Member: paradoxosalpha

I just got around to your comment about Diana Vaughan on the Great God Pan thread. Wonderful stuff.

posted by slickdpdx at 2:39 pm (EST) on Feb 8, 2012

Yeah, it's my first. His work sounds very intriguing - looking forward to checking it out.

posted by artturnerjr at 12:51 pm (EST) on Dec 29, 2011

Looks like they have a copy of Cabell's THE SILVER STALLION at a local college library. I think I'm going to make it part of a TBR challenge I'm in for 2012.

posted by artturnerjr at 10:15 am (EST) on Dec 29, 2011

Sho nuff. It appears to be reprints of whatever extant issues they had on hand, plus essays.

posted by Kikhos_ba-Midhbar at 6:51 pm (EST) on Nov 17, 2011

Glad to hear it! I got the fanciful history lesson at the Masonic tour in Detroit. I wanted to clear away the cobwebs but lacked a broom.

posted by Kikhos_ba-Midhbar at 8:52 am (EST) on Oct 26, 2011

Alles klar.

posted by Kikhos_ba-Midhbar at 11:27 pm (EST) on Oct 21, 2011

Thanks for thumbing my review. I would have given a more nuanced appraisal of Sapir-Whorf, but I admit to not being that up to speed on linguistic relativity. I remember our TESOL lecturer being somewhat disdainful of Sapir-Whorf, and I also got the idea that it was 'disproved' from this review of Babel-17 by Jo Walton, which does a much better job of describing the book than I did, though Walton apparently also isn't as up to date on linguistic relativity.

posted by dmsteyn at 10:29 am (EST) on Sep 23, 2011

Yes, and I'm binging right now. Any recommendations?

posted by Kikhos_ba-Midhbar at 3:17 pm (EST) on Sep 17, 2011

We aren't really competing . . . it's just how I keep my Ape of Thoth from monkeying in the important stuff.

posted by Kikhos_ba-Midhbar at 6:40 pm (EST) on Sep 13, 2011

No matter how many books I have, you have more, Brother! I feel like Lou Ferrigno to your Arnold Schwarzenegger in Pumping Iron.

posted by Kikhos_ba-Midhbar at 11:56 pm (EST) on Sep 12, 2011

Great review of River of Gods; I can't wait to read it.
Thanks!

posted by one-horse_library at 8:00 pm (EST) on Aug 3, 2011

I think we did meet at the Occult bookstore in Chicago. Sorry for the delay in replying, I go through spurts with Library Thing.

posted by tandu at 2:31 am (EST) on Jul 9, 2011

Heh. Thanks for clarifying.

posted by Carnophile at 10:00 am (EST) on Jun 28, 2011

"Absurdum est ut credam sed credo quia absurdus sum" is translated by Google Translate as "Absurd, but I believe in because it is absurd to believe that I am"

Huh?

posted by Carnophile at 10:20 pm (EST) on Jun 27, 2011

How about "Dare pondus idonea fumo"?

posted by Khem_Caigan at 10:51 am (EST) on Jun 27, 2011

Just so there is no confusion...Daniel's biographer, erroneously thinking Belteshazzer was the son of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel's captor, imagined this dream hundreds of years later in order to provide a backdrop for Daniel to prophesy about events happening in his biographer's age. Daniel's apocalyptic dream interpretation is one more retelling of recent history with another dreamy ending that didn't materialize as expected. :)

Kudos to Daniel for being more original than Revelation, though!

posted by DubiousDisciple at 9:03 am (EST) on Jun 24, 2011

Hmmm. As a dreamer and philosopher, you leave me in the dust. And yet, I'm not sure the romantic idea of apocalyptic literature as truly "visionary" is earned. Revelation's ideas are hardly unique for its time, and apocalyptic literature had become such a fad that I'm uncertain whether it can be considered more than a copycat bestseller. Most of Revelation's contemporary "visionary" literature has been exposed as the creative retelling of recent history, so why consider Revelation any exception to the rule? Because the second half of Revelation delves into a long-held Hebrew dream of political redemption? But this type of history-rewriting with a dreamy ending dates back to the time of Ezekiel. I think, in the end, I'm pretty content with my boring historical derivation. :)

I was right; this became a fascinating discussion. Again, thanks for more great reading suggestions!

posted by DubiousDisciple at 6:44 pm (EST) on Jun 23, 2011

Some great book recommendations, thank you!

