 "Great Read" | 2009-06-27 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3CI4T2HOCZ2X9 |
| These books will hurt your brain in the best possible way. I highly recommend them. |
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 "A TANGLED BALL OF STRING . . ." | 2009-06-09 |
| - Reviewed By kingcholera |
. . . but like every cat knows, a tangled ball of string can be a LOT of fun--especially if it's been spruced up with catnip.
For me, "The Illuminatus! Trilogy" came across as a crazy mix of FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS meets NEAL STEPHENSON meets PHILIP K DICK, a main topic of conspiracies and a writing style that JAMES JOYCE would approve of.
There are lots of characters in this book (35, according to the appendix), but not all of them are major and not all of them are even human! Take for example the squirrel at the beginning of the novel and the well-loved Howard the Dolphin who loves improv poetry.
On the human side, my favorite character was Fusion Chips, a character loosely modeled after JAMES BOND.
Unfortunately, I found it hard to connect with many of the characters because the storyline bounces all over the place. One paragraph you might be reading about character A in the "present", only to find yourself reading the next about character B 20 years later (and historically speaking, that character should be dead--OR ARE THEY?!).
So now the question may be: What drives one to finish an 800 page book that's as scatter-brained as this one? To me, it's because the main topic is conspiracies--and who doesn't like to hear a few of those every now and then?
The two authors discuss everything, from who really shot JFK (most hilarious!) to Aleister Crowley to HP Lovecraft to hidden meanings in numbers to dollar-bill symbolism to Atlantis and to secret organizations. If that doesn't whet your appetite, you're probably not going to make it through this book.
I felt the novel started off strong, lagged a bit in the middle (except the parts with Howard the Dolphin), but finished strong with a very fitting ending. Even after the book is done, there are pages of appendices with even more thought-provoking information for your mind to try and pick apart as "true" or "false"--if your brain is still intact enough after having read everything else.
Definitely not for everyone, but for those that are up to the challenge it can be a fun trip. |
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 "The first book really sucks you in." | 2009-05-27 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3BW98UPFB2XXW |
I read the Trilogy right after reading 'Gravity's Rainbow.' It was really a breath of fresh air. I found myself easily able to keep up with the multiple plots and characters. It wasn't frustrating...it was fun. It reminds me a lot of some of Philip Dick's work, particularly 'Valis.' The underlying subject matter is serious in nature, and yet it's dealt with in a rather playful fashion and along the lines of a game or puzzle. Don't read this book if you're not at least receptive to the idea that things may not really be as they appear. You'll get bogged down and frustrated, and probably follow the red herrings too literally and seriously. In a way this books seems to be a way for free thinkers to pat each other on the back, wink, and otherwise make themselves the hero or at least take the helm of their own style of adventure story. Who doesn't want to be Celine Hagbard, the guy with all of the answers, bravado, gets the girls, and wins in the end?
I didn't give the book 5 stars b/c 'The Eye in the Pyramid' was so great and the rest of the work didn't live up to it. The middle book kind of seemed flat to me. 'Leviathan' is too heavy to Joe Malik, which I found disappointing. I have no objective criticism of the second two books, which I still think are good, only personal opinion. This is very entertaining read overall. |
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| "Great first book, the rest is good." | 2009-05-27 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3BW98UPFB2XXW |
I read the Trilogy right after reading 'Gravity's Rainbow.' It was really a breath of fresh air. I found myself easily able to keep up with the multiple plots and characters. It wasn't frustrating...it was fun. It reminds me a lot of some of Philip Dick's work, particularly 'Valis.' The underlying subject matter is serious in nature, and yet it's dealt with in a rather playful fashion and along the lines of a game or puzzle. Don't read this book if you're not at least receptive to the idea that things may not really be as they appear. You'll get bogged down and frustrated, and probably follow the red herrings too literally and seriously. In a way this books seems to be a way for free thinkers to pat each other on the back, wink, and otherwise make themselves the hero or at least take the helm of their own style of adventure story. Who doesn't want to be Celine Hagbard, the guy with all of the answers, bravado, gets the girls, and wins in the end?
I didn't give the book 5 stars b/c 'The Eye in the Pyramid' was so great and the rest of the work didn't live up to it. The middle book kind of seemed flat to me. 'Leviathan' is too heavy to Joe Malik, which I found disappointing. I have no objective criticism of the second two books, which I still think are good, only personal opinion. This is very entertaining read overall. |
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| "a very nice read, indeed" | 2009-03-11 |
| - Reviewed By happytobestuckinyou |
Don't think I will ever forget reading this novel. As seems to be the
case with most of Wilson's writings he mixes up fact and fiction to let
the reader decide what the most probable outcome is. I can't honestly
say I even know how this book ended as I was too busy enjoying the
various characters and inside jokes. The more sensual parts of the book
would certainly rank in some reader's minds as "blue". I feel this is
worth the price of admission as the facts presented are worth
pondering if you are into 1960's politics. America politics and the
politicians of the 1960's and 1970's are thoroughly lampooned to the
point of comedy. With a revolving cast of character's and a vast
tendency to skip from scene to scene and character to character it may seem to make you lose your place in the novel. I suppose this is designed to keep you from focusing too much on any one thing and also the result of the publisher needing or wanting to cut out two or three hundred pages. This is referred to as "the paper shortage" another clue for you to ponder. I would recommend this book highly to students of history, the occult, persons with Liberterian political views. The more racy elements of the book are probably designed to weed out certain folks. The political character's Shea and Wilson have created here would offend them even more if they had read it. The use of backwards Acronymns for more conservative groups portrayed them as hopelessly obsessed with sex and violence , yet unable to realize it. I suppose this functions as the science fiction version of horror/reality.
While it might not have aged perfectly, it can be very funny to read and I personally feel it mostly remains relevant to today's cultural and politcal issues. And I will say I think about parts of it alot, just as it said I would. This is because many of the character's are based on real life models of personalities you probably entertain in your personal life, my opinion.
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| "There's No Other Book Like This One" | 2009-01-10 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2MTAAQCM9EXKO |
| I never thought I would have the desire to read a 800 page book. It takes a great author to be able to take you along for 800 pages. This book was hilarious and introduced me to Robert Anton Wilson. If you're wanting to read something different then look at this. I was bored with reading until I discovered RAW and HP Lovecraft. Good stuff here! No kidding! |
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