"The World is founded on a pillar, which is founded on the Deep".

The Deep is my favourite book. Is has a strange, ethereal quality and a satisfying completeness that matches the encapsulation of the world described. I've read it at least 5 times, probably 10, limited only by having to leave a gap of a year or two between re-readings to forget the details. Fortunately I have a poor memory.

Engine Summer is also excellent, though pipped by The Deep.

Beasts I've read only once, many years ago, but remember it fondly.

If you've been put off Crowley by the unfortunate Little, Big then please try this instead.

How many books in the Amazon database have been called the best novel ever written (or the best novel in its genre) by *half* of all the reviewers? ENGINE SUMMER was actually the first novel John Crowley ever completed; the ms. then sat in a draw for years while he honed his craft with THE DEEP and BEASTS. The original draft was then rewritten. You thus have a unique combination of an author's most central concerns, his fundamental, primal Tale (always in the first novel), with the skills and knowledge of a mature artist.

Civilization has fallen apart and humanity has returned to a primitive way of life. It's one of the oldest ideas in science fiction, but ENGINE SUMMER is unlike any other post-holocaust novel ever written. Rather than a harsh existence and a struggle to return to former glories, Crowley has imagined a veritable utopian existence -- in a world which knows there can be no going back. This is the long "Engine Summer" ("Indian Summer" misremembered) of the world, and winter is coming. It's a setting of unbelievable poignance.

Rush That Speaks, an adolescent boy, finds himself in a strange place. An unfamiliar woman asks him to tell his story. Since Rush's ambition has always been to become a "saint" -- someone who tells the story of their life in a special way -- he is happy to comply. Where is Rush? Who is the woman? As Rush tells his remarkable tale, the special (and unbearably poignant) circumstance of that telling gradually becomes clear to the reader. ENGINE SUMMER is ultimately a story *about* Story, about the human ability to be moved by tales like this and about our desire to know what happens next. I would say more, but I don't want to even hint at what is going on here.

THE DEEP retells the story of the English Civil War in a unique setting which seems to be genre fantasy but turns out to be something very different. At the time it was published, I thought it was flawed but showed extraordinary promise. That promise was fulfilled in BEASTS, a novel I thought was the best sf novel of its year and one (I'm very proud to say!) I cited, in print, as evidence of Crowley's greatness before ENGINE SUMMER and LITTLE, BIG were ever published. You'll notice I made no attempt to summarize its plot. It's like that.

Unfortunately, while I have Engine Summer (and Little, Big) I haven't read either yet and I've never even seen The Beasts (though I'd snap it up if I found it, probably), this is the only place on Amazon where I can write about The Deep, Crowley's famous first novel. This is one weird book, let me put it that way and not weird like mindblowingly weird but just . . . weird. I don't know, I can't explain it but the book feels like it takes place in a fever dream, there's this unreal quality about everything. The plot then. Someone has apparently constructed a giant disk in space and attached a long cord to it (so they say) and there are people on the top of the disc and they endlessly fight in this war of succession. To this mess comes a Visitor who doesn't remember why he came here or even who made him and for most of the story he serves as an observer to the events going on. The only problem I had with this was some of the characters are hard to keep straight because they aren't given proper names, you've got "Red Senlen" and "Red Senlen's Son" and Redhand and Old Redhand and Younger Redhand and Learned Redhand and King Little Black and Black Harrah and Young Harrah . . . you can see the problem. That's a fairly minor quibble though, this is a book that deserves to be tracked down and read. Crowley's writing is amazing, especially since this was his first novel, it's entirely poetic without getting long winded, with a few words he paints brilliant pictures. The premise is utterly unique in its presentation (for the record, I believe that the folks on the disc are reenacting the War of the Roses) and the plot winds along nicely, there aren't many "explosions" but you just snake along, caught up in the dream. The ending is also totally unexpected and completely fits in with the tone of the novel. This is one of the few totally satisifying books I had read, I had expected a lot out of this guy because of the reputation I had heard and he blew away everything I expected. And he only got better. My advice then, get everything you can by this guy, it might take some effort but I have a feeling it'll be worth it. Again, the fact that this brilliant author is out of print and many many many lesser lights are kept in print is beyond me. Get the word out and keep his name alive!

The important texts from the Equinox, Assembled in one book, by Israel Regardie, for a price that makes it accessible. I think that sums it up and justifies the Five Stars!