We may be more in agreement than otherwise on the topic of myth. You say, "When I talk about the "myth" in Revelation, I don't mean its debt to ancient pagan religious literature, I mean the way it uses narrative and image to address a numinous core of human experience." I recognize this in more than the apocalyptic literature of the time, and you've made me curious to dig further into this side of Revelation.

I'm curious about your reference to the "vision state." I am obligated to point out that when one takes the effort to track down the literally hundreds of references within Revelation to Hebrew scripture, both in and out of the Bible, it becomes overwhelmingly clear that Revelation is a masterpiece exceedingly carefully constructed to relate the prophetic scene to the current day (John's day). While it's possible that John did indeed experience visions, his book is written with brow furrowed and open scripture in front of him.

You said, "While I share your curiosity about positive history, I don't think that's where we can find the value in a text like this one." Thankfully, we don't have to. It wasn't written to us, so we are able to focus on its literary genius. But first-century Christians surely saw the connection to the times, and that's the focus of my book. :) And actually, I suspect you agree. You don't mention the primary bad guy of Revelation (Nero Caesar) in your review, so I take it that connection goes without saying.

p.s., my book has no ratings below three stars on any other forums, the most common rating is still five stars, yet here on Librarything there's nothing above three stars! You LT readers are tough!

posted by DubiousDisciple at 8:18 am (EST) on Jun 23, 2011

Fascinating review of my book, paradoxosalpha, though I'm of course disappointed in a two-star rating. Odd, this book has great ratings elsewhere but is really getting beat up on librarything.com.

At least you didn't read ten pages, conclude I must be a preterist, and condemn the book as unoriginal. :) That's the goofy review that started the ball rolling, here.

Did I really "skate over" the presentation of Revelation's mythical side? I actually thought I took pains to delve fairly into the astronomy and mythical aspects. Revelation is, on one level, an adaption of an ancient dragon myth to Christianity. I have not read D.H. Lawrence, being more interested in a historical-critical exposition than myth telling, but I take it you do not think the original readers related the "myth" of Revelation to the events going on around them? Do you also think they never related the "Christ myth" of the Gospels to a historical character earlier in the century? Or was first-century religion more of a mystery religion? This could be a very interesting discussion.

Thanks for reading!

Lee Harmon
www.thewayithappened.com

posted by DubiousDisciple at 10:37 pm (EST) on Jun 22, 2011

Thanks for the condolences, ha ha. I was actually cataloguing some old books that I (unfortunately) received for review and didn't survive my attempts to read them.

posted by sturlington at 5:07 pm (EST) on May 19, 2011

yea Mud is not clear though

posted by jenniebooks at 1:09 pm (EST) on Apr 23, 2011

how do I do what you recommended ?

posted by jenniebooks at 10:56 am (EST) on Apr 23, 2011

You may be right. There are a couple of such explanations like this. Creative re-understanding. Misunderstanding. Heavy metal culture. Pagans. Statistically I'm guessing it's one of the last two. A Marduk t-shirt goes a long way.

I wonder, however. I gather you have a lot more actual knowledge in such areas. But in places where religion is strong like that in the US, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see a more sincere interest in "oppositional" religion. I mean, what's the fun of being a satanist in Boston or San Francisco? Nobody would care about what it was you were inverting or rebelling against. And in a queer way you'd just be reinforcing what you opposed. I mean, if a kid in my childhood schools had become a satanist their parents would have been worried about it as a weird religion, not because it inverted religion, which they didn't believe in in the first place. Have you read Witchcraft at Salem? (The author argues that the Salem witch trials had some basis in fact--that witchcraft was practiced in Salem, as it demonstrably was in Europe at the time.)

