The ILLUMINATUS! Trilogy
 

Has anyone read these books? I have heard people speak of them in revered and hused tones which makes me want to read it. It looks, from my vantage point, like a mix between Douglas Adams and Umberto Eco which is a mixture I would generally avoid. Whose read it and what do you think? Thanks for any info.

I've read them, very interesting...sometimes very confusing,
although I like the symbolism & implications/interconnectivity of them.

I also have a better series based on the Illuminati and by Robert Anton Wilson,
"The Historical Illuminatus Chronicles"
start with Vol. 1 "The Earth Will Shake"

If you do like Umberto Eco
read his book Foucault's Pendulum
It is very much like this trilogy, but much more "realistic", less "cartoonish".

And also try for background reference to both sagas,
Aleister Crowley's "The Book of Thoth"

I also recommend "Two Crowns for America" by Katherine Kurtz
a fictional story about how the Founding Fathers were influenced by the masonic establishment,
and how their teachings influence American principles & symbolism
and the creation of the nation.

Get ready to use every reference and piece of knowledge you have ever seen & heard
to see how everything connects together.

Enjoy.

The Illuminatus Trilogy is a must read. This thread could easily be moved into humor or paranoia and still be on topic. I used it as my bible in my cynical youth.
Dito on 'The Earth Will Shake' though I didn't realize there were further volumes in the series.

While reading this, you may want to keep a notepad handy, especially for the first book. Damn thing jumps around like a 4 year old on crank.

Make sure your fingers are lubed before trying the "One Man Band". :D

Hey, I own that book! Maybe I'll read that now that someone has recommended it.

Foucault's Pendulum is an awesome book. I loved it. :thumbsup:

I believe Vol. 2 is called the "The Widow's Son"

However it's packed away right now since the move and I can't confirm it.

Best books I have ever read. Non-stop action and real twisted story lines.

The Illuminatus Trilogy was great. I also enjoyed Schrodinger's Cat, also by Robert Antob Wilson.

Illuminatus! is an excellent work, but it's certainly not for everyone. It's a difficult read, like a zany version of James Joyce. But if you have a mind for esotirica, history, and conspiracy I highly recommend it.
The Historical Illuminatus Chronicles, on the other hand, is a little easier on the brain - the first volume, "The Earth Will Shake" is a pretty straightforward novel, the second "The Widow's Son" is a little stranger, and the third "Nature's God" is a return to high weirdness. Sadly, Wilson has yet to conclude this series.
I do not recommend "Schrodinger's Cat" (each chapter of which takes place in a different alternate dimension) unless you liked Illuminatus!.

sk

I enjoyed the Trilogy greatly, and your Douglas Adams meets Umberto Eco is probably pretty accurate, if you also add in Letters to Penthouse Fourm.

Go to a Barnes & Noble, they usually have a copy in the Science Fiction & Fantasy section. Sit down, read it for a half hour, then buy it or put it back.

Don't forget pornography. Very zany. If you can get into the groove very enjoyable.

Now that's a funny image.

Haven't read the trilogy, but I've heard Wilson's very much a product of the 60's drug culture, kind of like Thomas Pynchon (maybe someone can validate or refute this).

Although I consider Pynchon to be an excellent writer, which is probably why I can get through some of his stranger plot threads. Can't say the same for Wilson, I hear more about his zany style than amazing prose.

But I shouldn't pass judgement 'til I read his work.

This is easily my favorite book(s) of all time. RAW is a master - I'm glad some of you have read the historical series too - I think they're out of print now.

fnord

I enjoyed them, try also reading the Davinci Code and Angels and Demons by I think Dan Brown. Lots of Illuminati, Catholic Church references and symbology.

I would stick to HP Lovecraft if I were you.

Classic American, and very under-rated, horror author.


Mr Mephisto

Bah... repeat post.

Ditto

This Book is amazing, It seems like I can retrace the current direction of my interests back to that book which I read like 2 years ago. This book will teach you how to think. The only way to describe it is insanity to the nth.

Illuminatus is my favorite of Wilsons books to read, although I think his two most important are Prometheus Rising and Cosmic Trigger I

Tips for reading:
Like Roadrage said, keep a notebook handy, if nothing else just write down the names and a few notes of the characters, because there are so many (they are still being introduced halfway through) that it is totally overwhelming trying to remember all the names.
Too many people give up reading this book because they cant get unconfused. You WILL be confused while reading it (especially the first time), but you are still learning alot (trust me). Eventually you will get a feel for the the fact that you cant really get the feel of this book ;) Just dont give up because you feel like you are too lost to continue.

fantastic book! i picked it up in college to read even though i wasnt in the class that had it as part of curriculum. it just grabbed me when i read the back cover. havent read it in years and this thread may make me go find it and give it a whirl. confusing, yes, definitely, but my advise is dont force meaning as you read it. dont try and control where the story goes as far as your predictions. just hang on and enjoy the ride. its more of a story that you'll get more from after you've finished.

I read the whole trilogy at work (used to work nights watching a place that seldom went anywhere) by the end the co workers were divided- half wanted to try to read it, the other half wanted to have me commited- its a helluva read if you can get through it- just having finished it puts you in a select group- few can manage its twists and dangerous turns-

i loved the pee out of this book, but I got to admit it took me like 5 times to get thru the first 200 some odd pages. No real distinction of who is speaking, no real chapters... but conspiracy fun none the less :)

wait oscar, what the hell class had Illuminatus! as part of the curriculum??

Yeah it took me a couple times to get past the first 200 pages or so too. Probably wouldnt have if I had been keeping a list of names.

I'm still not sure what i read or if it actually makes sense. It's certainly different. Xim is right - keep going until the back cover. Probably need to read it under the influence of controlled substances like the author appear to have been when they wrote it.

That's a very common reaction. In fact, it may be the correct one.

You can also acquire a copy of the Principia Discordia relatively easily, and there are free copies of this holy text online.

I loved the Illuminatus Trilogy and have been dying to read it again recently. It seemed to combine absolutely everything I'm interested in into one book. It was a bit hard to keep my suspense of disbelief toward the very end of it, though.

I haven't read any of RAW's other work, but I really think I should if I enjoyed Illuminatus! so much. I just wish the book stores around me carried them...

I stumbeled across Discordianism in the "new religions" section of Wikipedia. And Im impressed. Finally a religion I like :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discordianism

and a very cool version of the Principia Discordia
http://www.principiadiscordia.com/

the trilogy is hilarious.
it is the funniest thing i have encountered since i stumbled across the church of the subgenius.

i dont think it has any real resemblance to eco.

fnord.