"He who knoweth little, thinketh he knoweth much; but he who knoweth much hath learned his own ignorance."

And so it is, those that don't understand him, fear him, and the very few of those that do understand him, also understand themselves, and thus ... they, the few, realize the GENIUS within the man, which is the soul of the many. Behold the master therin!

I bought this book a couple of months ago, and everytime I pick it up and begin to read it, another 'door' opens! This book is like a treasure chest, and until you advance enough to understand it, then much of it is enigmatic, BUT - Crowley doesn't leave us in the ocean without some driftwood - he gives the reader a list of suggested reading that one must utilize in order to understand him and likewise the deeper secrets of the "Magnum Opus" - thus one must follow that "golden thread" which runs through many celebrated works, where Crowley himself gained his intellect, and that make up the corner stone of all great wisdom 'available' for investigation. Therefore, it is not neccessary to read Crowleys other works before this one, in fact I for one believe It would be a waste of precious time, for this is, in my opinion, THE book on Crowley! Why buy second best? contemplate it and buy the books he reccomends (some of them are available free on i-net) and put the pieces together. Challenge those barriers that constrict you, strive for only the best, and the master will surely open the doors of the hidden sanctuary!

Concerning the contents of the book: Crowley's commentary on Blavatsky's "Voice of the Silence," is alone, worth what you pay for it, and with it you get his most famed instructions on Yoga, Magick, Sex Magick, not to mention a first hand story of one mans attainment of the 'Gem" and the difficulties he encountered, which is very revealing in itself. You also get the Enochian rituals, and the Book of the Law and the list just keeps going & going & going & going.

So, Go ahead! buy one of those watered down wanna be magick books if you must, but realize the guide to the real magick is within and Crowley points the way for all those that have what it takes to carry the torch of Thelema and awaken the sleepers from there agwanti.

"That shall end never that began. All things endure because they are. Do what thou wilt, for every man and every woman is a star."

This book contains a lot of information and is IMHO not the first book of Crowley one should purchase. Book 4 of Crowley (the latest version which in fact contains book 1 - 4) contains maybe even more info but makes it for the not-so-advanced-practizioner with its invaluable explanatory notes a better start. If you are willing to pay (price) and have to choose between Book 4 and Gems of the Equinox, Book 4 is a better start.

This is one of the most powerful and moving books
I've ever read. Couldn't put it down and then couldn't
stop thinking about it afterwards. I'm still re-reading
passages in order to relive the sensations.
The act of translation and the ideas and issues surrounding
it are artfully used as a trampoline for delving into
many other interesting and emotional topics...
A wonderful, layered experience.

This is the kind of reading experience in which you may find that you are breathing quietly and slowly, forgetting to eat or sleep, and letting the kids watch way too much television. The dog will mourn at your feet until you, as slowly as possible, turn the last page.

John Crowley's prose, always a delight, just keeps getting better. Here it's polished like fine crystal: no flashy lyricism, no polysyllabic raids on Roget, just limpid phrases that speak freshly and place you, antennae quivering, in the center of the scene. "The Translator" presents itself as a quiet, small, well-lighted novel, a chamber piece with only four or five speaking parts. On those terms, it succeeds just about perfectly.

In a sense, all of Crowley's novels, even those set in some far future, have been historical novels. Lately, he's become confident enough to choose periods his readers can remember. His ongoing tetralogy (begun in "Aegypt") has been bringing the mid seventies back to life with perfect political and cultural pitch; "The Translator" does the same for the repressed, restless, hopeful, doom-haunted Zeitgeist of the few years between Eisenhower's fifties and LBJ's sixties. Within that grey-lit zone unfolds the story of a campus romance. Its special tincture of the erotic with the Platonic - when a Russian interlocutor, many years later, asks our heroine Kit whether she and Professor Falin were "lovers", she is honestly unable to remember - would have rung false in any other epoch.

But while Kit narrates her simple story, Crowley has many other fish surreptitiously sizzling in the fire. He is studying the nature of translation, the nature of personal identity, the nature of national identity; the ways in which poetry fails to be genuine poetry both when it is, and when it is not, politically "relevant." And finally the themes and the personal histories of this uncharacteristically realistic novel do not appear to be resolvable, apart from the angelic mythology explored in Falin's final poem.