But then I take my biases to such situations. For me the real destroyer of my faith, philosophy and even aesthetics is atheistic materialism, not divergent conceptions of the divine.

posted by timspalding at 9:24 pm (EST) on Apr 18, 2011

So what's your gut feel about such a Satanist claim?

posted by timspalding at 4:17 pm (EST) on Apr 18, 2011

Glad to hear that! VATHEK is an all-time favorite!

posted by veilofisis at 4:16 pm (EST) on Apr 12, 2011

Thanks for finding my library interesting! Anyone who takes care to define hermetic qabalah is a sure-fire winner in my book...

posted by veilofisis at 2:20 pm (EST) on Apr 12, 2011

Hi, paradoxalpha!

Tim suspended my account and barred me from replying to his last post in What's the point of God thread. We'll leave the justice of that foul deed to him and his deity. Here's what I meant to post:

"I was just trying to find out how petty vindictiveness feels. I don't know, doesn't do anything for me. Sure floats YOUR boat, eh?"

It will keep til Monday for most, but there are a few people who will enjoy the ironies NOW.

:)

posted by LolaWalser at 1:55 pm (EST) on Mar 19, 2011

I have not made a serious study of Russell as yet. I would say that with his apparently complex geometric ideas, oriental motifs, and often obscure presentation he seems like a tough nut to crack. I know that there is a website put together by a couple of people who have been examining his work for a long time. Unfortunately I don’t know anything more about Russell’s time in Chicago that what I have read in published sources about him and about the Choronzon Club. I was initially put off concerning Russell by what I saw in Culling’s book about the G.B.G. (including the supposedly ancient ceramic plaque bearing the word “BABALON” in modern Roman alphabet characters).

posted by hipgnosis at 5:43 pm (EST) on Mar 15, 2011

Thanks - the book is truly enjoyable, you will not regret reading it. Good to see another with a sound assessment of The Last Battle.

posted by A_musing at 9:06 pm (EST) on Mar 9, 2011

I was musing over Balzac's Seraphita this weekend, wondering if it would be worth the effort. Your handy review makes me think it would.

Regards,
Maki

posted by Makifat at 10:21 am (EST) on Feb 7, 2011

Even Anthony and Jordan would be an improvement over Paul. At least Anthony and Jordan have some understanding of how fantasy works and more or less how to put togteher a story. Paul, quite simply, does not. Her fantasy is just a vehicle for the "message". Story, character, writing skill, and setting are all subordinated to that goal. The thing that is truly odd about this sort of obsession with message is that by subordinating all other elements of the book to that goal, the author undermines her ability to actually deliver the message. If Christian authors spent more time working on delivering interesting stories with engaging characters then their goal of conveying their "message" would actually be much better served.

And I normally do steer clear of Christian fiction, but the description of Dragons of the Valley didn't really give much indication that this was what it was. The Early Reviewer description (from what I recall) gave every indication that it was nothing more than a standard young adult fantasy novel. Although it did reveal that it was the second book in a series, it didn't reveal that it was the second book in a prequel series that would be incomprehensible if you hadn't read the original series. Like so many works of Christian fiction, it seems that stealth marketing is the only way they can get people to pick up their books.

posted by StormRaven at 10:32 am (EST) on Jan 10, 2011

Your review of Kripal's The Serpent's Gift is intriguing, and I've added it to my wishlist. There's always too much to read, so I'm pleased to have had your thoughts to chew on in the meantime.

posted by elenchus at 2:56 pm (EST) on Dec 31, 2010

Thank you for your note. Should you get around to the Marcus book at some point in the near future, I hope you enjoy it. I would definitely look forward to reading your thoughts regarding it.

