Fallen Nation: Babylon Burning [Paperback]

James Curcio (Author), Tovarich (Editor), P. Emerson Williams (Illustrator), Andre Malkine (Illustrator), Lucy Kirkman (Illustrator), Jessika Kaos (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 7, 2007

Fallen Nation: Babylon Burning is a psychedelic roadtrip across the highways of the modern collective unconscious. It's a world where just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you, where the things you dream about can come back to haunt you when you wake, and where the end of this world is just the beginning of another. 'A progressive fictional universe created by a wickedly talented scribe. . . Philip K Dick might have company someday... ' - Brooke Burgess, writer/producer of Broken Saints.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James performs in industrial rock concerts, bitches incessantly on his blog, skulks about in dark recording studios, and writes dystopian graphic novels and novels for a generation of disenfranchised drug addicts. Rumors of being a key member of a harem of feral lesbians are slightly exaggerated. He has written and produced podcasts for Disinformation, JIVE Magazine, Key64, Greylodge, and New Falcon Press, among others. He is the senior editor of Alterati.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 263 pages
• Publisher: Mythos Media (POD via Booksurge Press); 2nd edition (August 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419672657
• ISBN-13: 978-1419672651
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,328,187 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James Curcio is a multi-media artist, writer, and theorist, who has spent most of his adult life exploring modern myths. This exploration has taken the form of collaborative novels, essays on myth, culture, the occult and sexuality, "round-table" musical albums, soundtracks, podcasts, live performances, and installations. He will sleep when he is dead. http://www.jamescurcio.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fast paced adventure in the style of Robert Anton Wilson, September 16, 2007

By 

Harry Pottash (Tujunga, CA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fallen Nation: Babylon Burning (Paperback)

Thick with both occult and pop-culture references "Fallen Nation" summons up echo's of Robert Anton Wilson's "Illuminatus!" trilogy. The book sets an aggressive pace as it follows the adventures of several gods who are seeking to reform the nature of reality and their own minds. If you are at all a fan of "American Gods" by Neil Gayman or Illuminatus! this book is one which you will surely enjoy.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of James Curcio's Fallen Nation, March 5, 2008

By 

Michael S. (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fallen Nation: Babylon Burning (Paperback)

How can I put this lightly? Fallen Nation is like Neil Gaiman's American Gods on an ayahuasca trip, while rocking out to the noise of Mushroomhead, with the lyrical subtext of Steely Dan. To all those that thought Curcio's Join My Cult! was good, this is James Curcio to the second power... with spicey mustard for added kick.

There has been a lot of comparisons made between James Curcio and Robert Anton Wilson, Philip K. Dick, or even a little Neil Gaiman. Throw those out the window - even my comparison above. If you're reading Fallen Nation with those comparisons in mind, you're not doing the book - nor Curcio - any justice. This is something totally new. Curcio's book is specifically meant to stimulate the missing art of storytelling and hijack the archetypes of mythology that have - for too long - been buried in your subconscious.

Curcio has stepped up his game since Join My Cult!. Fallen Nation is big on cultural warfare, but unlike the rebellious "teenage revolution" feel of Join My Cult!, Fallen Nation is the more mature sibling that knows which battles are best to fight, and goes in with a game plan rather than a grenade. This isn't to say that its tame; to the contrary, it makes it that much more powerful.

For additional information - and downloadable content - check out the books web site.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Live it! Love it!, February 17, 2008

By 

Jack Schmidt (Hinterland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fallen Nation: Babylon Burning (Paperback)

Illuminatus, Robert Anton Wilson, Philip K. Dick and Neil Gaiman certainly all come to mind when reading Fallen Nation; Haruki Murakami and Alan Moore too. I love all these authors, but thankfully Curcio is doing something all his own here. He's not aping anyone else.

In Fallen Nation Curcio has dragged something unsettlingly out of the shadows of modern culture so we can examine its contours more closely. In the process we may note the hidden effects of oh-so-fashionable complacency, homogeneity, cynicism, escapism and post-modern irony just as his rebel-rousing characters must; and just maybe find a portion of the courage, tenacity, wit and humor they unfold in order to find both themselves and a better, more humane way of living.

If you liked any of the fore-mentioned authors then this book is for you. If you enjoyed his previous book, Join My Cult!, then you're going to absolutely love this one. It's a faster, more fun-loving and dangerous ride.

Curcio's prose begs the reader to live and love like there's no tomorrow... 'cause you know what? Your end, and the end of the American Empire may be coming sooner then you think.