THE ISLE OF WIGHT FORTEAN SOCIETY

BOOKSHOP

The Isle of Wight Fortean Society (IWFS) was founded on Robert Anton Wilson Day, 23rd July, 2004, by Fortean Times contributor Jack Phoenix, and composer and Ottakar's bookseller, James Nye. To see a press release, click here.

If any one thing characterizes the true fortean, it must be a profound thrist for knowledge. Apart from our own experiences, and those of other people we encounter, our most profound source of knowledge is still the book. That being so, the IWFS is proud to offer a selection of books that will broaden your mind, enrich your life, and expand your horizons. Everything you need to know to start a comprehensive fortean library or your own. Needless to say, subscribing to the monthly publication of Fortean Times will also help. To visit the Fortean Times website, click here. Nearly all of these books can be ordered from your local Ottakar's bookshop. Alternatively, you can order them online from Amazon.co.uk by clicking the links below.

The Complete Books of Charles Fort If forteanism were a religion (which of course it isn't) or a belief system (which again, it is not) then its sacred canon, its Bible so to speak, would be the collected works. There are four books: The Book of the Damned, (1919), New Lands (1923), Lo! (1931), and Wild Talents (1932).

Politics of the Imagination: The Life, Work and Ideas of Charles Fort. You can read more about Fort's philosophy in Colin Bennett's book Politics of the Imagination. In this radical work, which includes an introduction by John 'Mothman Prophecies' Keel, and an appendix containing Bennett's 2002 lecture to the Fortean Times UnConvention, Bennett asserts that modern scientism is nothing more than 'imagination control.' An amazing and valuable piece of writing.

The Rough Guide to the Unexplained by John Michell and Bob Rickard

"In this book we make all sorts of connections between the various types of mysteries and wonders described in it, but we do not ask readers to follow us, believe in us or accept any of our tentative conclusions. The most we hope for is to bring relief to those among us who have experienced strange happenings and have been told by their doctors, parents or contemporaries that this is unnatural and even perhaps a sign of madness. Our message of comfort to such readers is that you are not alone. As we carefully demonstrate in the following chapters, these things have always happened, they can happen to anyone, and at least some of them probably happen to everyone in the course of a lifetime. Our very existence in this world is an unexplained mystery, and that is something we have to accept and be happy with."

John Michell and Bob Rickard

For more on this book, click here

Magnolia (2 disc DVD) Yes, we know it's not a book, but all the same, we had to include Magnolia the amazing film by Boogie Nights director P.T. Anderson. The film follows a day in the lives of a diverse bunch of characters, all seeking some kind of resolution to problems in their lives. A top notch cast includes Julianne Moore, William H. Macy, Jason Robards, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and a stunning, unexpectedly powerful tour de force from Tom Cruise as a loathsomely mysogynistic, emotionally scarred, dating coach. The film, which is propelled by a powerful score by Jon Brion and contains a moving song by Aimee Mann, intertwines the characters' lives in unexpected ways - and ends with what we here at the Frogweb regard as the quintessential Fortean event. I know it's going to happen, but every time I watch the film, it still manages to shock me. This is a highly polished, moving, tender and funny film. Magnificent. Simply unmissable. Also available: Magnolia (1 disc DVD) and Magnolia (VHS PAL video)

The Bald Trilogy by Ken Campbell

Contains texts of three of the legendary Ken Campbell's award-winning, one-man, semi-autobiographical comedy/philosophy shows. Recollections of a Furtive Nudist, (which draws inspiration from Philip K. Dick and Charles Fort), Pigspurt! (Jungian enantiodromia, more Dick, The Exorcist and Ken Dodd routines in Bislama pidgin English), and Jamais Vu (in which Ken encounters in the Republic of Vanuatu, the Iunahanan tribe who worship Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh). Simply amazing and mind-warping. If you can't get to see him doing them, reading them is the next best thing. Illustrations by Eve Stewart. (F/NF)

The New Inquisition Dr Robert Anton Wilson, Laird of Camster, Discordian Pope and Minister of the Church of the SubGenius, and now first Honorary Member of the IWFS, is one of the funniest, most optimistic and accessible philosophical writers on the planet. His work is also the most profoundly fortean of any writer I know. His book The New Inquisition: Irrational Rationalism and the Citadel of Science (1987) follows Fort in using examples of anomalous phenomena to demonstrate the inability of science to cope with them, and it's defensive reaction to challenges to its cultural and political hegemony. Wilson mounts a powerful critique of the scientistic stance he characterizes as 'fundamentalist materialism' and its dogamtic, quasi-religious persecution of intellectual heretics. Cogent, witty, breath-takingly sensible and truly mind-expanding. Click here to read an interview with Robert Anton Wilson

