Customer Reviews

Outposts: A Catalog of Rare And Disturbing Alternative Information

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was actually looking for a book on how to be a better writer. My eyes scanned one shelf down, and there was this book, with its crazy, comic-book style cover. I picked it up, and scanned only a few pages when I immediately recognized that I couldn't leave the book store without Outposts. I wasn't even fully aware of what it was I had purchased, and yet my satisfaction with my purchase is unabated. For the past two days I have been putting off all my more important reading (I did also buy a book on how to be a better writer, but I have barely cracked it open) and "wasting" my time reading Outposts. When I am done writing this review, guess what I'll be doing?

Even though my copy was written in 1995, there is something all the more interesting about it, and its relevence continues. For example, what may seem like a dated section on religious extremism, is profoundly prophetic. The editor, Russ Kick, mentions in one of his reviews the bombing of the World Trade Center as an example of radical Muslim violence. Little did he know what was coming down the road six years after his book was published, and yet that section is not obsolete. Neither are the sections on drugs, sex, or other bizarre but interesting fringe culture interests. Kick tapped into 'zines, but he was ahead of the internet by about one year, or right on the cusp of the internet, and so you won't find any references to web sites or URLs. This is a catalog of printed material, only.

What makes this book even more relevent is that we are living in an age of government wire taps, government spying on our Google search queries, the whole war in the name of religion phenomenon, and just about everything else the book has to offer. Lucky for me, I bought this used at a book store, where paying cash for the book would not arouse the Fed's "book purchase keyword scrutinizer program". I just made that up, but you know it's coming down the pike!

I have purchased a total of five copies of this book over the years. Everytime I let it out of my hands it never returned. I always wished for an updated and revised version but now I see that it's out-of -print which is a shame because even though the internet has given us a wealth of information on everything sometimes you just don't know what to look for. Simply put this book made me interested in things I never knew I was interested in. Even today it is still the perfect leaping point into the strange and alternative. And NOT for the faint. The alternative sex section really does give you information on books and such dealing with alternative sex and I'm talking Law & Order:SVU stuff. THere was even a book written that should become the Roman Catholics church "unofficial Bible." Disturbing but facinating. I've actually read this thing cover to cover like a novel.

its an incredible resource guide for people looking for almost any kind of fringe information. i always thought i was pretty much ahead of the curve when it came to hidden or bizarre material, but i grossly overestimated my breadth of knowledge after reading Outposts. everything from sex art fringe politics drugs--its not only a great sourcebook but many of the publishers listed have EVEN more great books...amazing

This is a great catalogue for those seeking info not accessible by the normal public, like how to be your own mortician.

This book covers so many things. Open it at random and get a sampling of alternative resources never imagined. The bonus is that many of these alternative resource works mentioned in this book are still available. If you have really broad interests, this is a book for you as a starting point for investigations.

I expected a loompanics type of catalog with book listings mixed with several 2 or 3 page articles. This book is just a catalog with pictures of the books and a small paragraph next to the book picture of what the book discusses...THERE IS NO 2 or 3 page alternative ARTICLE INFORMATION.

My review of Outposts can be found there. It is complete
with a content listing as well as a scan of the cover

Review w/cover scan is located at the above URL