Surfing the Consciousness Net [Paperback]

Timothy Francis Leary (Author), Robert Williams (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1995

graphics Howard Hallis, paintings Robert Williams

Product Details

• Paperback: 121 pages
• Publisher: Last Gasp (December 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0867194103
• ISBN-13: 978-0867194104
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,791,064 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Suicid is Painless, July 27, 2005

By 

Phineas Altenzauber "Finny" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surfing the Consciousness Net (Paperback)

As "Lead" indicated in his previous post, this book would not have been possible without "Nicotine Jim" Bauer, because "Nicotine" Tim borrowed freely from his "wrighting," a term which Tim defines as "bi-brain chaos". A paranoid manic-depressive with schizophrenic tendencies, his review of Tim's book appears to have been written during one of his more psychotic moments. I am saddened to say that I just learned that he has committed suicide. Tim always told him, "any time you want to commit suicide, I'm right behind you". Apparently, he finally listened to Tim and took an entire bottle of valproic acid, a prescription mood-stabilizer.

As f0r the book itself, Tim has really beautifully reworked Jim's letters into something coherent, something Nicotine Jim was really only capable of when the tranks began to flow. The book, a series of email conversations between Huck Getty Mellon du Pont and Bobbie ROM DOS, is beautifully illustrated. I am reminded of Jung's Psychology and Alchemy, albeit with the pictures in psychedelic technicolor. Tim's vision beautifully informs a graphic novel that transcends the limitations of the graphic novel. A beautiful book. No home should be without one.

5.0 out of 5 stars Space is the Place, July 12, 2005

By 

W.C. Leadbeater "Lead" (Invisible City, ND USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surfing the Consciousness Net (Paperback)

As someone who knew & loved Tim, I'd like to respond to his great, mysterious love for me -- love which transcended my bouts with mania, depression, schizophrenia & paranoia -- with the highest regard for his product here. The story, a series of internet conversations between Richard Alpert & one Huck Getty Mellon von Schlebrugge (or something like that) is lavishly illustrated, though not in typical comic book form: instead, the text all runs in columns with pictures next to it. The main problem with the illustration is that the backgrounds to the text, which look like some species of wallpaper, sometimes make it difficult to read the words. The story is based on the letters of one Nicotine Jim (now Nicotine-free) of whom Tim once said, "[He's] the only guy who can match me for craziness, & I mean that in a good way". The 2 together define a tragicosmic cosmicomic that transcends the usual limitations of the pulse-pounding action of comic books & makes for interesting reading. especially if you've just laid in a supply of rasta cigars. Read this one for fun & keep an eye out for W.C. Leadbeater -- one never knows where he'll pop up next.

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth your time, September 19, 2000

By 

"reguli" (Aliso Viejo, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surfing the Consciousness Net (Paperback)

What a great farewell this book is. It is typically Crazy. Leary had a certain knack for encapsulating the times, and here he does it with his regular enthusiasms and strange knowing wit.

The Hallis and Williams contribution is a treat, worth the price of admission.