Northwest Books

Award-winning poet Nance Van Winckel presents No Starling, a brief yet evocative selection of poems utilizing a variety of rhythms and soundscapes. Subtly community-building in its reminders of human responsibilities for each other and the world at large, No Starling touches upon spiritual and political issues alike, singing aloud in a crystal clear voice that deserves to be heard. "Leastways": The ship had a bar, listing. A porthole / awash. Loyal drinkers swearing they'd seen / the giant squid. Sheer genius, they said, / to survive the millennia, the depths. // I blinked into that window at only / my face... all splash and dissolve. // Days under the white sails, over / cruel swells. Days taken / like aspirin. Hard little fact / of the body: if it goes down, / I go. And the bar raised. The bar / tilted. A tentacles here-on portends / a hereafter. I hang on. Rain clouds / pretend to take the lead.

No Starling is the fifth book of Van Winckel's poems I've read over the years (Bad Girl, with Hawk, The Dirt, After A Spell, Beside Ourselves) and is a dazzling demonstration of her mature poetic skills.
Take, for instance, the poem "Passing Through the Shadows of Great Buildings": "The beggar in plaid blankets wanted to kiss my hand / when it lowered the shiny franc. His eyes sleepy, pleading. // How long would I stand there considering...the metal / warming, the light waning. My hand dangling...." Compressed, potent, telling. Just two couplets!
Like in her fiction (Quake, Curtain Creek Farm), in No Starling Van Winckel interweaves and propels multiple narratives from poem to poem, chapter to chapter. The epigraph to her book reads, in part: "My coming, / my going -- / Two simple happenings / that got entangled." Van Winckel weaves her way through these "entanglements" of life using myth and parable, folktale and dream to inform her poems' elucidations, indictments, portents.
Moreover, in these times of political shapeshifting, of national chauvinism/denial, Van Winckel's poems like "The Rattled Hymn of the Republic" and "Let Us Remind You You Are Still Under Oath" seem especially pertinent . They are brave and unflinching. They speak truth.
Finally, though, no matter the poem, it's Van Winckel's imaginative leaps (and the heights to which those leaps rise) that amaze and awe. From the likes of the primordial love-poem "White Bridges, White Mistresses" to the heart-wrenching "Winter Cow," you can't believe what you just read - where you began, where you ended -- so you re-read. And again and again, No Starling rewards you.

Nance Van Winckel splits literary and existential hairs with the confidence of a master. Her poetry teases fear and denial with equal insouciance. I was captive, once I began reading, as the poems pulled me each to the next with growing delight. Her ability to distill the humor from the macabre, the everyday from the awful and the transcendent from the everyday is delivered with incredible control and, though it may sound strange to note, with humility. This poet's voice doesn't boom, it whispers and shimmers and runs like a river through so many aspects of this earthly life: the personal, the literary, the ways of nature and politics. And yet, as she dances in darkness, the effect of reading Nance Van Winckel is one of inspiration, for she comes back, again and again, to the power of work, of observation, of showing up. She never shirks from the job, as in the poem "Waking, Working" where she describes the visceral call of unfinished business: "Already then there was this idea/ of work. The body moving like a scythe/ over its broad gold day."

All of Nance Van Winckel's books of poetry demonstrate her unique blend of keen, precise wording and insight mixed with vibrant imaginative leaps (balancing artfully, as Stevens would say, imagination and reason). But if you only purchase one poetry collection this year, buy Van Winckel's latest, No Starling, which is a truly breathtaking book. The collection begins with the poem "Slate," where the speaker is hauling a dead body named "Nance" to be dumped in a quarry. This kind of premise--surreal, edgy, with slivers of humor--is characteristic Van Winckel, complete with her usual dead-on images, impeccable sonics, and profound revelations. Where she shows her particular genius is how she can stretch a poem to absurdist limits, yet deftly reel it back to a warm, universal conclusion, as in "The Winter Cow." The poem begins with a cow standing in a frozen field with all four of its hooves sawed off (it's not explained why), and moves to a boy arriving to very tenderly milk her; the boy hums while doing so, as he fears he can't sing without weeping. Here's the final stanza:

The body is a great boat that knows the way
through iced blue distances. Gravity's small hands
tug at the hull. You get in
and you close your eyes, and you go.

