Product Description'The biggest sci-fi cult novel to come along since Dune.'--The Village Voice.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Dated but interesting
'The Illuminatus Trilogy' by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson, is a cult classic of speculative fiction. 'Trilogy' implies three books and in fact the novel was originally published as three volumes to save on printing costs (cf. The Lord of the Rings) but is really one continuous story. The three parts are:'The Eye in the Pyramid', The Golden Apple' and 'Leviathan'. The novel, published in 1975 is a satire of modern conspiracy theories.
It is a difficult read as Wilson and Shea shift characters, ... Read More
Rating: - Wilson makes me wonder why I read anyone else
This is the most brilliant work of fiction that I have ever read and I read a lot. It may be too strange or complex for some. It is not an easy read because of all the various intersecting plot lines, but it definitely worth the effort. I've already read seven of his books and I'm working on the eighth now.
Rating: - Well...
To be honest, I bought the book many years ago, after it came highly recommended by a friend. I did not read any reviews before I started reading it, because I wanted to keep an open mind. And oh boy, was I in for a surprise. I really, really, really tried to stick to it, but all I could get through was the first 130 pages. I must say that once in a while the narrative is quite interesting, but... Overall, it seems like the book was written by a undermedicated paranoid schizophrenic, who's been smoking something ... Read More
Rating: - Serious Problems but a Great Read
People tend to come down hard on this book....meandering plot (to be generous), shifting narrative, style, and its drunken trot through conspiracy theories. All of this is true but I fear the readers who argue this are missing the essential truth....it's one helluva read/trip through the intellectual underground of paranoia.
If the reader could let themself go and allow the narrative carry them along this is a great experience. This isn't what I would call 'serious literature' in the classical sense ... Read More
Rating: - This doesn't work!
No, this doesn't work - far from it, I'm surprised it has even been released. Foremost the plot doesn't make sense, it seems like a cross between "X-files", "Das Boat" and "The Da Vinci Code" on speed and then it doesn't seem to have been beta-red (or even delta- or gamma red) at all.
It might have been a good story if someone had sat down and made an efford in editing it, chunking off dead meat, killing darlings, tying together plots and sorting out unnessesary spin offs and characters.
- Dated but interesting
- Wilson makes me wonder why I read anyone else
- Well...
