Scattering properties of a homogeneous anisotropic slab are investigated at fixed crystal anisotropy axis orientation. The penetration phenomenon for an incident wave propagating tangentially to the crystal surface is discussed. Slab-based nonreciprocal optical devices are proposed. Their operating principles are based on the slab scattering properties, but not on the Faraday effect. Numerical data for an optical isolator and frequency detector are presented.