Aleister Crowley

Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) oli länsimaisen esoteerisen tradition merkittävin suunnannäyttäjä ja eittämättä 1900-luvun tunnetuin okkultisti. Crowleyn mittava kirjallinen tuotanto ei kuitenkaan rajautunut vain maagisiin teksteihin, vaan hän jätti pitkän ja värikkään uransa aikana jälkeen myös koko liudan kaunokirjallisia teoksia, aina antiikin suurista kertomuksista ammentaneisiin näytelmiin ja esoteerisesti virittäytyneeseen rivoon runouteen. ”Salajuoni ja muita kertomuksia” sisältää ensimmäiset suomennokset Suuren Pedon vähäisemmälle huomiolle jääneestä proosasta. Teos koostuu kolmesta novellista: ”Salajuoni” (”The Startegem”), ”Magdalen Blairin testamentti” (”The Testament of Magdalen Blair”) ja ”Hänen salattu syntinsä” (”His Secret Sin”). Alun perin The English Review -kirjallisuusjulkaisussa ilmestynyt ”Salajuoni” on päälaelleen käännetty nokkela pakotarina, jonka Crowley kehitteli oopiumhuuruisen unen aikana. Okkulttinen kauhunovelli ”Magdalen Blairin testamentti” on kertomus selvänäkijäpariskunnan telepaattisesta helvetin matkasta ja lienee yksi Crowleyn tuotannon hyytävimmistä tarinoista. Teoksen päättävä ”Hänen salattu syntinsä” on puolestaan Crowleyn veitsenterävä satiiri ja piikikäs irvailu kotimaansa Iso-Britannian kristillisten arvojen hapattamalle kaksinaismoralismille. ”Salajuoni ja muita kertomuksia” on julkaistu näköispainoksena Mandrake Pressin vuoden 1929 julkaisusta. Teos sisältää tutkija Antti Litmasen esipuheen, joka avaa Crowleyn maagisen filosofian ja kaunokirjallisen tuotannon yhteyksiä, sekä valottaa teoksessa esiintyvien novellien syntytarinoita. Teoksen on suomentanut weird- ja kauhukirjallisuuteen erikoistunut Ronja Erkko. ”Salajuoni ja muita kertomuksia” jatkaa Abraxas Publishingin okkulttisen fiktion julkaisusarjaa. Teos on julkaistu kansipapereilla varustettuna numeroituna 666 kappaleen kovakantisena painoksena.

A fully annotated, deluxe hardcover edition of one of Aleister Crowley’s formative works • Presents Crowley’s preferred text, drawing on all existing draft manuscripts and margin notes from Crowley’s personal copies • Contains an introduction and explanatory notes by Crowley biographer Richard Kaczynski, helping to illuminate obscure passages and references • Includes Crowley’s mystical essays on his first forays into sex magic, his initial embrace of the legendary title of “the Beast,” and his encounters with the Golden Dawn, Buddhism, Agnosticism, and Christianity Too inflammatory for English publishers, Aleister Crowley printed The Sword of Song, his first talismanic work, in Paris in 1904, releasing a mere one hundred copies. Deconstructing his encounters with the Golden Dawn, Buddhism, Agnosticism, and Christianity, the book explored Crowley’s magic and spiritual philosophy before he experienced the revelation that led to The Book of the Law. The Sword of Song also contained Crowley’s first manifesto, his first forays into sex magic, his initial embrace of the legendary title of "the Beast," the occult poem "Ascension Day," and mystical essays. Now in this fully annotated deluxe hardcover edition, renowned Crowley biographer Richard Kaczynski presents Crowley’s preferred text for The Sword of Song, drawing on all existing draft manuscripts as well as unpublished margin notes from Crowley’s personal copies of the book. Kaczynski clarifies all the significant changes and additions throughout the book’s various iterations and provides explanations for the many occult and popular culture references. He also includes a substantial scholarly introduction, reflecting an intimate knowledge of Crowley and the development of his magical practice. Kaczynski demonstrates how The Sword of Song was not only a prototype for Crowley’s later works such as Konx Om Pax and The Book of Lies, but that The Sword of Song's blend of poetry, allegory, fiction, and essay reveals the formative inner workings of one of the twentieth century’s most provocative thinkers just before he received the life-changing Book of the Law from the discarnate entity Aiwass.

Delve into the dramatic world of Aleister Crowley's "Household Gods," a compelling play exploring themes of ritual, magic, and the occult. This work of English drama offers a glimpse into Crowley's unique visionary and metaphysical perspectives. Explore the potent intersection of the spiritual and theatrical as Crowley masterfully weaves elements of occultism into a captivating narrative. "Household Gods" remains a powerful and thought-provoking work, showcasing the enduring appeal of Crowley's exploration of magic and ritual. Discover the timeless quality of this drama, meticulously prepared for print republication, offering a unique perspective on the power of belief and the mysteries of the unseen. A key text for those interested in the occult and the dramatic arts, this play provides a window into a world where the boundaries between reality and the supernatural blur.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.