I rate this book at four and a half stars, but I round it up because of my strong feeling that there's much more here than has yet met my eye. Perpetually fluttering his wings at this volume's edges and crannies is the figure of Vladimir Nabokov - also a "translator", also a Russian poet in exile, like Kit a fan of Lewis Carroll's Alice, and who famously adopted a position with regard to political relevance in art seemingly diametrically opposed to the one taken by Crowley's Falin. So, I suspect that this book is even more carefully crafted than its exquisite surface would suggest. In particular, its' worth considering whether by the time the story ends it is only poems that have been "translated."

This is simply tbe best practical guide to the Enochian system of magick that I have found. I got my hands on it six weeks ago and it is dog-eared and somewhat worn from frequent use. I find myself refering to it constantly.

Although by no means a complete reference to Enochian magick (that would be quite a feat indeed!), it covers enough material so that the aspiring magician can get started on operations fairly quickly. This includes several versions of the Great Table with alternate spellings used over the years, and all the basic ritual elements from the LBRP to the different calls. This book also contains a complete copy of Liber Chenoch, which is Crowley's exposition of the Enochian system. In theory, Chenoch is sufficient to understand the entire Enochian system; in practice, Crowley can be difficult to interpret properly (anyone who's argued about minutae of the Gnostic Mass can attest to this); this book clarifies and expands Chenoch.

This book is quite handy not only as a thorough explanation of the Enochian system of magick, but also as a reference when doing actual ritual work. It is by no means a COMPLETE reference. For that, you'd do well to also look through David Jones's work, as well as Geoffrey James's "Enochian Magick of Dr. John Dee." and the "Faithful Relation." If you're looking to do practical Enochian work, then I can't think of a better place to start than with this book.

I wish I would have purchased this book when I began studying the Enochian system a while back (the title put me off and I thought it was some strange digression on the Enochian theme). This book is plain and simple Enochian basics with nothing else thrown in (except for the interesting and brief sex magick chapter)- unlike other authors that include their own personal views and revelations. If you can't understand this book you probably don't need to be practising Enochian magick anyway. Duquette and Hyatt give the basics from Crowley's Liber LXXXIV vel Chanokh outlining how to work with the Enochian spirits and the 30 AEthyrs- very clearly explained with excellent illustrations. They also explain how to color the elemental tablets and the Tablet of Union which I have found lacking in some other texts. There is also a very brief chapter at the end of the book on Enochian sex magick with some interesting illustrations (I don't know why they put that in the title since it is not the major focus of the book, but, hey, sex sells...). There is also an Enochian dictionary in the text with phonetic and English translations. I have had some misgivings about Hyatt's writings in the past but this is outstanding. It does not get any simpler than this when it comes to understanding the basics of the Enochian system.

This is an excellent little book! It takes the complexity of the Enochian system and makes it usable. I can say that this is something many other books on the subject fail to accomplish. Hyatt and Duquette are both experienced and practicing magicians, which instantly comes across in this work, with its "dare to be lazy" attitude. Through experience of my own, I can tell you what the two trademarks of all true magicians are: 1)The ability to laugh, even at the worst horrors, and 2)The ability to throw jargon out the door and discern the heart of every matter while never taking any matter too seriously. The simple reason for these abilities is that by actually doing magick and actually experiencing the magickal universe instead of merely reading about it, these abilities are automatically developed. These are abilities that Hyatt and Duquette both possess, and it sets the tone for this book. If you study its contents, you WILL understand the enochian system, and if you practice its rituals, you WILL be successful, given that you have at least some prior experience in magick. Be forewarned that this is advanced magick, and requires one to be proficient in the basic abilities. The methods taught here are powerful, utilising the potencies of Sex Magick. Enochian Magick in general should not be dabbled with without a thorough foundation. Doing so will either prove useless or expose the dabbler to very real dangers, depending on that person's innate psychic ability. Regardless of what some authors claim, these forces are more than mere phantoms of the mind. They act in a very independent and objective way upon the magician's reality. In other words, they might have other agendas than those of the naive apprentice, and will express these agendas quite violently if their "master" fails to muster the strength to command otherwise. In having said that, I leave the rest over to Hyatt and Duquette. After this the rest is between you and the angels of Enochian Magick. Enjoy!