Regards,
Maki

posted by Makifat at 9:20 pm (EST) on Dec 10, 2010

Joscelyn Godwin's Theosophical Enlightenment sounds like it could be interesting...thanks for the recommendations.
Good luck on that book you are writing!

posted by miquixote at 9:42 am (EST) on Nov 30, 2010

Thanks so much for your book recommendation. I will most certainly look into it.

I would like so much though to make an observation concerning your above judgements on atheists:

I have contemplated, listened and read about to the many complex debates of the existence or non-existence of God, Spirit, etc., and I feel there is at least one thing that I can absolutely be sure about: whether one believes in the Rational Enlightenment or the Mysteries of divinity has absolutely nothing to do with whether one buries oneself in fear, guilt, or shame. That sort of inflexible equation of atheists with fear, guilt or shame is called Stereotyping (which is a type of discrimination).

But because an atheist or believer is human and complex, she defies stereotype, and judging or stereotyping atheists on their lack of religion is as bad as judging or stereotyping somebody for their respective religion, race, or sexual choice. Stereotyping is not becoming of someone who claims to be against fear, shame and guilt.

Thanks again!

posted by miquixote at 10:53 pm (EST) on Nov 28, 2010

thanks for the heads-up, but I don't think I'll be checking them out any time soon. :)

posted by one-horse_library at 3:59 pm (EST) on Nov 12, 2010

Dream Harder is a good one: I tend to like the albums preceding it better than those following, but then my taste was shaped from having heard those first, as well. Mike Scott & the Waterboys vary in musical styles, but he's always had a touch of the poetical genius, tending toward the esoteric and sacred traditions. I'll follow him to the end.

Your comment made me realise I didn't write much of Winter's Tale itself. I read it in 2008, I think, before joining LT, but I hope to add something eventually.

posted by elenchus at 10:02 pm (EST) on Jun 2, 2010

The book you recommended seems to be the thing I need. Thank you!

posted by benwaugh at 9:38 am (EST) on May 26, 2010

I am reading the Elizabeth Peters series right now! It's highly entertaining.

I originally found your libary because of the Liturgical Sacramentary of the Apostolic Johannite Church. I see the books we cross on are very similar. Nice to see you on here.

posted by tandu at 12:09 pm (EST) on Apr 19, 2010

We only have 106 in common, but, for me at least, that's more than any other collection.

posted by Kikhos_ba-Midhbar at 2:24 pm (EST) on Mar 13, 2010

Brother, how often do I see that when I add a book in only one other member's library, that member is you!

posted by Kikhos_ba-Midhbar at 5:00 pm (EST) on Mar 11, 2010

Many remerceiments for the precision and the link!

posted by ThomasCWilliams at 9:15 pm (EST) on Feb 26, 2010

I've looked through abebooks and found multiple copies of Feuerbach's Essence of Religion and Essence of Christianity. Are these one and the same? Who is the publisher of the edition you have. Thanks again for the lead. AZB, TCW

posted by ThomasCWilliams at 1:11 am (EST) on Feb 26, 2010

Thanks for the tip. I haven't looked much into Volney's influence on German intellectuals so this is a new lead. This Feuerbach cat must have been some writer to influence both Marx and Nietzsche!

posted by ThomasCWilliams at 8:04 pm (EST) on Feb 25, 2010

The cover is showing in my catalog and on the work page when I go there.

I love those books, too -- how to do magic without using the "m" word. :-) I'm surprised you don't have any Al G. Manning. Solid technique.

posted by PhaedraB at 11:17 am (EST) on Feb 3, 2010

I see you are the only other person with a copy of Ultra-Psychonics. FYI, I just scanned and uploaded a cover for it.

posted by PhaedraB at 5:45 pm (EST) on Feb 2, 2010

Hey there PDA, I do agree it's a bit of a different approach, but am glad you liked it all the same. The internet versions of this letter have been corrupted by the scanning process. This version contains my edits and corrections, making it the only readable version on the internet.

