Robert Anton Wilson

Toilet & Bowels · 02.25.2009, 12:42 PM

After reading about him and hearing a couple of interviews he seemed like a pretty interesting dude, but now I'm reading The Illuminatus Trilogy, the first few pages were very funny, but now i've read 130 and I'm not really enjoying at all, is it worth reading the remaining 670 pages? Are his other books any good? Any other opinions about him?

tesla69 · 02.25.2009, 12:50 PM

I used to have a friend who would say "Keep an open mind, they'll fill it with bullshit" and I think The Illuminatus Trilogy is a perfect example of that, not that I've gotten as far as you did. RAW gave great interviews and lectures, but I've always been let down by his books. There are history texts out there that are much more useful, IMO, but this book is just a fiction.

demonrail666 · 02.25.2009, 01:09 PM

He's someone who I keep meaning to read, just out of curiosity. What is his basic thing? I know it's meant to be some massive conspiracy theory but I don't know what about.

Rob Instigator · 02.25.2009, 01:21 PM

hell yes finish tyhe damn book

you will thank me later

the first 130-200 pages seems crazy, then the next 200 pages are even crazier and make your mind flip, then the last 200 pages brings it all together.

RAW is one of my idols. I have most of his books, and collections of essays, plus DVD's and audio tapes of his letures.

the illumniatus trilogy is supposed to be a mindfuck, where Shea and Wilson create a story based on "what if every single conspiracy you ahve ever heard about was true?" They both worked as editors for -playboy and woud receive endless leters from people detailing the latest conspiracy.

Schroedinger's Cat Trilogy is fucking aweosme too

so is the Widow's son.

tesla69 · 02.25.2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Instigator

where Shea and Wilson create a story based on "what if every single conspiracy you ahve ever heard about was true?".

I just think your time is better spent on real history which is much stranger than made up conspiracy. Of course most people call anything they haven't heard on corporate news a conspiracy.

Rob Instigator · 02.25.2009, 03:54 PM

they are not trying to teach history.

they are overhwlming the conspiracy dolts with an overdose.

they do not personally believe these conspiracies.

Toilet & Bowels · 02.25.2009, 06:55 PM

from what i've read RAW believes some of the conspiracy stuff but likes to through together the stuff he believes with the stuff he doesn't, just to confuse people. anyway, i guess i was expecting the illuminatus trilogy to be like a cross between james shelby downard and philip k dick, and when it wasn't i was a bit disappointed

Kloriel · 02.25.2009, 08:40 PM

It isn't bad, but I was a little let down with the trilogy. I haven't picked up anything else yet, but I intend to, so it wasn't like... eating piles of shit and separating the dead worms from the rest of the fecal matter.

The problem is when you tattoo pyramids to your faces. Please, I mean no offense to any readers with such ink.. just a matter of personal taste and how far you wanna test your taste. If you like garlic, by all means eat garlic, but if you're draping your thresholds with it to keep the vampires out - well that can be cool too, but anyway... it is not all just personal choice but also where're you're at.

I'd say go about it if you want, if you dig the plot, etc. If you're expecting some ultra mind fuck, set it down and read something pre-1923.

Also I agree with Tesla about reading histories... the problem with that is that often times historians, who know their craft / facts... don't often cross with writers that welcome the vague and blurred lines, if that makes sense.

Plus, that is a whole other box. (historical narratives). I won't call it pandora's because that poor chick needs a fucking rest.

Rob Instigator · 02.26.2009, 10:10 AM

It is definitely much more entertaining and hilarious than Finnegan's wake, or Ulysses.

02.25.2009, 12:42 PM	#1
Toilet & Bowels invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Europe Posts: 12,282	After reading about him and hearing a couple of interviews he seemed like a pretty interesting dude, but now I'm reading The Illuminatus Trilogy, the first few pages were very funny, but now i've read 130 and I'm not really enjoying at all, is it worth reading the remaining 670 pages? Are his other books any good? Any other opinions about him?
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

02.25.2009, 12:50 PM	#2
tesla69 Banned Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 4,055	I used to have a friend who would say "Keep an open mind, they'll fill it with bullshit" and I think The Illuminatus Trilogy is a perfect example of that, not that I've gotten as far as you did. RAW gave great interviews and lectures, but I've always been let down by his books. There are history texts out there that are much more useful, IMO, but this book is just a fiction.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

02.25.2009, 01:09 PM	#3
demonrail666 invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 18,510	He's someone who I keep meaning to read, just out of curiosity. What is his basic thing? I know it's meant to be some massive conspiracy theory but I don't know what about.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

02.25.2009, 01:21 PM	#4
Rob Instigator invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In the land of the Instigator Posts: 27,991	hell yes finish tyhe damn book you will thank me later the first 130-200 pages seems crazy, then the next 200 pages are even crazier and make your mind flip, then the last 200 pages brings it all together. RAW is one of my idols. I have most of his books, and collections of essays, plus DVD's and audio tapes of his letures. the illumniatus trilogy is supposed to be a mindfuck, where Shea and Wilson create a story based on "what if every single conspiracy you ahve ever heard about was true?" They both worked as editors for -playboy and woud receive endless leters from people detailing the latest conspiracy. Schroedinger's Cat Trilogy is fucking aweosme too so is the Widow's son. __________________ RXTT's Intellectual Journey - my new blog where I talk about all the books I read.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

02.25.2009, 03:54 PM	#6
Rob Instigator invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In the land of the Instigator Posts: 27,991	they are not trying to teach history. they are overhwlming the conspiracy dolts with an overdose. they do not personally believe these conspiracies. __________________ RXTT's Intellectual Journey - my new blog where I talk about all the books I read.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

02.25.2009, 06:55 PM	#7
Toilet & Bowels invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Europe Posts: 12,282	from what i've read RAW believes some of the conspiracy stuff but likes to through together the stuff he believes with the stuff he doesn't, just to confuse people. anyway, i guess i was expecting the illuminatus trilogy to be like a cross between james shelby downard and philip k dick, and when it wasn't i was a bit disappointed
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

02.25.2009, 08:40 PM	#8
Kloriel expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,554	It isn't bad, but I was a little let down with the trilogy. I haven't picked up anything else yet, but I intend to, so it wasn't like... eating piles of shit and separating the dead worms from the rest of the fecal matter. The problem is when you tattoo pyramids to your faces. Please, I mean no offense to any readers with such ink.. just a matter of personal taste and how far you wanna test your taste. If you like garlic, by all means eat garlic, but if you're draping your thresholds with it to keep the vampires out - well that can be cool too, but anyway... it is not all just personal choice but also where're you're at. I'd say go about it if you want, if you dig the plot, etc. If you're expecting some ultra mind fuck, set it down and read something pre-1923. Also I agree with Tesla about reading histories... the problem with that is that often times historians, who know their craft / facts... don't often cross with writers that welcome the vague and blurred lines, if that makes sense. Plus, that is a whole other box. (historical narratives). I won't call it pandora's because that poor chick needs a fucking rest.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

02.26.2009, 10:10 AM	#9
Rob Instigator invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In the land of the Instigator Posts: 27,991	It is definitely much more entertaining and hilarious than Finnegan's wake, or Ulysses. __________________ RXTT's Intellectual Journey - my new blog where I talk about all the books I read.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|