This is my first ever deck. I love it! the pictures are beautiful and it even comes with an instruction booklet. It is a great deck for beginners. If you want some more depth on the cards you should get the actual thoth book. I reccomend this deck to anyone interested in tarot. As i said the pictures are exquisite and very nice. They bend and are relativly small great for a carry around deck. This selection is beautiful!!!

I have worked with this deck on-and-off, for almost four years, and I must say that it gives very accurate results. I do not think it is a great Beginner's Deck (try Rider-Waite for that)--however, the woman who created this deck infused a wealth of information into the Artwork. Many people are leary of this Tarot deck, due to the fact that Crowley had a less than reputable persona. Yet, from all the research my Wiccan Wife has done, it seems Frieda Harris had a tremendous amount of influence in the project. I believe each person should judge for themselves. Some of the cards do, in fact, have a dark, brooding feeling to them, yet for some of these cards it is deservingly so. The Major Arcana are quite Beautiful and the Esoteric Symbolism worked into the Deck, throughout, is a Wealth of Knowledge. The placement of two Major Arcana cards are different than most standard decks, but comparable with a set of Egyptian Tarot Cards, from another Mystery school.

Previously, I was not willing to review Crowley's works, due to his reputation. However, I discovered that the reputations of the founders of an org. I learned-from were just as impugnable. I must give Crowely respect for at-least being Honest about his nature and not deceiving his students.

As with all things in life, it is best to investigate many different branches of this field of study, but I know that Most of the Tarot Readers I have met use The Thoth Deck more than any other deck in their collection. The Wonderful Artwork and Fascinating Symbolism give the Reader a vast-array of information to draw-from. My Wife is a locally renowned Tarot Reader and she swears by this deck, for accuracy....and, ALL of her friends swear by her Accuracy!

The Thoth Deck has some Great Companion Books, such as: "The Tarot Handbook : Practical Applications of Ancient Visual Symbols" -- by Angeles Arrien <&, of course, "The Book of Thoth" by Aleister Crowley, Frieda Harris (Illustrator)>

I suggest buying the hand-sized Deck, because Large Decks are usually very cumbersome and it is hard to get a good psychokenetic feel for the cards. It is always best to have a deck that can be easily manipulated in the hands, for better accuracy in readings.

In my opinion, this deck is one of Crowley's greatest Contributions to those involved with The Mysteries.

I also strongly suggest studying Jungian Psychology, in conjunction with Tarot studies.

Thousands of people believe this is the best deck on the market.

This is by far my favorite Tarot deck, and I have tried many. Each card is colorfull and well drawn, not to mention packed with symbolism. This assists in interpreting each card, as there is always someplace else on each card to study and gain enlightenment from. It is usefull for beginners and masters, altough the Book of Thoth, the book of explanations for the deck, is really a little too complicated for beginners. There are lots of other books explaining the Thoth deck out there that aren't quite so complicated. If you are used to reading the traditional Rider Waite deck, you might have a difficult time, because the symbolism of each card is far different than Waites, and the minors are strictly symbolic, instead of having a scene depicted on them like the Rider-Waite deck does. Furthermore, you do not have to be a Thelemite or a practitioner of ceremonial magic to use this deck comfortably. I am a Pagan, and still find this deck effective.

After at least a full year of immersing myself into Crowley's magick and occult studies, I continue to find myself coming back to this book. When I first got the book, I tried reading it and to make heads or tails of what I was reading, but to no avail, so I put the book down until a spark of light drew me closer to understanding. I remembered at one point reading in 'The Eye in the Triangle', a biography written by apprentice Israel Regardie, mentioning Crowley's fascination with mystery novels. I am not a big fan of mystery novels, but I decided to take one up (Robert B. Parker's Godwulf Manuscript for the curious), and it struck me at that point that it seemed to make sense that Crowley enjoyed these kinds of books as they are so evident in his own writing. This is the point of view in which I decided to understand Crowley - that is, to understand his work as a mystery waiting to be solved. You are the detective and you must put the pieces together. All the information is in front of you, but you must understand, interpret, infer, and join various bits of information to gain the whole picture. 777 and Other Qabalistic Writings is just that - a string of puzzle pieces that are shaken up in the box, and its up to you to put the work into it to make the connection. Crowley is not one for spoonfeeding information and this book certainly demonstrates this by having to understand numbers, symbolically and mathematically - how they relate to the Hebrew and Greek alephbet, tree of life, Chinese and Indian philosophy, and the universe: micro and macrocosm, and of course algebraic and trigonomic formulations. With this information that is put into a uniform system of systems. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind when studying (vs. reading), is that every sentence counts. Each line, number, column, diagonal, and row all have a correspondence to each other to make a relationship that, as the Gestalts would say, is "greater than the sum of its parts." While this work is not for the beginner, and difficult for any novice, it is certainly a must for anyone who wants to dig a little deeper than love potions and money spells. If you can master the work in this book to the point where it is second nature, then Crowley's other works will illuminate itself freely to the trained mind. Crowley's writing is for those who want to "do the work" and not for the lazy person's guide to enlightenment. 777 stands as Crowley's testimony to his mastery over the subject as well as his versatility with understanding the nature of language and how it can be expressed; i.e. compressed information. I suggest to book cautiously to only those who are willing to take the task and set themselves on a journey into another world.