In all events thanks for your feedback. Please accept my humble wishes that you pass an enjoyable Winter Solstice Season!

posted by ThomasCWilliams at 12:05 am (EST) on Dec 19, 2009

That's a reference I've never seen. Many remerciements for pointing it out. An interesting book title too--I'll check it out. Thanks again!

posted by ThomasCWilliams at 1:20 am (EST) on Nov 18, 2009

On Page 1, right after the Life of Volney biosketch, you will find Jefferson's translation of the Invocation: "Hail solitary ruins, holy sepulchres and silent walls! you I invoke; to you I address my prayer." This passes my so-called Acid Test or Point #4. Note that in the preceeding pages, denominated in Roman numerals, the publisher reprints three versions of the Invocation, thus to point out the elegance of what was then referred to as the "Paris Translation" or the "Barlow Translation"--this before Jefferson's involvement in the project came to light. The side-by-side comparison in the Publisher's Preface of these three translations of the Invocation can be a source of confusion. The key is: read the Invocation on Page 1. That is the translation by Thomas Jefferson. Many thanks for your comment which prompted me to more thoroughly describe the opening pages of this edition! AZB, TCW

posted by ThomasCWilliams at 12:13 am (EST) on Oct 2, 2009

Your red-cover 1950 Truth Seeker edition of Volney's "Ruins of Empires" very much IS a copy of the Jefferson-Barlow translation. I own twelve copies myself. Most come with a sturdy nylon wrapper and strong binding. I consider it one of the best Jefferson editions of the last century. And yes, after reading several references to Dupuis' "Origin of all Religion" in both Volney and Jefferson I finally hunted down a Dodo Press edition--what a great book and enjoyable read! Thanks for accepting my friends invitation and, by the way, All Zee Best, TCW

posted by ThomasCWilliams at 10:31 pm (EST) on Oct 1, 2009

FYI vis a vis HPB, etc.
Archaic History of the Human Race as Recorded in The Secret Doctrine by H. P. Blavatsky 1934 - Paperback (Oct 15, 2004) by H. P. Blavatsky and Gertrude W. Van Pelt; Amazon: Buy new: $16.95 $13.22
17 Used & new from $9.96

posted by Naren559 at 5:56 pm (EST) on Sep 24, 2009

I apologize for not responding earlier - I didn't realize how long its been since I signed in. I first read the Sayers version in high school and Mandelbaum in college in the mid-80's. I can't say that I have a preferred version as I think I didn't grasp my first read (lack of maturity). I finally obtained a Longfellow and look forward to finishing it. Have you a preferred translator? 93

posted by Phevos at 9:22 pm (EST) on Sep 22, 2009

Well, the Cabell group is now set up, here: http://www.librarything.com/groups/therabblediscusscabe . Please join unless you don’t want to and spread the word if you know anyone else who might be interested.
I mean to add a photo of the author or a Cabell-related image, but so far have produced only error codes. Also, there is some sort of textual glitch that Forbids the used of the word ‘style’ in Group Descriptions (I know this sounds too weird to be true, but ‘tis so), and in the last paragraph of the Group Description where you see the words ‘forbidden forbidden’ please substitute ‘style.’

posted by Crypto-Willobie at 9:01 pm (EST) on Aug 15, 2009

It'll be a while till I get to Smirt & co especially as I currently lack the first volume of the trilogy-- but I'll get there. The JBC Society (1965-1993?) called it self The Fellowship of the Silver Stallion for its first three years. I tend toward The Rabble myself but will go with the votes when I set it up. Either way I think we should make it '(NameName): James Branch Cabell' or some such, so that people searching 'Cabell' in groups would find it.

posted by Crypto-Willobie at 10:36 am (EST) on Aug 15, 2009

It's not very good. Of course it also depends on what other sources you have available for the Rudolfine court. But, as an example: he compares the liberal attitude of Prague under Rudolf II towards its jewish inhabitants to the expulsion of jews from Spain in 1492 - which is sort of valid I guess. But he then blames that expulsion on emperor Charles V - the guy hadn't even been born yet...

