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Masks of the Illuminati
WHAT BEGAN AS A SIMPLE
SCHOLARLY PURSUIT ENDS IN A
WAKING NIGHTMARE...
Sir John Babcock, endowed with wealth and a healthy dose of curiosity, has stumbled on to an ancient order. With what he now knows, there will be no turning back. Even if he wants to. Not after he is trained as an initiate and knows of their perverted lusts—and their murders. Not even when growing terror sends him, trembling through Europe, trying to stop the unstoppable.
Neither the unknown physics professor, Albert Einstein, nor the wild and obscure lrishman, James Joyce, and certainly not Sir John, can grapple with Aleister Crowley and his ancient, terrible order.
An international order of beings so horrifying that it defies human imagination—almost....
An order based in hell and determined to rule the world with evil—forever.
For once you have looked them full
in the face, there is no turning away from the...
MASKS OF THE ILLUMINATI
SCHOLARLY PURSUIT ENDS IN A
WAKING NIGHTMARE...
Sir John Babcock, endowed with wealth and a healthy dose of curiosity, has stumbled on to an ancient order. With what he now knows, there will be no turning back. Even if he wants to. Not after he is trained as an initiate and knows of their perverted lusts—and their murders. Not even when growing terror sends him, trembling through Europe, trying to stop the unstoppable.
Neither the unknown physics professor, Albert Einstein, nor the wild and obscure lrishman, James Joyce, and certainly not Sir John, can grapple with Aleister Crowley and his ancient, terrible order.
An international order of beings so horrifying that it defies human imagination—almost....
An order based in hell and determined to rule the world with evil—forever.
For once you have looked them full
in the face, there is no turning away from the...
MASKS OF THE ILLUMINATI
294 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
About the author
Robert Anton Wilson
128 books1,590 followersRobert Anton Wilson became, at various times, an American novelist, essayist, philosopher, polymath, psychonaut, futurist, libertarian and self-described agnostic mystic. Recognized as an Episkopos, Pope, and Saint of Discordianism by Discordians who care to label him as such, Wilson helped publicize the group/religion/melee through his writings, interviews, and strolls.
He described his work as an "attempt to break down conditioned associations, to look at the world in a new way, with many models recognized as models or maps, and no one model elevated to the truth."
"My goal is to try to get people into a state of generalized agnosticism, not agnosticism about God alone but agnosticism about everything."
He described his work as an "attempt to break down conditioned associations, to look at the world in a new way, with many models recognized as models or maps, and no one model elevated to the truth."
"My goal is to try to get people into a state of generalized agnosticism, not agnosticism about God alone but agnosticism about everything."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
January 11, 2021
Как бы не лучший детектив, что мне приходилось читать, гениальный развлекательный роман - превосходный, очень ловко сделанный, разнообразный и дразнящий. Он параллелен Пинчону и Умберто Эко, провозвестник Нила Стивенсона и Алана Мура.
Заканчивается все чудесной кроулианской мистерией, якобы под галлюциногенами в шампанском, но в ней дивно мешаются наука и мистика, квантовая теория и магия, относительность и эзотерика, подчеркивая еще раз, что они мало чем друг от дружки отличаются. Результатом ее в поэтическом мире РЭУ станут всеобщая теория поля, "Улисс" и "Финнеганы", и это нечеловечески прекрасная поэзия, конечно. РЭУ гуманист и романтик, каких немного в литературе.
Оказалось, лет 20 назад он выходил по-русски, но я не верю в ру-перевод, чесгря, потому что он предваряется таким вот замечанием "От издателя": "Роман «Маски иллюминатов», открывающий знаменитую уилсоновскую фантастическую эпопею, публикуется с незначительными сокращениями". Здесь содержится как минимум одна глупость: никакую "эпопею" он не "открывает", это отдельностоящий роман, - и замечание про сокращения очень сильно настораживает, потому что необязательных длиннот я в нем не обнаружил. Надо думать, неведомые мне "издательский дом Янус" и переводчик Максим Чеботарев считали себя умнее автора.
Заканчивается все чудесной кроулианской мистерией, якобы под галлюциногенами в шампанском, но в ней дивно мешаются наука и мистика, квантовая теория и магия, относительность и эзотерика, подчеркивая еще раз, что они мало чем друг от дружки отличаются. Результатом ее в поэтическом мире РЭУ станут всеобщая теория поля, "Улисс" и "Финнеганы", и это нечеловечески прекрасная поэзия, конечно. РЭУ гуманист и романтик, каких немного в литературе.
Оказалось, лет 20 назад он выходил по-русски, но я не верю в ру-перевод, чесгря, потому что он предваряется таким вот замечанием "От издателя": "Роман «Маски иллюминатов», открывающий знаменитую уилсоновскую фантастическую эпопею, публикуется с незначительными сокращениями". Здесь содержится как минимум одна глупость: никакую "эпопею" он не "открывает", это отдельностоящий роман, - и замечание про сокращения очень сильно настораживает, потому что необязательных длиннот я в нем не обнаружил. Надо думать, неведомые мне "издательский дом Янус" и переводчик Максим Чеботарев считали себя умнее автора.