This is a Textbook on Gematria, (the Spiritual Essence of the Numerical Value of Words, Names, or even General Phrases). This is Not a book for the Dabbler in the Occult Sciences but a Reference Book on Kabbalah,(Qabalah), the Tree of Life and the Magical Alphabet! The many, many Tables of Correspondences listed in this book will give the Seeker of Truth the Truth he or she needs to delve into the Deep, Deep Mysteries of God! Aleisters committment to become the Man of Sin and in essence become the correspondent of the living Christ in the Earth along with his commitment to "persevere to the end" in his Tarot studies certainly pays off in this Extreme Religion known as Qabalah. For just a taste of the many Revelation one may enconter in this book is the Revation of the Number 666. In the Section titled SEPHER SEPHIROTH Aleister lists the Numbers 1-1000 with additions up to 3321 along with Hebrew Words and Spellings. In this Gematria the Numerical Interpretation of 666 in none other than, "Aleister E. Crowley" and, (you guessed it), "The Name of Jesus"! If you don't have this Book in your Magikal Library you owe it to yourself to Buy it!!!

This is without question the most Impressive book on the subject of The Qabalah, that I have encountered. Most books simply allude to Qabalistic knowledge and explain the devices used in the system; Gematria, Temura, Notariquon, etc.--but, 777 is a Compilation of decades of research, by a Dedicated Qabalist. I cannot possibly say I know enough about the Qabalah to give an educated review of 777, but, I do know this book contains more information, than any other book I have owned on the subject. It looks like a lifetime study, from what little I know--and, this seems to be the best place to start the Journey.

To learn the Paths and to see Illustrations of the Qabalah, I recommend studying the following book in conjunction with "777"; "Magick: Liber Aba: Book 4," by Aleister Crowley (ISBN: 0877289190). I have recently been studying this book, with great results. A picture is worth a thousand words. The labeled Diagrams truly help the Student understand the subject.

I also suggest purchasing a copy of "Paths of Wisdom," by John Michael Greer (ASIN: 1567183158), if you can find a copy. This book is especially useful to Students of the Mysteries, who have no teacher / organization.

THE BOOK OF LIES, WHICH IS ALSO FALSELY CALLED BREAKS, THE WANDERINGS OR FALSIFICATION OF THE THOUGHT OF FRATER PERDURABO WHICH THOUGHT ITSELF IS UNTRUE... Within the 93 "chapters" of this enigmatic little book lie the deepest and most profound "truths". Ranging from a single symbol to nearly two pages in length, the subject of each chapter/poem is determined by the Qabalistic significance of its number. The often outrageous and entertaining commentaries accompanying each chapter explain just enough, but not too much, to assist the reader in their own Qabalistic understanding of these words and numbers. Concerning this wonderful collection of gems, Crowley himself writes: "At first sight the book is a jumble of nonsense intended to insult the reader. It requires infinite study, sympathy, intuition and initiation. Given these, I do not hesitate to claim that in none other of my writings have I given so profound and comprehensive an exposition of my philosophy on every plane..." Need we say more?

Of all of the books by Aleister Crowley, this is perhaps the single most complicated, most challenging. Certainly, this is true for those not included as Holy Books. It reads very much like those other 13 texts.

This, however, is not a Holy Book. Rather, it is a series of poems and prose written in a highly obscure and intricate fashion.