posted by BarkingMatt at 12:25 pm (EST) on Aug 4, 2009

I get lost in your reviews! I have to exert some discipline and avoid the library proper until my chores are done. But just from the reviews, found several titles for my wish list. I really appreciate the time you've taken to post your notes here: can only assume they were written for yourself independently of LT.

posted by elenchus at 11:02 pm (EST) on Jul 1, 2009

Hello Tau Paradoxosalpha:

Thanks for your reply, and I appreciate your comments. An apostolic tradition of the transmission of gnosis does not seem so oxymoronic when one studies Pre-Nicean Christianity, prior to the ascendancy of the more prosaic, so-called orthodox Christianity. As I'm sure you are aware, analogues of this kind of transmission of gnosis is present in other traditions such as Kabbalah, Hermeticism, and the Hellenistic ancient mystery religions, which all rely upon a mentor-student relationship and certain initiatic rituals.

Now that you mention it, though, I have been a bit surprised by claims of apostolic succession by some Thelemite associates of mine. I have to ask a sincere question: Why would this be a point of concern or a mark of legitimacy to a bishop who traces his or her lineage of gnosis to non-Christian or pre-Christian sources (i.e., the teachings of Master To Mega Therion, Aiwass the Minister of Hoor-paar-kraat, Svecchachara etc. etc.)?

Personally, I feel the transmission of gnosis is more about opening one's consciousness to the true nature of reality and our alienated predicament, than the "laying on of hands." Consequently, I tend to take a fairly universal view of the matter, in which true gnosis may be manifest in any number of traditions, cultures and time periods; rising and falling continuously like the alchemical serpent as an interior, revelatory and salvific agency of Light.

Thanks once a gain for your comments!

Best regards,
Aequinoctium
Founder, Gnostic Society of San Antonio
(HOGD 2=9)

posted by Aequinoctium at 2:16 am (EST) on May 2, 2009

Hello Tau Paradoxosalpha:

I wish to express my appreciation for the information you provided on your website at http://www.hermetic.com/dionysos/phylo.htm entitled "Phylogeny of Modern Gnosticism." I am the founder and organizer of the Gnostic Society of San Antonio, Texas, a philosophical discussion group which examines the Gnostic Tradition in both its ancient and modern manifestations. We are an ecumenical group with Christian, Jewish, Sufi, Thelemic and Hermetic Gnostic members. Your "phylogenetic" diagram and comments concerning the interconnections and origins of the various modern Gnostic movements was extremely helpful in untangling this facinating story for us. Thank you for your contributions to this field of study.

Best regards,
Aequinoctium
Founder, Gnostic Society of San Antonio
(HOGD 2=9)

posted by Aequinoctium at 12:46 am (EST) on May 1, 2009

I can't quite agree with the high rating you gave Four Freedoms, but thanks for the exposition on Fourierism -- it explains a lot that puzzled me about the book.

posted by MuseofIre at 7:07 pm (EST) on Apr 13, 2009

paragoric
Cold is the ogre which drives all beautiful things into hiding. Below the surface of a frost-bound (you know it well) garden there lurk hidden bulbs which are only biding their time to burst forth in a riot of laughing color (unless the gardner has planted them upsidedown)[you again] but shivering nature dare not put forth her flowers till the ogre has gone. Not otherwise does cold supress love. A man in an open cart on any spring night may continue to be in love, but love is not the emotion uppermost in his bosom. It shrinks within him and waits for better times.

posted by Porius at 12:29 am (EST) on Dec 22, 2008

hello again
the less paradoxosalpha,he.

posted by Porius at 2:24 am (EST) on Dec 16, 2008

hello
maybe the fool will understand as many as he deserves to?!

posted by Porius at 1:28 am (EST) on Dec 15, 2008

Couldn't remember if I ever thanked you for the cover upload of Richard Tierney's "The Winds of Zarr". Anyway, thank you.

posted by SRHarbin at 10:16 am (EST) on Jun 14, 2008