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| Dawn of Remembered Spring by Jesse Stuart-Collection of short stories with a snake theme by rural Kentucky author Jesse Stuart. This was a favorite book of mine years ago thats now out of print but I got lucky and found a copy for fairly cheap on ebay. Book still held the same magic for me after all these years when I read it again recently. |
| The Ultimate Evil by Maury Terry-Book that lays out the theory that the Son of Sam murders were not the act of a lone nut but were in fact the work of several people who were involved in an organized satanic cult. After reading this I am convinced that Berkowitz did not act alone, that the Son of Sam murders were ritual murders by an occult group, possibly a highly organized one and that the powers that be were aware of this and did their best to cover this up. I do however think that Terry pushes some of his theories beyond the realm of reality, like linking the zodiac killer, Charles Manson, The Process Church of the Final Judgement to the murders and linking a murder that was obviously a drug related hit to the people that did the Son of Sam killings. |
| Zodiac by Robert Graysmith-I have a great fascination with the turbulent history and weirdness that was the California bay area during the 60's and 70's. Beatniks, hippies, Sonny Barger and the Hells Angels, the Black Panthers, the S.L.A, riots and civil unrest, SF evolving from hippie mecca to homosexual mecca, multitudes of nutty political and religious groups, and way too much other lunacy for me to list. Even today in spite of the yuppification of the area you can still feel the ghosts of the past in the air. On top of all that there was the Zodiac Killer who would taunt the police with encrypted messages with occult symbology that he demanded be put on the front page of the newspaper. After all his taunting and arrogance the Zodiac was never caught. Pretty great account of the murders and investigation that will make you paranoid of every odd sound you hear around the house at night while your reading it. |
| Lion of Ireland by Morgan Llywelyn-Very entertaining historical fiction account of the life of Irish high king Brian Boru. Lots of inter tribal conflict between celtic clans, conflict between norse raiders and settlers and local Irish celts, religious conflict between christian and celtic and norse pagan beliefs. If you have any interest in anything about Celts, Vikings, or fantasy type stuff you will most likely be really into this book. |
| Njal's Saga translated by Magnus Magnusson-Yet another great Icelandic saga. Much of the usual sort that you would expect in these sagas. Blood fueds, witchy supernatural prophecies coming true, coniving women, outlawry, and more blood fueds. What could you expect in a society where one was almost obligated to kill someone for even the slightest insult or to not would mean losing ones honor and respect? Also provides a look at the legal system of Iceland during this time period, (you could more or less legally kill someone as long as you had the money to compensate their family) and an account of the Icelanders gradual conversion to christianity. |
| Tyr #1 edited by Buckley, Cleary and Moynihan-Almost 300 page collection of essays from various authors that mostly have an anti globalist/mass culture and pro folk culture and euro pagan theme. Highlights for me were Markus Wolfs essay on German "volkish" writer Hermann Lons, along with the included bit of Lons writing, Anabel Lee's "Dark Side of the Mountain" article, Michael Moynihans "Divine Traces in the Nibelungenlied", Steve Pollingtons essay on Woden called "From Lore-Giver to Law-Giver" and Nigel Pennicks "On the Spiritual Arts and Crafts" which talks about the value and spiritual side of being able to make things with your hands. Lots of great stuff in this. There's a #1 on this so I assume and hope there are more of these in the works. |