To understand what really is a simple concept (and which forms the intellectual basis of the book) you would have to read Crowley's essay "The Soldier and the Hunchback". Even the number of chapters (93) has an important symbolism: "93" is the numerological equivalent of the Greek word "thelema" ('will') and "agape" ('love')--the meaning of this is a doctrine of the religion Thelema.

The basic concept of the book deals with a kind of moral relativism. Truth, for all intents and purposes, doesn't exist outside the realm of consciousness of the individual. This book attempts to make as large a jump between the gap of truth for one and falsehood for another, as possible.

It was originally designed for those who have reached a great height of spiritual attainment (Magister Templi 8=3, to be precise). However, this was the first book by Crowley that I ever read. Those of you who are students out there might want to familiarize yourself with the book anyway. It provides a great introduction to the style and character of the man, and most of its mysteries can be understood with enough patience and thought (some require esoteric knowledge which is not supposed to be known outside the A.'. A.'. or OTO).

This was also the passage for Crowley to enter IX degree of the OTO (see the introduction). There have been references to this book in pop culture (see the album called Psalm 69 by the industrial band Ministry--the title is derived from the 69th chapter, entitled "The Way to Succeed-And the Way to Suck Eggs!", and the title track contains several references to this chapter, including its title).

In short, this little gem is a masterwork of poetry and intellect. Even if the words make absolutely NO sense to you whatsoever, it should be read simply for the value of the poetry. It's money well spent.

This book is quite puzzling and entertaining...Many poems with deep hidden meanings that take much time and understanding to fully appreciate...each time it is read something new is found, one of Crowley's best...

A Decent book, very interesting read. The style in which the story is told is very engrossing as it is told from the first person. The one drawback to the book is that it is based on one persons recollections and biases. With the exception of the Plymouth mail truck robbery most of these crimes were standard criminal enterprises, hardly crime of the century material. Of the crime he boasts the most of, a Brinks hold up, Cresta ended up going to prison. This is the story of a man who thought he was smarter then he was and in the end, was too smart for his own good.

Very enjoyable. I agree with other reviewers about its
contents. My vote to play Phil Cresta in a movie is
Robert Di Nero. Looking forward to the movie.

I read until I finished (3am), because I couldn't put it down. It is a very well written, interesting, and entertaining story of an lifestyle that is often contrived or overdone by others in the genre. The no-nonsense, unapologetic tone is definitely fitting of the central figure, Phil Cresta. I give my highest recommendation, which doesn't show itself very often. I can't wait for the movie, and you shouldn't either. Get a copy, block some time (I doubt you'll be able to put it down either), and enjoy.

Crowley's early books were definitely in the "SF" genre, but as time has gone by we more and more frequently find him in the "Literature" section of many bookstores.

If this is a compliment, it is one that is well-deserved. Crowley's writing has a magical quality that creates a unique atmosphere unlike almost any other (the nearest comparison might be Keith Roberts' "Pavane").

"Aegypt" appeared as an individual volume with virtually no clue to the fact that it had a sequel ("Love and Sleep") or that in fact these two books were the first of a four-volume set (the third, "Daemonomania", seems to have been delayed - it appeared in Books In Print in 1998 but has, according to Bantam, been "withdrawn").

The books are set in two worlds - a small-town, modern, north-east US environment and the world of Renaissance magicians like Dr John Dee. At the heart of the series is the idea that great changes of direction in human civilisation - such as the Renaissance or the advent of the Age of Reason - not only place culture on a different path into the future, but also, looking over our shoulders as it were, we see a different past. This is a concept that, in itself, has serious philosophical merit.

Thus the past of "Aegypt" is a magical, occult "alternate history of the world" with which modern materialist society has lost touch - or nearly so.

Crowley weaves the threads of both realities together in an astonishing and unique way that holds the reader in thrall, wishing it would never end.

All his books are worth reading, but this one - and its sequel(s) - especially so.

