Join My Cult
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| Author | James Curcio |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Satire, Novel |
| Publisher | New Falcon Publications |
| Released | November 2004 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 256 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 1-56184-173-0 |
Join My Cult is a subversive, satirical novel written by James Curcio and released by New Falcon Publications (publisher of some notable counter-culture authors such Robert Anton Wilson, Timothy Leary, and Aleister Crowley). It is a work of collaborative fiction based on real events. In a subsequent interview the author said the book was meant to be a prologue.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Overview
Many have likened Join My Cult!'s non-linear or cut-up style to Thomas Pynchon, William Burroughs, and Robert Anton Wilson. Also like the works of these authors, there have been heated debates about its cultural value or lack thereof.[2]
Various plot elements focus on groups of suburban kids experimenting with shamanism and hallucinogens, who quickly realize they're "no longer in Kansas." It details events surrounding their harrowing plunge into this abyss. Curcio utilizes atypical narrative and grammatical structures in the form of neurolinguistic and hypnotic confusion techniques within the text in an effort to stimulate a similar experience over the course of reading. That Curcio was intentionally utilizing these techniques is shown in various interviews such as a Gpod radio interview found on his website. [3]
It was later revealed in a free online sample of his upcoming book Fallen Nation: Babylon Burning that Join My Cult! was written by the character Agent139 while in a mental asylum with the intention of driving his doctors insane. [4] The monikers "139" and "Agent139" have been utilized by memebearers of a dis-organization which has reportedly been in operation since 1995, and has been linked to Curcio and his disparate circle of friends.
[edit] About The Author
Born Jamie Curcio (July 9, 1978, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Curcio has published numerous novels, graphic novels, essays, albums and podcasts independently as well as through Disinfo, New Falcon, JIVE_Magazine, Immanion Press, and New Fiction.
Many of these projects use heavily applied viral marketing, and deal with issues relating to myth, consciousness and identity.
[edit] Criticisms
Outside of the official reviews, which almost without exception were positive,[5] Join My Cult has been the subject of much criticism, for being heavy handed, pretentious, or incoherent. Much of this argument seems to have helped to fuel the sales of this counterculture book, which have led some to believe that Curcio may have had a hand in the nay saying. [6]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Freq23 Interview
- ^ e.g. Ashe Journal Review.
- ^ Gpod Interview with Joseph Matheny
- ^ Fallen Nation excerpt
- ^ e.g. Jive Magazine review
- ^ e.g. Amazon Reviews
[edit] References
- Curcio, James (2004). Join My Cult. New Falcon Publications. ISBN 1-56184-173-0
[edit] External links
- Join My Cult!
- The New Falcon site of the book
- Author's site
- Phone interview for Frequency23 about mythology, and upcoming projects
- Panel discussion with Curcio and other authors at Alex Grey's Chapel of Sacred Mirrors on issues of magick, culture and counter-culture.
