Customer Reviews

Sinister Forces-A Warm Gun: A Grimoire of American Political Witchcraft (Sinister Forces: A Grimoire of American Political Witchcraft) (Bk. 2)

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

 

 

When I'd read the 1st volume of Lavenda's trilogy a few years back, I had more than a few quibbles. For example, the story of Candy Jones is seemingly corroborated by John Marks while, in fact, Marks has said that even though Donald Bain gave him unlimited access to Bain's research, Marks was unable to find any correlation between Jone's tale and MK-Ultra.
Of course, there were later occurrences that appeared to give some credence to Jone's story, but Lavenda doesn't mention them. Given Jones' husband, Long John Nebel, and his predilection for hoaxing and his knowledge of hypnotism, I think the veracity of Jones' tale is still very much unproven.
Having said that though, now that I've finished all three volumes in succession, I doubt one would find a better compendium of good old all American weirdness anywhere.
Lavenda points out a fact that is often drowned out by all the "gee ain't America great" propaganda this country excretes in huge, stinky quantities; namely that we are a decidedly odd bunch , whose ostensibly "Christ-Loving" outer crust hides a gooey center of decidedly un-Christlike behavior. It always has and, most likely, always will be like that here in the United States of La-La.
One other thing, if you've access to the hardcover versions of these books, buy them. They are quite well done. Mr. Milligan & the Trine Day crew should be commended for not cutting corners when producing these book, something a small publisher like Trine Day is probably tempted, out of financial necessity, to do every day.
I've bought many books by major, well financed, publishers that pale in comparison.

regarding charges of political bias, i agree ... but i prefer these biases (unavoidable, really) to be out in the open rather than concealed behind a veneer of journalistic "neutrality." writers have Perspectives: file Levenda and Alex Constantine under Relatively Left and, i dunno, Michael Hoffman and William Cooper under Generally Right. as a reader i try to get as many viewpoints on a subject as possible ... and in the case of "A Warm Gun," i found the focus on Richard Mellon Scaife a welcome relief from Conservative Media's very public obsession with George Soros. the material on Jim Jones and Pat Robertson ("Operation Blessing," indeed!) were likewise enjoyed.

The author has done his homework into American history and polictics. Some of which is not all pretty. It show the thread of sinister forces that have been running in the country since the very begining of this nation. If your a conspiracy buff or not this book will get you thinking.

Not as riveting to me as Book 1, this is a historical overview and exposition of interrelationships between politics, drugs, intelligence agencies, religion, mind control and murder/assassination. Is there really such a merging/confusing of religion, psychology and politics? Is the CIA really so deeply embedded behind the scenes in so many national and world events? Is it just the CIA? I lead a sheltered life and glad I do.

Lavenda is amazingly well-read. But I started thinking Book 2 was somewhat superficial, a summarizing of the research & conclusions from the works he has surveyed. He makes many amazingly clarifying connections between dates and historical events. There is no doubt that these are truly unusual synchronicities and coincidences. To the point that I began to doubt that there could really be this many bizarre coincidences.

And then, while I was reading Book 2, the date of Osama bin Laden's death, May 1, was reported on the evening news to be the same date as the announcement of Adolph Hitler's death. That event alone proves Lavenda's point. His many, many points.

Good sequel to the first book, excellent research throughout, the only complaint is that it can be a tough read at times.

After reading Unholy Alliance and Sinister Forces, Book One; Sinister Forces, Book Two was naturally next in line. I really liked the first two books, but was a little disappointed in Sinister Forces, Book Two.

Mr. Levend'a research is without question and very extensive, giving us lots of information. He does a pretty good job of connecting the dots in an interesting manner, although with the sheer number of names it was difficult to follow at times, especially when he did his sidetracking.

As Book Two progressed, Mr. Levenda's political and religious bias/prejudices became very evident. I think the book could have been better balanced in that regard.

At this point, I vacillate over purchasing Sinister Forces, Book Three when it comes out.

This is now the third of Levenda's books I have read and the second in this particular series. As other reviewers have noted, by the end of this edition, the author's leftist political views and anti-Catholic epistemological perspective overwhelm the narrative to the point that credibility suffers. This is really rather sad, as Levenda is a talented writer, who has done, evidently, some significant research. Unfortunately, it becomes hard to take an author seriously who quite rightly attacks the Bush clan, whilst holding the hideous Clintons above reproach, and worse, misses no opportunity to villify the Church, while smiling at Wicca. The hypocricy is really breathtaking.

Understand that, in the corpus of this text, there is much that is worthwhile, certainly entertaining, and well presented. It is simply that the dictates of scrupulosity and exactitude cry out for better balance.

This volume ends, as did the last, not with a bang, but with a whimper. In fact, Levenda's last paragraph is, in its entirety, a quote from "The Book of Ceremonial Magic", of all things. We are left wondering as to the efficacy of picking up the next volume in the series. There is much else that cries out to be read. We may read the next in volume, if only in the hope that some sense of balance can be restored. But this may be another example of the triumph of hope over experience.

The author of Unholy alliance and Sinister Forces-The Nine, did not write this book. If he did it was another personality. Did he double? Like he claims so many have or could have? Maybe the Nazi's did get him in South America, and wiped his memory, if not the nazi's, then someone did. This book was slop. Almost as if someone else wrote it. Some adolescent.
The other reviewers are correct, BIASED is plain language. How he can blast the RNC while no mention of the filthy treacherous dirty deals of the DNC, or a reason to praise the Clinonistas is beyond belief. They are BOTH dirty. There was no honesty here. I guess with all his research ability, he chose selective or "erased" the memory of Mena Arkansas!

It was a sloppy FLUFF center to his oreo "Grimore". Which in book one led you to believe he had a premise that would lead somewhere. Ramblings on message boards are better written. The author of Unholy Alliance did not write this book.
Disgusted. ROBBED.

I can't believe how bad this book was. It did touch on a few topics that were enlightening but the last hundred pages were devoted to trying to convince the reader that Christians are evil people and that the Republican party is wicked. I'm not defending these two groups because I'am one myself, just because it was a blatant attack by the author. I don't know if he is being paid by the Democratic party to slander these two groups but it definitely appeared that way. I thought the first book in the series was decent but if you read that and liked it don't be fooled into buying this second book. I'm sorry that I wasted time and the money on this book, don't make this mistake.