Customer Reviews

Portable Darkness: An Aleister Crowley Reader

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I can't believe I have to be the first reviewer of this book. This is, in my opinion, the best place to start if you want to know what Crowley was all about. It has a very wide sampling of his voluminuos writing, with academic commentary. Much of Crowley's work is difficult to understand because he assumes you are as educated as he is, and because he frequently makes jokes designed to misleed and outrage those with a puritanical leaning. Having someone who has obviously spent some time studying Crowley and his ideas as a guide is an excellent benefit. Even though this book is out of print it seems to be widely and cheaply available, so buy a copy already.

When I looked at this book in first edition printing back in 1989, I thought it was a terribly skimpy selection of Crowley's writings. I was also concerned that the heavy editorial content interwoven with the selections would skew a natural, spontaneous reading of Crowley's work. At that time I felt that reading Crowley in situ instead of in anthologies was a much better approach. Now I have come around to see "Portable Darkness" not so much as a selection of Crowley's work, but as an extended critical essay on Crowley with sufficient original source material (Crowley's own words) thrown in to make an informed judgment on whether you like Crowley, and on whether the editor/commentator is making good points. As such it is completely without precedent and invaluable. The author is an extremely intelligent man.

I should also add that the material on so-called western tantra is very complete in itself and includes some works simply not available elsewhere, unless you are a member of an occult group. For this reason alone, it is an invaluable addition to any occultist's library, particularly occultists with a respect for Crowley.

If you want to round out your Crowley library, I highly recommend "Book 4, Magick in Theory and Practice," in the very usefully annotated edition prepared by the OTO head Hymanaeus Beta; "Magick without Tears," less profound that Book 4, but easier to read; "Gems from the Equinox" which purportedly (but does not quite) includes all the magickal writings from Crowley's original opus "The Equinox;" and "Holy Books of Thelema" which includes all the "revealed" or transmitted, Class A writings.

Some of (maybe most of) Crowley's writings are as impenetrable as Blake, Wordsworth, Shelley, and Keats, which is to say, not impossible but certainly poetically grandiose and mind-numbing for anyone but a hardcore English lit major. Book 4 or Magick in Theory and Practice is an exception, the only true grimoire (grammar or rules of magick) produced in the 20th century (Bardon straddling the line between a grimoire and the ultimate self-improvement book for the aspiring occultist).

Finally, the summer beach book par excellence is Magick in Theory and Practice in the inexpensive, non-annotated Dover edition. While you won't be able read the Greek or Latin, unlike Beta's "Book 4" you will be able to carry it in a backpack without getting a hernia.

I too am surprised at the lack of reviews. This is one of the best collections and discussions of Crowley's work from an intellectual point of view that I've ever seen. I purchased my copy when it was first published and it remains one of my favorite books on the subject of "Uncle Al". I'd easily give it 6 stars out of 5!

The Beast was an iconclast. In this handy volume you have a flavour of his idea: whatever the source, whatever the reason, whatever the idea, smash it up then put it back together. If it's really strong it won't break. It'll bounce off the floor and smash you in the face. Crowley was notorious for abusing his disciples. The reason he did this was he did'nt want disciples, he wanted empowered fearless individuals like himself capable of exploring the heights and depth of humanity and beyond. He 'broke on through to the other side' and in doing so actually broke himself. He was a pioneer for the rest of us. This is a sketch map not a treasure hunters guide to his pilgrim's progress.

This is the book I wish I'd had many years ago, when I started reading Crowley. Excellently put together. I highly recommend this book! I couldn't put it down!

I now understand why this book is still available so cheaply; I'm sorry I wasted $10 on it.

I was hoping it would be an insightful commentary on Crowley's writing; however, what it is mostly is a collection of works by Crowley that Michaelsen feels are important. Each section is preceded by an "essay" by Michaelsen which amounts to little more than excerpts from Crowley strung together in a confusing way; he doesn't really contribute anything that would help a person understand Crowley better. His use of parentheses is so extensive it makes me wonder why he didn't just put everything in parentheses and be done with it. He also makes liberal use of footnotes which are at the end of the essay, so you have to keep flipping back and forth. It's illustrated with black & white photos but there's nothing new, all the usual suspects. All in all, poorly done and disappointing.

This is a great book anyone looking to discover a great philosopher should pick this up.

This book gives a good survey of, or introduction to, Crowley's work. I suggest that anyone interested in Crowley start here and then read The Beast's writings.