There are so many exquisite moments like this one in the book, I couldn't possibly list them all. Clearly, Van Winckel has paid serious attention to structure, as themes reverberate from section to section. For instance, "water" and "shore" are both used metaphorically (though differently) in the closings of two of my favorites, "Mister" and "Verlaine in Prison." Death is another theme, found mainly in a fine cluster of poems in section one. No matter what the theme, though, Van Winckel's verbal dexterity and wisdom abound throughout.

Suffice it to say, I read this book from start to finish in one sitting because I couldn't wait to see--from page to page, line to line--how Van Winckel would dazzle me next. There seems to me not one wrong move or weak moment in the entire book. No Starling is simply stunning.

Excellent diagrams, good photos and best of all, the words make sense. I appreciate the time and effort that went into this book.

I received the book very promptly, and book was in excellent shape. Thank you!!!

The Pacific Northwest is an assemblage of odds and ends of geologic history presenting many mysteries. This book attempts to make sense of the complex formation of the most geologically interesting puzzle in North America. From the earliest backbone of the continent each puzzle piece is discussed and moved into place as it accretes.
In my explorations I had become convinced that the Siskyou-Klamath complex had once been an island. Here I find out how it came to be. It helped me discover the landlocked island chain underneath me.
Not overwhelmingly technical, and full of good illustrations.

Clearly and colorfully written, this book makes the Northwest landscape make sense, from rock layers to calderas. I have no real interest in geology, but this book is fascinating and fun to read. And you come away having learned a lot.

The best and easiest Clam Chower and Beef Bourguinonne recipes I've ever tried. I can't wait to make the tempting salad and pancake recipes. The notes at the bottom of so many pages are extraordingary. The historical information and amazing cooking tips Inspire me! I can't recommend this cookbook enough.

This book is the perfect gift to give this holiday season! It is packed with wonderful recipes... whether you're form the northwest or not, your family and friends will love to receive this cookbook! Don't be afraid to to try any of the wonderful recipes it has to offer: blackened tri-tip, grilled thai chicken with ginger-lime aioli and the hazelnut french toast.

I have never made carrot cake from scratch - it seemed too complicated. My neighbor suggested that I try the recipe in this book. It was surprisingly quick and easy to gather the ingredients and assemble the cake. The cake was incredible moist and full of nutritional yummies and the frosting was a perfect match. I consider myself an average baker at best - but I produced the perfect 3 layer cake that was gone as soon as I cut into it.

I recently picked up this cookbook looking for something new and exciting to make for my family of 5. It definitely has not disappointed us! Every recipe is simple and straight forward. My family can't get enough of the clam chowder, for which the recipe is so easy!!! We've also fallen in love with 3 different salads and a pasta dish. I can't wait to keep trying more. Two thumbs up on this cookbook!

I JUST READ THE SYNOPSIS OF ROLAND BISHOP'S NEW BOOK CODENAME FIREANT, NOT YET PUBLISHED AND FOUND THE EXCERPTS TO BE EQUAL TO OR EVEN BETTER THAN HIS FIRST BOOK OPERATION ARABIAN KNIGHTS WHICH I READ IN ITS ENTIRETY IN TWO DAYS. IT APPEALED TO MY INTERESTS AND I LITERALLY COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. I WOULD GIVE HIS FIRST BOOK FIVE STARS AND EXPECT THE CODENAME FIRE ANT TO BE EVEN MORE ENTHRALLING. DR. P.T. MESSICK DDS

The author, Mr. Bishop, weaves a facinating and captivating story of intrigue, suspense and terrorism. He displays a vast knowledge of his subjects; Iraq, intelligence, patriotism and nuclear holocaust. The story line keeps you riveted and focused in the action and drama. Compelling and filled with suspense. Highly Recommended.

With so much unsettling events going on currently in the Mideast, this gripping novel about international terrorism is timely, authentic and filled with convincing characters. The author makes the readers feel the suspence of this covert military operation. This book was so well written, I look forward to reading Bishop's next novel. I highly recommend the book to readers who enjoy Tom Clancy type novels.

The intimacy by which the author developes his characters gives the reader the impression that they truely existed. It is evident that the author has carefully researched the geography and customs of Iraq and has given a sound scientific rationale to the validity and consequences of a hidden underground nuclear threat. This novel would make an excellent action packed and provocative movie.