Initially, Aegypt is an all-out barrage of images and information, in the midst of which it is difficult to assimilate the major themes that are developing. However, as you continue your journey along with Pierce Moffett, this mass of somewhat obscure imagery and information slowly begins to unravel. The miracle of Crowley's prose is that he guides the reader through a series of small revelations along with the main character that culminate in one entire running synchronistic metaphor. His brilliant excerpts from other sources, ie. his own fictional writer Fellowes Kraft, serve as slivers of allegory relating to Pierce and some of the other characters in the book's main story. Crowley patiently weaves a web of coincidences, of synchronicity, that serves as a sturdy metaphoric foundation to support all of the synapse-igniting ideas presented to the reader to be delineated and digested. This novel is so cleverly plotted, that I cannot help but wonder if it is somehow based on the ancient geometric principles that are discussed and reffered to throughout the book. This is not even to speak of the potential Jungian archetypes presented by the characters surrounding Pierce. Rosie as anima, Spofford animus, Pierce the ego, Fellowes Kraft the Shadow? Even these archetypes do not do the interconnectedness of the characters justice. In the Prologue in Heaven, when the skryer is looking into the stone, he sees an angel who holds another stone, in which there is a child with yet another stone, and within that stone the immense void, the eternal truth. Just as this ancient knowledge of Aegypt that Pierce is uncovering comes through himself, Kraft, Bruno, and so on. One more running metaphor to drive it all home is the reoccuring imagery of bouncing balls with stripes and stars, croquet balls colliding, and finally the dozens of hot air balloons filling the sky, again synchronicity. Crowley sets his sights high, and does not disappoint.

P.S. Pierce (Inverarity) Moffett, Rosie MUCHO. See The Crying of Lot 49. The horn from 49 and the ring symbol in Aegypt. Many similarities.

Carried by a fanciful play between fact and fiction, Aegypt soars as one of the best novels I've ever read. Using history as a jumping point, Crowley guides the reader through lives lived in regret, hope, fear, and the awe of realization, finally landing in a world made magical only by the minds experiencing it. Crowley also has a knack for laying out patterns, looping from character to character, as well as from author to reader. Despite the book's sometimes questionable veracity, the feelings it describes and the insights about the human condition are almost always dead on. Read this book (and make sure to look up the names you read about, a lot of them are real).

These "Inspired" writings of Aleister Crowley--aka, Master Therion--are compiled into "The Holy Books of Thelema" for the studious Thelemite.

Most of this material will not make a lick of sense to anyone who is not a Thelemite, and doubtfully makes much sense to any Thelemite who hasn't read a stack or two of Crowley's other writings. However, once you have read a dozen or two Crowley books, "The Holy Books of Thelema" start to make some kind of sense.....

Fair warning, I have been informed that "The Uninitiated" won't "get it" until they have been Initiated into one of Crowley's various Magickal systems.

So, "The Holy Books of Thelema" is a great resource for Thelemites, but even Thelemites probably will not understand most of the material, until they have been "enlightened" by one of the Magickal groups (O.T.O., Thelemic Golden Dawn, etc.).

"The Holy Books of Thelema" contains all the "Inspired" (presumably by entities outside of Crowley's head) works of Thelema, and a break-down of the writings on "The Stele' of Revealing"--which is integral to the writing of "The Book of The Law").

"The Holy Books of Thelema" is a convenient resource, containing all the information prospective "Thelemites" need to get started on the Thelemic Path.

It has been suggested that a Thelemite should reread this material after each Initiation, to fully comprehend the material.

These essays are simply beyond rational criticism. They are Holy Books, which means (to those unfamiliar with Thelema) they are written through the Prophet (Crowley) by the Gods. They are written from Beyond the Abyss. They cannot be rationally understood.

The poetry, especially in Liber Cordis, is unbelievably brilliant. There is nothing in the whole of occult literature that matches it, except for Liber AL itself (which is of course included). The introduction by the late Frater Superior of the OTO gives those new to Thelema a detailed description of the history of the writing of the various compilations dubbed "The Holy Books", and a description of the circumstances surrounding the reception of "The Book of the Law". The book includes Liber Causae (which is not a Holy Book), describing the foundation story of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and its subsequent dissolution (it is, however, reincarnated in various forms these days).

If you have money to spend on a religious or mystical book, this is definately THE one to buy.

The Holy books of Thelema stand quite apart from the technical works Crowley wrote throughout his life. They were "received" or channeled if you will, rather than developed by Crowley's ego (by which I mean his mortal psyche). Every Liber is a gem, proving to anyone who reads them with an open mind that Crowley was a true prophet. Within you will find not only the Book of the Law, but the Liber Lapis Lazuli and the Book of the Heart Gird Round by the Serpent. The latter is a spiritual masterpiece equal to Liber AL. I reccomend that the Holy Books be read slowly, perhaps a passage at a time. That way, they'll sink in.