel.parent();)


Accessing Attributes
novel.attributes() and novel.@*
//Returns an XMLList representing <BOOK>'s attributes (which is ISBN node)

Normally attributes are accessed by name, using either the attribute() method
someElement.attribute("attributeName")
or E4X's more convenient variable-access syntax
someElement.@attributeName