October 10, 2015
A wonderful, brilliant novel. Erudite, fun, psychedelic, all-brow and all around awesome. Highly recommended for anyone into Detective Fiction, Metaphysical or Surreal storylines/narratives, conspiracies, Classic Literature, James Joyce, Albert Einstein, Aleister Crowley, History, etc. Put this on your TBR.
December 23, 2009
A clever metaphysical detective story masquerading as a Gothic horror, this book casts James Joyce and Albert Einstein as its super-sleuths, with the two trading off the roles of Sherlock Holmes and Watson as the plot demands it. The sinister Aleister Crowley is also integral to the plot, acting as their Moriarty-like foil.
Though set in pre-WWI Europe, this novel shares many themes and concepts with Wilson's other works (generally set in the mid-to-late twentieth century.) There is the familiar fascination with secret societies and magickal rites, conspiracies and manipulation, the benevolent hidden within the frightening, and scientific illumination masquerading as the supernatural. And, while occasionally dry and drawn out, most of it is also extremely funny.
Though set in pre-WWI Europe, this novel shares many themes and concepts with Wilson's other works (generally set in the mid-to-late twentieth century.) There is the familiar fascination with secret societies and magickal rites, conspiracies and manipulation, the benevolent hidden within the frightening, and scientific illumination masquerading as the supernatural. And, while occasionally dry and drawn out, most of it is also extremely funny.
November 8, 2007
This book scared me so much when I first read it that I've more or less blocked it out of my mind.
May 22, 2016
"Maybe we're just drunk, Joyce said[.]"
4/5 would fnord again.
4/5 would fnord again.
November 23, 2022
One of the best mystery novels. The connections to the occult and counter-culture are plentiful. I've taken notes while reading and researched the many real-world references.
November 18, 2010
"Who profits? Who else but the Devil?" he answered rhetorically, giving vent to the kind of unwholesome laugh that makes people move away uncomfortably.
"If you listen to seemingly dull people very closely, you'll see that they're all mad in different and interesting ways, and are merely struggling to hide it."
"If you listen to seemingly dull people very closely, you'll see that they're all mad in different and interesting ways, and are merely struggling to hide it."
June 19, 2016
Very entertaining, though the final scene is a bit over-dramatic.
Clever - Foucault's Pendulum meets Ulysses, except that Foucault's Pendulum hadn't been written yet.... Then, historical psychological conspiracy.
Clever - Foucault's Pendulum meets Ulysses, except that Foucault's Pendulum hadn't been written yet.... Then, historical psychological conspiracy.
September 16, 2007
A good historical fiction reworking of RAW's main thematic interests. Not as good as Illuminatus or the Cat trilogies but thought provoking and well written.
March 6, 2011
Herrlich absurd.
October 31, 2012
I love this book and return to it often.
March 3, 2008
I read this book when I was in high school and there are passages that still keep me up late at night just thinking about them, even though the last time I read it was maybe about eight years ago. Two years ago, when the NY Times Book Review was trotting out the usual suspects for its list of the greatest novels of the late twentieth century, I said this should have been on it, and I stand by that. Easily the best, most tightly constructed novel Wilson ever wrote.
Here's an extremely short recap: A man walks in on James Joyce and Albert Einstein and, over the course of the story, we learn of the terrors he has suffered at the hands of Aleister Crowley, who even now is closing in on him.
Here's an extremely short recap: A man walks in on James Joyce and Albert Einstein and, over the course of the story, we learn of the terrors he has suffered at the hands of Aleister Crowley, who even now is closing in on him.
March 29, 2011
Very fun read. A tad indulgent at times but, for the most part, I recommend it. You will especially like it if you are interested in secret societies, nature of reality,magic, Aleister Crowley, OTO, Golden Dawn, cabbala, poetry, relativity. It works OK as just a mystery.
April 9, 2013
The mystery isn't very mysterious, and the ersatz Joyce passages are tedious, though there is some amusement in the book. Go read Wilson's Illuminatus! trilogy instead, or almost anything else he's written. I love old Bob, but this is a weaker work. (Second read, ~ 17 years after the first)
January 14, 2014
Not as overtly mind-blowing as the Illuminatus! Trilogy, but a nevertheless fun read that manages to explore early 20th century Hermeticism, psychology, and related topics.
October 8, 2014
Albert Einstein and James Joyce team up to investigate conspiracies. Yes.
July 2, 2013
There's really only one vein of Wilsonerei, and you either like it or you don't. I do. RAW was one of my major influences.
As a member of the species, Masks of the Illuminati is less deep and heartwrenching than the Illuminatus! trilogy, but more sound and interesting than Prometheus Rising.