Nature's God or Don't Put a Rubber on Your Willy (1987) Bob makes a case which demolishes the popular idea that there are 'natural laws' of the kind that some people wish to impose on others: such hypothetical 'laws' would rather seem to be merely attempted rationalizations of personal prejudices dressed up as universal 'laws'. Serious, funny and intelligent. You can't get this online from Amazon, but you should be able to get it from the publisher Loompanics.com

Visit the website of Robert Anton Wilson

Quantum Psychology (1990) Another essential manual for creatively realigning your perception. Serious and sublime - if you follow the suggested thought experiments and exercises, you will find yourself transformed in ways you can barely imagine.

Robert Anton Wilson Explains Everything - Or Old Bob Exposes His Ignorance [AUDIOBOOK] (2001) 6 Audio cassette tapes. An excellent set of interviews and lectures in which Bob summarizes his work and philosophy. Includes: The Life and Times of Robert Anton Wilson; Language and Reality; Techniques for Consciousness Change; Politics and Conspiracy; The Acceleration of Knowledge; Religion for the Hell of It; The New Inquistion.

MaybeLogic You can buy from the MaybeLogic website this excellent, new, region free DVD - an award-winning documentary on Robert Anton Wilson, which fully explains his philosophy and gives an often hilarious, inspiring and moving portrait of one of the most fortean of forteans.

TSOG: The Thing that Ate the Constitution (2002) What is happening in the USA - right now! - to human freedom and to the Constitution that was written to secure and protect your liberty? Why does the US have a drug TSAR who proudly destroys millions of lives and bullies the governments of the rest of the world into porsecuting an insane war on [some] drugs? How did a NAZI spy come to have an enormous influence on current US foreign policy? Will 'The War Against Terrorism' (TWAT) put the last nail in the coffin of your rights? Would Hannibal Lecter make a better president than George W. Bush? Bob's keen wit skewers those who are forcing us all into slavery, and warns us that there is little time left. How long will it be before Bob's books are banned as 'literary terrorism'?

TSOG: The Audio CD (2002) This contains excellent interviews conducted and edited by Lance Bauscher (who also wrote and directed the RAW documentary "Maybe Logic" - see below). It's an excellent statement of Bob's philosophy in its own right, and acts as a supplement to the TSOG book. Definitely a must-have.

Wilhelm Reich in Hell (1987) Moving play about the tragic-heroic pioneer of bio-energy research and the reasons for his demise.

Prometheus Rising (1983) Abandon your own robothood and become who you want to be with this useful guide to Timothy Leary's 8 circuit model of consciousness. Includes many other psychological insights to help you deprogram and reprogram yourself for health, happiness and fun. Introduction by Israel Regardie.

Neuropolitique: The Sociobiology of Human Metamorphosis (1977) with Timothy Leary and George A. Koopman. Exactly what it says on the cover: Leary's 'eight circuit' model of consciousness, how to transform yourself by using these insights; the socio-politics of personal transformation.

Schrödinger's Cat (1979) An excellent trilogy of novels (The Universe Next Door, The Trick Top Hat, The Homing Pigeons). Thieves, sex goddesses, mad sexologists, parallel universes, eco-terrorists, and a randy dwarf. One of Uncle Bob's finest.

Right Where You Are Sitting Now: Further tales of the Illuminati (1982) Short articles, interviews and skits, including The Jumping Jesus Phenomenon, The Semantics of "God", Ecology, Malthus and Machiavelli, Sirius Rising, Is God a Dope or Just Plain Clumsy?Great fun.

Illuminatus! (1976) Classic, cult, shaggy-dog-conspiracy-theory trilogy, written with Robert Shea. The Eye in the Pyramid, The Golden Apple, Leviathan.

Cosmic Trigger 1 - Final Secret of the Illuminati (1977) First volume of autobiography: Aleister Crowley, communication with Sirius, coincidences, tragedy, comedy, wisdom and bizarreness. An inspiration. Essential.

There is a more complete list of books, tapes and DVDs by or about Robert Anton Wilson here. You can buy almost all of Bob's books from Amazon.co.uk by following the links provided.

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Since 23rd May, 2004