England's Hidden Reverse: Coil, Current 93, Nurse With Would: A Secret History of the Esoteric Underground
by David Keenan
*****
Wonderfully engaging and informative dossier on England's counterculture music scene that emerged post-punk. Primarily follows the three pillars of Coil, Current 93, and Nurse With Wound, with significant cultural analysis and personal—even spiritual—stories.
We Don't Go Back: A Watchers Guide to Folk Horror
by Howard David Ingham
***
3 stars as a series of blog posts, but 2 1/2 stars as a book. Reads like a collection of blog posts, which it is. Some really good cultural analysis on some of the films.
Diary of a Drug Fiend
by Aleister Crowley
***
Some grammatical choices are bothersome and take you out of the story, but it's written so in line with the subject matter you'd swear the author was on cocaine and heroine while writing it.
Of Cosmogonic Eros
by Ludwig Klages
***
Excellent craftmanship on the book by Theion Publishing. A high quality translation of one of Klages seminal works.
Journeys Out of the Body
by Robert A. Monroe
***
2 1/2 stars. Less scientific than Monroe portrays. Mostly a collection of journal entries, speculation, and attempts to seem scientific. Better technique instructions can be found elsewhere.
The Tango Song
by Aleister Crowly & Bernard F. Page
****
Mandrake Press Limited edition with a reprint of the Tango short play from the Equinox and the sheet music. Finely hand-crafted. The play is a short but effective example of privileged, fevered desire.
Black Orchid
by Neil Gaiman
***
3 1/2 stars. The art is spectacular—if a little hard to follow. The story is mostly a setup for the ongoing series, so it lacks some of the depth in other Gaiman tales.
Forward the Foundation
by Isaac Asimov
*****
Probably 4 1/2 stars. There were some moments where events just magically aligned, but overall, this was a satisfying conclusion to the series that takes you to the formulation of the Seldon Plan and the two Foundations. More satisfying when read last in the series.
The Kybalion: A Study of The Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece
by Three Initiates
****
The principles themselves are wonderfully consolidated, pragmatic, and usable. The book has two chapters that drone on unnecessarily. Quality side table book in the same category as the Tao Te Ching, etc.
The Master Key System
by Charles F. Haanel
***
New Thought goodness, Americanized, and wrapped in some Christian principles. Contains minor financial sector apologetics. Could have been much shorter.
Occult America: The Secret History of How Mysticism Conquered America
by Mitch Horowitz
***
Broad, but shallow review of the occult and New Thought movements and influences in American culture and governance. There are some chapters that really shine, but others that only chip away at a subject. Feels like the book could have benefited from a hundred more pages of details.
The Flying Saucer Gambit: Agent of T.E.R.R.A. #1
by Larry Maddock
***
This was fun. I'm surprised this wasn't more popular at the time. Short, but well thought out pulp science fiction dealing with time travel authorities. Great name for the main protagonist too: Hannibal Fortune.
Selected Letters: The Private Writings of the Master of the Macabre
by Arthur Machen
**
Offers insight, but you only get one side of the conversation. Read specifically for the letters to A.E. Waite.
The Old Weird Albion
by Justin Hopper
***
I'm a sucker for walking/hiking/travel books. This one has an occult/folklore flair to it—expertly written by a poet. Quick read. The first half is better than the last half.
The Golden Dawn Legacy of MacGregor Mathers
by Darcy Kuntz
***
Read for Ithell Colquhoun's essay. Nice collection of thoughts on S.L. MacGregor Mathers—excellently edited.
Prelude to Foundation
by Isaac Asimov
****
More action than the previous two books, but it feels like we're being taken around in circles in order to get a view of Trantor more than moving psychohistory forward.
Everything Keeps Dissolving: Conversations with Coil
by Nick Soulsby
****
Five stars if not for the repetitive nature of collecting interviews. Quite simply a phenomenal look at Coil throughout the decades. Informative, inspiring, and solumn at times.