Robert Shea

Robert Anton Wilson

The Illuminatus!

The Eye in the Pyramid, The Golden Apple, Leviathan

The Illuminatus! Trilogy

John Balek

At the beginning of the year I visited the Theosophical Society. There were a lot of great and interesting books in their library but one that really caught my eye was this one. The cover, with it's stereotypical vaporwave aesthetic, was so engaging and mysterious. I wondered what this book was and why it was all over the library and bookstore. Months later, I was still thinking about this book. What was it and why was it held in such high regard? I finally decided to pick up a copy to find out. Even if I didn't like it I'd still have a cool cover to display.

I was surprised to find how much I enjoyed this book. I enjoy conspiracy theories as an entertainment form and this book definitely fills that requirement in a way I've never experienced before. In fact, I don't think I've read another book like this. 

The structure of the book definitely takes some time to get used to. The perspective shifts mid-page without any warning. If you stop paying attention for a moment you can find yourself completely lost. I'd image this was part of the authors' intentions. I can't say I caught everything in this book, in fact, I'd say most of the plot is still a mystery to me.

The subject of this book is vast. It's no surprise that this book took two author's to write. Nowadays you could easily come across this information going down a wikipedia or youtube rabbit hole but back in the 70's it would have been a great task to acquire this information, even if it is just surface level references or purposefully incorrect at times. For that reason it garners a lot of respect from me. The whole conspiracy theory thing may be pretty played out in modern pop culture but it is truly interesting to see where those tropes came from.

So much of this book is references to literary works the author's are inspired by, pop culture of the 60's and 70's and obscure history from all eras. It's a lot to take in but if you are interested in those wikipedia/youtube rabbit holes you will certainly take interest in this book.

Many of the literary inspirations include Burroughs, Kafka, Huxley, and of course Joyce. I'm sure I'm missing others that I'm not as familiar with but these were the ones that stuck out to me. I actually haven't read any Joyce and this book definitely makes me want to, as it is the biggest inspiration.

When it comes to these references they are usually laid out with just enough time for the reader to figure them out for themselves before being explained a few sentences later. It is like The Simpsons in the way that "the more you know about the world, the funnier it is". "Illuminatus" is still a highly enjoyable book if you don't get the references but it definitely enhances the reading experience to know them.

As someone from Chicago and with a working understanding of the German language I felt I was able to take away a few more elements that other readers might miss. All of the descriptions of real and fake Chicago locations and events were fun to read about. Knowing the cultural and historical events of late 60's early 70's Chicago definitely enhanced these sections. The Pioneer Court scene was one of my favorites, although I think it is just as enjoyable without knowing Chicago. 

There's a lot of mysticism coded in different cultures and languages, German is one of the most used languages in the book (aside form English, obviously). While most of these words or phrases are explained later it was helpful to catch on to things early. Realizing that "Lake Totenkopf" is "Lake Deadhead" in English was a fun observation. Once again, not knowing these things doesn't inhibit the enjoyment or comprehension of this book but it definitely enhanced it for me.

As someone who enjoyed learning and reading about 20th Century culture this book was a lot of fun. The references are definitely dated and I think a reader in 1975 would catch on a lot easier than a reader of 2020 but it was still fun. The Nixon era paranoia and counterculture outlooks are relics of their time while still holding relevance today.

My only real issues with the book are it's pacing and dated sexual characterizations. Some of the sex stuff definitely felt like watching Heavy Metal (1981). It's like a 70's teenage boy's fantasy world, which definitely fits the vibe of the book but also leaves something to be desired as an adult in 2020. 

Wilson and Shea know how to write fast paced, exciting prose that is engaging and exhilarating but that isn't the case all of the time. Many sections of the book definitely lose direction or focus but that is an expected outcome of a book this convoluted and dense. The character development isn't one of the strongest points of this book but that is mainly due to how many characters make up the narrative.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It is an interesting work of parody and works to expand what a book can be. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in conspiracy theories, 60's and 70's counter and pop culture and those looking for a truly unique book.

The Illuminatus!

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