Jude teaches through this book that nature is where you find it. Sure, taking in an amazing vista in the Pacific NW is a inspiration to be sure. But you take away the feeling that your own backyard, kitty asleep on the couch, local park, birds at the window or just some stones in your pocket hold just as much promise and beauty. She makes you feel like this is something you owe to yourself, just create for the sake of the happiness it brings. She urges you to not get caught up in the "correct way" or whether or not it will ever hang on a wall, just look, listen, feel and put it on paper the way only you know how. It will be just perfect! What a fun approach, full of freedom, acceptance and promise. Only you can capture the moment like only you see it. Very rewarding to read, see her sketches/paintings AND to practice the approach.

I was revisiting my hometown region (Pacific Northwest) and came across Jude Seigel's book. Although I'd never painted before (well, since grade school) I immediately had to have this book and before I left Seattle, I'd invested over $100 in Winsor and Newton paints and brushes.

Since then I've purchased other books (and many more paints...!), but still find myself gravitating to Pacific Northwest Nature Sketchbook for the casual, authentic, do-it-now spirit in which it was written. Jude's style embraces every level of artist--you do what you can and the more you do it the better you get--but the message is clear: everything you create is precious and represents your vision at a single moment in time.

Thanks, Jude, for this inspiration and for a lovely, timeless book.

Jude Siegal writes about how a painter observes, how shadows and mists interact with colors and shapes, and how taking time to absorb the beauty of place enriches our lives. Her ability to appreciate details and broad vistas and her expressive word of language and color make this a great book for writers and admirers of the Pacific Northwest as well as painters.

This book is an excellent introduction to Nature Journaling. The author sets out her method in easy-to-understand steps, taking the mystery out of buying paper, brushes, and paints, and how to set up a palette, make a palette map, and get started drawing the natural world.

The illustrations are Jude Siegel's own vibrant drawings and paintings. This book made me reach for my pen and watercolors!

This is a good read notwithstanding the sometimes academic treatment of the topic which at best is boring and long winded. Having said as much, the author does a pretty through job of addressing the various aspects of Pathan history which departs quite significantly from the common understanding of the average Pathan of himself and his heritage.

I for one was quite amazed to see the argument posed by the author and the facts laid therein to substantiate his proposition. However, by and large it is a book worth reading given the subject of Pathan history is something that can not be fully understood from a single read.

If you are not a Sindi, Punjabi, Hazara, Tajik or other enemies of the Afghans/Pakhtoon, this is a must reading for you.

This book is an extremely useful work for historical reference, perhaps the only one in its category extant. It can be called a magnum opus. The narrative of its writer is, of course, tinted heavily with his own emotion--and he has pointed this out to the reader himself when describing the nature of his book--therefore this aspect of the book may also be taken as a "historical reference", to its VIP author's attitudes, but otherwise has no value and is sincere, but very harmfully misleading to the unacquainted reader, about the true nature of the evil Pathan society and its ways, in the present time especially. The Pathans/Pakhtuns/Afghans were always a backward, turbulent society with a criminal culture, but they have changed drastically for the worse in the 44 years since this book was first written, mostly in the last 20 years or so.

This is one of the most comprehensive books on the subject of the Pathans (Pukhtoon or Pushtoon. Written by the last British Governor of the North West Frontier Province, this book traces the geneaology of this unusual race. Recently the Readers Digest (July 2000) wrote a story on the connection with Alexander the Great. This is a scholary work so if you are looking for light reading this is not for you. At one time Afghan and Pathan or Pukhtoon/Pushtoon were synonymous. It was the fear of the Pathans of Pakistan joining with the Pathans of Afghanistan that led Pakistan to deny naming the province "Pashtunistan" (Land of the Pashtuns)for fear of lending legitimacy to their desire for independence. Winston Churchill fought here. So did Sherlock Holmes' friend Dr. Watson. The general fascination with this area can be gauged by the number of National Geographic articles about it. This book brings these people to life and gives them the honorable treatment they have earned. I should know, I am a Pukhtoon of the Yousafzai (Joseph's Children) tribe.

This is a great sinopsis of NW Coast archeology with beautiful maps and pictures. Although the authors' theory of a connection between large pithouse villages on the Columbia Plateau and extensive shell middens on the coast has been brought into quesiton by recent work on the Queen Charlette Islands, the book contains insightful information and analysis pertinent to the area's prehistory.

This book is highly recommended for both serious students and archeology hobbyists.

Peoples Of The Northwest Coast presents a condensed thematic overview. "The evolution of ranking and stratification among Northwest coast societies is at the heart of any understanding of the coast's cultural history (p. 254)." The text goes on to say "..obsidian evidence shows large -scale exchange networks existed on the coast by...10,000 B.C." This is a summary-survey of Northwest Coast archaeology with an emphasis on the role of variability in prehistory and cultural development. Written by two renowned professors of anthropology, the style and language of Peoples Of The Northwest Coast have been made deliberately accessible . The spare text is enriched by copious black and white photos, illustrations, maps, and diagrams. The richness and beauty of the Northwest Coast from Oregon to Alaska is always present in this 13,000 year archaeological history of its peoples. Cautious in tone, wary of leaping to generalizations or stereotypic thinking, the text achieves the authors' goals of educating the interested public with pleasure, presenting Northwest archaeology for popular consumption, and introducing to specialized students the pressing research questions of Northwest Coast excavation, and finally to present some of the value of archaeology to First Nation Peoples, the fourth audience. It is seen as another means to supplement and display the Coast Peoples' traditional oral histories.

Writing such a book is an ambitious undertaking. The result is well worth exploring. The role of art in these prehistories is especially presented in the ninth chapter titled "Northwest Coast Art." Nonlinear prehistory is not the oxymoron it might at first seem to be. Focussing on ecology, environments, oldest cultures, later Pacific and Modern Period Northwest Coast Subsistence Status, Ritual and Warfare, the chapters lead to a condensed complex of conclusions about variability, regional similarities, and cultural richness. The pathway to conclusions about community organization and social stratification is well defined.

Peoples Of The Northwest Coast is a respectable rave of a book.

Nancy Lorraine, Reviewer

It is all too often that the general public gets the impression that Native American cultures were monolithic, unchanging societies, with little or variation through the centuries. The greatest contribution of this book is to counter this misconception. Through its pages unfolds the story of a dynamic culture whose history contains as many twists and turns as any more familiar civilization. The text is enlivened by excellent illustrations and chapters focusing on specific aspects such as warfare and art. There is nothing in the book which should not be there, and very little that is missing, and although some less scholarly readers may get bogged down in the details, it is an invaluable reference for anyone interested in the subject.

Peoples of the Northwest Coast is a rich volume dealing with the archaeology of the Alaska, B.C. and Washington coasts. The thematic nature of the book allows the reader to explore topics such as Ecology: Environments and Demography, Northwest Coast Subsistence, and Households and Beyond. Photographs and illustrations offer an additional insight into prehistoric life on the northwest coast. Ames and Maschner have presented "their view of things", which may frusterate some readers; however, it remains the first synthesis of northwest coast archaeology and prehistory: a valuable book.

Well written and intriguing. B.J. Rule had created a masterpiece

Polar Knight;Mystery of Sir John Franklin took me back in history in a very personal way, as if I were listening to Sir John recount his story, which of course I was! The historical details and the human side of this adventure story made it difficult to put down.

Talk about a ghost writer, this book is co-authored in-effect by the subject character himself...Sir John! AR

Skeptics disappear after experiencing this riveting saga of the mysterious fate of the noted artic explorer, John Franklin. CR

"Blood finds Blood"..Sir John found B.J. Rule, his descendent, to relate the ture gripping facts of his mysterious fate. TA

The facts validated the channeling. Fascinating Read. MB

History with a Twist. JM

Exceptional-non stop reading! PB

A famous arctic explorer finds a descendent contemporary writer to relate the chilling facts causative of the mysterious disappearance of his voyage and his discovery of The Northwest Passage. NM

Bizaare! Sir John himself...the subject character, dead for 153 years, returns as the literal "ghost co-author" of this riveting historic saga. AM

B.J.'s exhaustive research, vivid descriptions, unique theme, detail orientation, captivating writing skill and the admirable main character create a worthwhile reading happening. A Discerning Reader.

B.J. Rule has solved the mysteries surrounding Sir John Franklin and his expedition. A riveting book full of history, and a beautiful love story.

A gritty rain soaked homage to the Seattle music scene. Martinez captures the quintessence of life in a band while riding that sweaty lucid dream into a twisted nightmare of despair, weirdness and hope.

"Prayer for the Wild" is an outstanding achievement, especially for a first novel. Martinez infuses his prose with an inherent sense of poetry and a subtle, yet mesmerizing style. Hopefully we'll see more from this budding novelist. If we do, I predict it will just get better and better.

I felt this was an amazing story that kept me reading. It was so well written I could not put it down until I finished the book and found what happened to this very talented young girl. I found it to be a very interesting book about young people in the life of music. I recommend this book to anyone looking to read a well written easy to read story. I feel this writer has a lot of talent and should continue to write more books. I will be looking forward to his next book myself.

This is pretty much an amazing book. By the end of the first chapter you are so deeply involved with the characters you become them. You love them, fear them, and respect them. Being in a band myself, Scott describes in this book about The Wild, what my mind tries to describe about whats its like to be in a band. Not only about bands but life. After reading this book i want to find a cd by The Wild and listen and live it. But its not all about bands and music industry or the politcs revolving thereof, but like i said, also about life, and how fast it can be taken away. I couldn't put it down, i had to find out what happend, what was going to happen, and how it turned out. Made me cry it did, it garbs you, and pulls you in. I highly recommend this book. Perfect for any collection.

Mektoub - It is written, and written well.

a journey - thee desert thee initiation of thee soul are one * * * thru thee long dry desert ov this that some would call life and others a death, and yet others still would say is just a rotten place to pass right on through. I came with nothing, and that is how I will leave. (except for maybe my clay pipe)

thee beauty in these words is enough to inspire a soul...enough to not dip hir fingers into thee river lethe..at least, for a while. Let's not be tooooo hopeful.

This is a rarity on many levels...even delving into personal information about cult-addict and famous dietician from Theta - L. Ron Hubbard...not to mention *secrets* of thee Dietician Church magickal system. A veritable treasure trove of History & thee Present mixing into a psychedelic cocktail.

buy it!

93 93/93

Brion Gysin's book of drugs, magic and the Desert is part fantasy, part memoir, and part guidebook. The reader may find it mystifying and confusing at first read, and it's certainly not a straightfoward story in the conventional sense. There are many twists in this fictional tale of Ulys O. Hanson of Ithaca College, not the least of which is the thinly-veiled life story of Gysin himself as he discovers and embraces the music and culture of the Sahara.

"The Process" is a book about journeys, and of becoming, with the Desert serving as Gysin's grand metaphor. The novel itself moves from west to east -- it begins with a quote from Shakespeare and ends with an epilogue from Kashf Ul-Haqa'iq, a 13th-century Persian mystic. The story also gains centifugal force as it spins around the rituals and music of Morocco's master musicians of Jajouka. Late in the novel Gysin/Hanson speaks it plainly: "You see what I'm getting at, don't you? We are, all of us here, in an extreme situation -- between birth and death, you agree?" Seldom does a novel put the life force itself at center-stage.

The book is full of secrets (in one aspect its Gysin's own diary of actual people and events) but it is also a manual filled with answers. The novel is indeed trippy, but in the grandest sense; and like life itself "The Process" is full of marvellous confusion, contradiction and not a little pain. The promise of Othello's "round unvarnished tale," at the novel's beginning, gives way to Ul-Haqa'iq's "unveiling of realities." At journey's end, of course, there is always the question all of us will face: "Why were you in such a hurry to get here, when the Desert gets us all in the end?" Highly recommended.

An interesting book that uses wide horizons. Gysin filled it with allusion, hints and tricks. It's words seem to be carefully placed. It was designed, apparently, to read the reader. It might be more than a novel or it might not. The Process is stylish, clever and possibly very important. I felt that the haze created was frustrating and entertaining, I wanted more details.

Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle, Rough quarries, rocks and hills whose heads touch heaven, It was my hint to speak, such was the process... -Shakespeare.

This quote (partial) above is by way of Gysin's introduction to THE PROCESS---like all Gysin's works, greatly underrated, unacknowledged, and ignored, perhaps because of their metaphysical Occult ("hidden and rejected knowledge") origins periously perched as they are on the edge of an exquisitely unique literary absurdity difficult to comprehend without submitting to detailed, in-depth investigation. In other words, he deceptively appears an only half-sincere, sarcastic author writing pulp aimed at comic entertainment alone, when in fact his works (entire) upon further investigation reveal profound esoteric depths much like a Franz Kafka or Philip K. Dick. For a long while I have hoped for what will really be a first time proper evaluation of his masterful works; I can think of no author more deserving of a much-needed critical biography, and probably many will soon be produced. Of the brilliant novel THE PROCESS: The protagonist is Gysin himself, who appears in different colored skin due to the fact Brion suffered from what he called: "bad packaging!" It takes a lifetime to cross the desert and a childhood to do so at its narrowest point, explains one of the many mystical charcaters inhabiting the novel, whose names, like the lady "MAYA" ( literally sanskrit for "illusion") oftentimes reveal their signifigance. Gysin knew the sahara well, spending a good deal of his life in it, centered around expatriate Tangiers, where he owned and operated a resturant well reputed called "The 1001 Nights". The house musicians were none other than THE MASTER MUSICIANS OF JAJOUKA, whom Brion discovered in the "land of the little people" tucked far into the hills, and whom WSB called a "2000year old rock-n-roll band!" The 1001 Nights closed down directly due, Gysin feels (with firm evidence/proof) of Black Magic of a typically North African cursive.

Celebrated in THE PROCESS in a masterful narrative sequence is the yearly Ritual celebration involving the Great God Pan in the form of a man placed inside the actual skin of a recently sacraficed goat, who chases the Moroccan women about in a rite dating back to antiquity recalling the bacchanalia and Dionysian Rites and all Pagan fertility rites, still practised yearly with great festivity in Morocco.

The novel is, as WSB said of his own work, and's wholly applicable also to Gysin's ( whose influence and sway over WSB is immense, as WSB enthusiastically acknowledges)one where: "EVERY LINE IS AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL FACT AND EVERY LINE IS BULLS**T!" "WRITING IS SUCCESSFUL WHEN IT MAKES THINGS HAPPEN!"---According to both Brion Gysin and William Seward Burroughs, this is the The supreme definition of "successful writing" as well as of "Magick". THE PROCESS, Brion Gysin's novel published first in 1969 was long involved in the "great work" of "writing itself"; for according to Gysin it's: A NOVEL IN THE PROCESS OF WRITING AND READING ITSELF! To a miraculous degree this cannot be properly communicated except by reading the novel yourself, which most of its readers agree they have done so several times; WSBurroughs rightly states besides being an esoteric masterpiece it is also "first-class entertainment", and like all Gysin's completely original works is absolutely hilarious! Noone, and I mean noone writes like he does, nor paints---for he was an early practitioner of surrealist techniques developed by Max Ernst, and Gysin exhibited his works with the surrealists, but was kicked out by Breton at his first exhibition, no doubt due more to his eccentric personality than to his artistic stylizations...he would go on to establish his own unique painterly style consisting of calligraphical overlain symbols resembling magical sigils and Chinese characters placed in grids reminiscent of the likewise magical origins found in the "Sacred Magic of Abra-Melin The Mage" which so influenced other Artists and Mages like Crowley and Mathers and Pessoa. And Like his painting, Gysin's literary origins likewise have their genesis and inspiration in Occultism, so permeating Gysin's life as to be essential in any contemplation aimed at an understanding of his works and life. His experiments and investigations are now legendary, especially those taken place at the Beat Hotel in Paris circa 1960 with Burroughs, Norse, Corso, sommerville, and a host of others where Gysin Established a quite scientific system for all literary history to applaude as the "Cut-Up technique", coined by WSBurroughs.

Brion Gysin will show you how THE PROCESS works, in the very process of "MAKING IT HAPPEN"! Such a magical feat before your very eyes without recourse to simply deeming such astounding miracles an "illusion" will if nothing else boggle your mind a good long while, and make you question the very fabric of the absolutely magical universe we live in. For the literary thrill-seeker as much as the mystically-minded, for the occult practitioner as for the philosophical scholar, THE PROCESS is one that is already a classic, and Gysin's works I feel are destined to outlive many other more famous works of its time; their endurance is miraculous in itself and they are essentially timeless. Aleister Crowley was correct in delineating a classic as defined by its ability to adapt and survive, and is in a sense: "a living being". THE PROCESS shows how such phenonema operate, as well as how it can also be, as everything is, Manipulated---whether to the writer's or the occultist's advantage; and regardless whether such things are called "Black Magick" or "Literature" is besides the point. Gysin often makes his point with a joke at humanity's expense, and it should be borne in mind that he is a great misanthrope; and as for his reputed misongyny goes, he truly believed women were a biological mistake---the irony is that a good many of his closest friend were women!

Brion Gysin is an enigma representative of NO race, religion, color, or creed. He truly is one of the Originals of the human species!