Robert Anton Wilson is the grand pooh-bah of late-20th-century conspiracy theory, but regular Wilson fans may find Everything Is Under Control inchoate in comparison to such masterworks as the Illuminatus! trilogy. The format may be encyclopedic, but the information isn't; to note one glaring omission, the only entries on Ronald Reagan refer readers to three other entries in which Reagan is briefly mentioned--none of which has anything to do with Iran-Contra. (Actually, there is a listing for Iran-Contra, but again, it merely points to some of the pieces of the puzzle.)
The book's primary value, then, apart from the snippets of conspiracy "proof" it does provide, is in Wilson's playful yet insightful articulation of the psychology and linguistics of conspiratorial thinking. "Because we can say 'the Jews' or 'the New World Order' or 'the Patriarchy,'" he writes, "we can believe, or almost believe, that these grammatical abstractions have the same kind of reality as basketballs, barking dogs, and baked beans." There are also some fun private jokes, including a lot of data on the Discordians. It's not the best Wilson book--that, perhaps, is Masks of the Illuminati--but it's an adequate introduction to his imaginative philosophy. --Ron Hogan
From Library Journal
To call Wilson (b. 1932) merely a prolific sf writer is both to underrate his output?at least 2000 articles and 20 books by 1996?and to limit what he does in generic terms. Most famous for two trilogies that are indeed identified mostly as science fiction?Illuminatus! (1984) and Schroedinger's Cat (1988)?Wilson revels in alternate consciousness, 1960s-flavored mysticism, the Internet, and making connections among phenomena that often appear to be disconnected. All those concerns make this book both fascinating and useful but perplexing. Wilson has always had great fun mining contemporary conspiracy cultures (his best-known works are based on millennium-old notions that all of human history is shaped by secret societies), but the problem with this encyclopedia of plots and plot-discoverers is his thorough authorial embrace of irony and humor. Just when a reader is convinced that Wilson's aim is to deflate a particular canard, he seems to affirm another's legitimacy. In the final analysis, this exhaustive work provides both fun and information; each entry closes with a source citation, often and appropriately a website. While not exactly balanced, this work is a good addition to libraries with strong science fiction or popular culture collections. Academic libraries with browsing or "lighter entertainment" sections should also consider.?Scott H. Silverman, Bryn Mawr Coll. Lib., Upper Darby, PACopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Since 100,000 people have attended a single X-Files exposition, there should be quite a readership for this quirky, sophisticated, breezily written popular encyclopedia. As coauthor with the late Robert Shea of the classic science fiction trilogy Illuminatus!, a satire of intertwined conspiracies, all of which may--or may not--be orchestrated from beneath a grassy knoll by the "Dealy Lama," Wilson is the perfect compiler of such a book (Hill was his Web searcher). A browser's delight, it reveals that the real identity of the Bank of America is contained in its initials (hint: both the bank and its namesake "constrict its victims to death"); that the Great Seal of the U.S. may have been designed by a "Man in Black"; and that the Merovingian dynasty traces its ancestry to the illegitimate child of Mary Magdalene and Jesus. It also includes factoids out of which one can create one's own conspiracy theories, such as the 1966 release by the U.S. Army of an experimental bacillus in the New York subways and the release of unidentified gasses over six U.S. and Canadian cities for several years. And then there is the entry "Government as Criminal Conspiracy." A book with that you gotta love. None dare take it too seriously, however. (Well, perhaps we should.) Patricia Monaghan
Book Description
Before the X-Files, before alt.conspiracy, there was Robert Anton Wilson and his legendary Illuminatus! Trilogy. Now this avatar of conspiriology, renowned for his razor wit and progressive philosophy, takes you on a fascinating, eclectic ride through what Wilson has termed the "Cultic Twilight" where conspiracy theories flourish. Everything Is Under Control covers the range of Wilson's kaleidoscopic knowledge, from John Adams to the Voronezh (former Soviet Union) UFO sighting, the Campus Crusade for Cthulhu to the Mothman prophecies, and everything in between. What do the Freemasons, the Kennedys, and Princess Diana have in common? All are at the center of gigantic conspiracy theories with incredibly complex and endlessly multiplying twists, turns, highways and byways. Arranged by alphabetical entries which include cross-references to other entries in the book and also provide addresses to related sites on the Web, this book is truly interactive--you can dip in, read through, or follow one of the URLs from an interesting entry onto the internet. What some famous people say about Robert Anton Wilson:"A dazzling barker hawking tickets to the most thrilling tilt-a-whirls and daring loop-o-planes on the midway to higher consciousness."--Tom Robbins"Wilson managed to reverse every mental polarity in me, as if I had been pulled through infinity."--Philip K. Dick"One of the most important scientific philosophers of his century--scholarly, witty, scientific, hip and hopeful."--Dr. Timothy Leary
About the Author
Robert Anton Wilson has authored more than 30 books, teaches at Esalen, Oasis, Interface, and Open Center, maintains an award-winning website, and has been a guest artist on a punk rock record with Golden Horde.
Everything Is Under Control: Conspiracies, Cults and Cover-Ups FROM THE PUBLISHER
What do the Freemasons, the Kennedys, and Princess Diana have in common? All are at the center of gigantic conspiracy theories with incredibly complex and endlessly multiplying twists, turns, highways and byways. Arranged by alphabetical entries which include cross-references to other entries in the book and also provide addresses to related sites on the Web, this book is truly interactive -- you can dip in, read through, or follow one of the URLs from an interesting entry onto the internet.
FROM THE CRITICS
Library Journal
To call Wilson (b. 1932) merely a prolific sf writer is both to underrate his output -- at least 2000 articles and 20 books by 1996 -- and to limit what he does in generic terms. Most famous for two trilogies that are indeed identified mostly as science fiction -- Illuminatus! (1984) and Schroedinger's Cat (1988) -- Wilson revels in alternate consciousness, 1960s-flavored mysticism, the Internet, and making connections among phenomena that often appear to be disconnected. All those concerns make this book both fascinating and useful but perplexing. Wilson has always had great fun mining contemporary conspiracy cultures (his best-known works are based on millennium-old notions that all of human history is shaped by secret societies), but the problem with this encyclopedia of plots and plot-discoverers is his thorough authorial embrace of irony and humor. Just when a reader is convinced that Wilson's aim is to deflate a particular canard, he seems to affirm another's legitimacy. In the final analysis, this exhaustive work provides both fun and information; each entry closes with a source citation, often and appropriately a website. While not exactly balanced, this work is a good addition to libraries with strong science fiction or popular culture collections. Academic libraries with browsing or "lighter entertainment" sections should also consider.
--Scott H. Silverman, Bryn Mawr College Library, Upper Darby, PA
Art & Photography
Book Info
