Illuminatus! Part 1 - The Eye in the Pyramid

Paperback, 320 pages

Published Oct. 29, 1976 by Sphere.

ISBN:: 978-0-7221-9208-5
OCLC Number:: 57064808

The Illuminatus! Trilogy is a series of three novels by American writers Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson, first published in 1975.1 The trilogy is a satirical, postmodern, science fiction-influenced adventure story; a drug-, sex-, and magic-laden trek through a number of conspiracy theories, both historical and imaginary, related to the authors' version of the Illuminati. The narrative often switches between third- and first-person perspectives in a nonlinear narrative. It is thematically dense, covering topics like counterculture, numerology, and Discordianism.

The trilogy comprises three parts which contain five books and appendices: The Eye in the Pyramid (first two books), The Golden Apple (third and part of fourth book), Leviathan (part of fourth and all of fifth book, and the appendices). The parts were first published as three separate volumes starting in September 1975. In 1984 they were published as an omnibus edition and are now more commonly …

The Illuminatus! Trilogy is a series of three novels by American writers Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson, first published in 1975.1 The trilogy is a satirical, postmodern, science fiction-influenced adventure story; a drug-, sex-, and magic-laden trek through a number of conspiracy theories, both historical and imaginary, related to the authors' version of the Illuminati. The narrative often switches between third- and first-person perspectives in a nonlinear narrative. It is thematically dense, covering topics like counterculture, numerology, and Discordianism.

The trilogy comprises three parts which contain five books and appendices: The Eye in the Pyramid (first two books), The Golden Apple (third and part of fourth book), Leviathan (part of fourth and all of fifth book, and the appendices). The parts were first published as three separate volumes starting in September 1975. In 1984 they were published as an omnibus edition and are now more commonly reprinted in the latter form.

In 1986 the trilogy won the Prometheus Hall of Fame Award, designed to honor libertarian science fiction.2

The authors went on to write several works, both fiction and nonfiction, that dealt further with the themes of the trilogy, but they did not write any direct sequels.

Illuminatus! has been adapted for the stage, as an audio book and has influenced several modern writers, artists, musicians, and games-makers. The popularity of the word "fnord" and the 23 enigma can both be attributed to the trilogy.

3 editions

Jim Fulner reviewed Eye in the Pyramid by Robert Anton Wilson

Crazy

No rating

Wow! I had been wanting to read this for several years primarily because one of my best friends indicated the trilogy is his favorite book. But I Had to wait till I could find it in single volumes as the giant tomb would be too much for the way I read. Normally I don't really look at reviews before I read a book, particularly fiction, because spoilers, especially when it's one line this that a friend recommended. However, for whatever reason I did, and I'm glad I did. The writing style is out there. Changing characters in first person many times, even in the same paragraph. He really makes you think you're going crazy by repeating complete paragraphs numerous pages later, making me think I lost my spot. It's certainly not for everyone. I just finished, and I think I know what happened, but part of me really wants to …

Wow! I had been wanting to read this for several years primarily because one of my best friends indicated the trilogy is his favorite book. But I Had to wait till I could find it in single volumes as the giant tomb would be too much for the way I read. Normally I don't really look at reviews before I read a book, particularly fiction, because spoilers, especially when it's one line this that a friend recommended. However, for whatever reason I did, and I'm glad I did. The writing style is out there. Changing characters in first person many times, even in the same paragraph. He really makes you think you're going crazy by repeating complete paragraphs numerous pages later, making me think I lost my spot. It's certainly not for everyone. I just finished, and I think I know what happened, but part of me really wants to read it again to make sure, but that's going to have to wait. I will keep this one in my library for whenever that day comes. Furthermore, I was surprised by the sex scenes. Incredibly detailed, yet it didn't trigger a lustful action, though I admit the description of a black mass complete with desecrating the Holy Eucharistic host by utilizing for cunnilingus on a menstruating woman was disturbing to say the least. My favorite part was a tounge in cheek description of a newspaper man who had to review a terrible book in time for a deadline, clearly describing the book I was reading.

I think I'll read book two but won't run out to do so

Jim Fulner

rated it

July 3