This one involves Jung, Einstein, and Joyce solving an occult mystery and helping a Young Man Who Got In Over His Head. Aleister Crowley makes an appearance.
Wilson's good at fake-Joyce. I enjoy it. He's one of the few people I know who reads Joyce the way I do -- not in hushed voice and on bended knee, but lightly and laughing.
I never found the Golden Dawn/Masonic junk appealing, but if it is crack to you (as it is to many) you'll find plenty of material.
These books need illustrating badly, by some collage-happy guy like Coulthart who knows from Beardsley and Hapshash.
As a member of the species, Masks of the Illuminati is less deep and heartwrenching than the Illuminatus! trilogy, but more sound and interesting than Prometheus Rising.
This one involves Jung, Einstein, and Joyce solving an occult mystery and helping a Young Man Who Got In Over His Head. Aleister Crowley makes an appearance.
Wilson's good at fake-Joyce. I enjoy it. He's one of the few people I know who reads Joyce the way I do -- not in hushed voice and on bended knee, but lightly and laughing.
I never found the Golden Dawn/Masonic junk appealing, but if it is crack to you (as it is to many) you'll find plenty of material.
These books need illustrating badly, by some collage-happy guy like Coulthart who knows from Beardsley and Hapshash.
June 6, 2017
Abhorrently written.
Incoherent, jumbled ideas, a laughably lame plot twist that appears to have been made up on the spot. The list of things wrong with this goes on and on.
In almost all his works there is a virginal initiate who thinks of nothing but sex, and it is just tedious at this point.
All of these would be forgivable if not for the fact often paragraphs are disconnected, which again would be forgivable if not for having no grammar and looking like this was the point in the evening where he got really drunk whilst writing.
All in all I now have no idea how his books were even published in the first place.
And does he really have any other ideas other than the one trumpeted one about duality? It would seem not. One trick pony Bob and the effort to point out the blasted Observer effect on Duality strikes again!
Incoherent, jumbled ideas, a laughably lame plot twist that appears to have been made up on the spot. The list of things wrong with this goes on and on.
In almost all his works there is a virginal initiate who thinks of nothing but sex, and it is just tedious at this point.
All of these would be forgivable if not for the fact often paragraphs are disconnected, which again would be forgivable if not for having no grammar and looking like this was the point in the evening where he got really drunk whilst writing.
All in all I now have no idea how his books were even published in the first place.
And does he really have any other ideas other than the one trumpeted one about duality? It would seem not. One trick pony Bob and the effort to point out the blasted Observer effect on Duality strikes again!
March 12, 2017
"Have we really been sitting here laughing like fools for three or four hours?"
"Something like that."
"Is it over yet?"
"I don't think so - do you see what I see?"
Thus the curtain falls on this novel whose sequel is the writing of Ulysses. An excellent - and literary - variation on the "I received instructions from Future Me on how to build this time machine, which has become commonplace in his era thanks to my invention" narrative loop.
Another one that I first read around 1990, and that holds up surprisingly well after all these years.
July 12, 2012
I don't even know. The occultist/conspiracy trend in literature from the later 20th century confuses me. On one level, this book could be valuable as a criticism of closed-mindedness or something else more elaborate than that that I don't really want to specify further at the moment. On the other hand, it could be ridiculous. At the very least, it was a fun read.
October 11, 2013
A brilliant brain exercise disguised as a novel.
The mish-mash of ideas and the imagining of iconic figures in odd situations is a supremely fun read, and I'll probably reread it again some day. Love how he uses the gothic and conspiracy elements as a smokescreen for a practical guide to relativity.
I haven't read any RAW in years and this was a perfect reintroduction.
The mish-mash of ideas and the imagining of iconic figures in odd situations is a supremely fun read, and I'll probably reread it again some day. Love how he uses the gothic and conspiracy elements as a smokescreen for a practical guide to relativity.
I haven't read any RAW in years and this was a perfect reintroduction.
December 23, 2014
Probably Wilson's most straightforward novel in terms of narrative flow, but it still holds up on re-reading. Full of background information on the occult movement, and biographical details of Aleister Crowley. The passages written in the style of Joyce are well-done, and the final section is particularly memorable.
October 8, 2012
Not nearly as good as The Illuminatus Trilogy or The Schrodinger's Cat Trilogy, but still good wholesome fun for the whole family.
March 4, 2009
Fascinating book. Entertaining and thought provoking, although at times it made my brain hurt.
April 6, 2008
The only book that pits Albert Einstein and James Joyce against the forces of darkness and conspiracy…or does it?
A puzzle of a book.
A puzzle of a book.
March 10, 2009
It's been a long time since Iread this, but it's a book I've been interested in re-reading.
April 10, 2009
Nice weird book by Mr. Wilson. In the same vein as the Illuminatus Trilogy, not as good, much weirder. Not a bad read atall, which is by the way my favorite Pacific Island.
August 12, 2011
fascinating, informative, entertaining, thought provoking, witty, wow.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews