The Lords and the New Creatures (Paperback)

by Jim Morrison (Author) "Look where we worship..." (more)
Key Phrases: The Lords

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Intense, erotic, and enigmatic, Jim Morrison's persona is as riveting now as the lead singer/composer "Lizard King" was during The Doors' peak in the late sixties. His fast life and mysterious death remain controversial more than twenty years later.

The Lords and the New Creatures, Morrison's first published volume of poetry, is an uninhibited exploration of society's dark side -- drugs, sex, fame, and death -- captured in sensual, seething images. Here, Morrison gives a revealing glimpse at an era and at the man whose songs and savage performances have left their indelible impression on our culture.

About the Author
Jim Morrison was the lead singer, composer, and lyricist for The Doors until his death in 1971. Several books of his poems were published posthumously.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 141 pages
• Publisher: Fireside; Later Printing edition (October 15, 1971)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671210440
• ISBN-13: 978-0671210441
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #68,405 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mystic, enigmatic writings, January 2, 2002

By	Michael J. Mazza (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

"The Lords and the New Creatures" is a collection of poetry by Jim Morrison, who was lead singer of The Doors. The book is divided into two sections: "The Lords: Notes on Vision," and "The New Creatures." This is one of those intriguing books that I by chance picked off the shelf in a bookstore and just began reading there in the aisle; I found Morrison's work so engrossing that within a few minutes I knew I had to buy the book and explore it more deeply.

The first division of the book is dominated by prose poems. This portion of the book is a combination of mystical/philosophical treatise and cultural criticism, often supplemented with historical references; here Morrison sounds like the love child of William Blake and Roland Barthes. The second part of the book consists largely of free verse and is more enigmatic; with its sometimes nightmarish imagery, "The New Creatures" strikes me as Morrison's own personal Book of Revelation.

An important theme in this book is the archetypal city: "a ring of death / with sex at its center." Morrison also writes about the alchemist, the voyeur, and other figures. Much of the book deals with the motion picture as both art and cultural institution. Throughout the book are hallucinogenic swirls of cross-cultural references and allusions: Yoga, the assassin Oswald, hermaphroditism, the Christian trinity, Tarot cards, ventriloquism, lynching, etc.

In "The Lords and the New Creatures," Morrison seems to be trying to attain a unified vision/theory that encompasses both modern technology and humanity's mythic heritage. His poetic language is often quite startling. This is a remarkable volume by an artist who is himself an iconic figure in 20th century pop culture.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE LORDS. THE NEW CREATURES, November 8, 2002

By	*The Sireness* (USA) - See all my reviews

The only authorized examples of Morrison's poetry were issued in 1969 as private limited editions of only 100 copies each. Later American editions became essential reading, not only for fans of The Doors but for all with an interest in contemporary American verse. The Lords and The New Creatures are an important appendix to the breathtaking music Jim left behind. Great Poetry book done by a great american poet!

Fall down.
Strange gods arrive in fast enemy poses.
Their shirts are soft marrying
cloth and hair together.
All along their arms ornaments
conceal veins bluer than blood
pretending welcome.
Soft lizard eyes connect.
Their soft drained insect cries erect
new fear, where fears reign.
The rustling of sex against their skin.
The wind withdraws all sound.
Stamp your witness on the punished ground.

Buy this book! I highly recommend it!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The west is the best, get here and you'll hear the rest., April 8, 1999

By A Customer

"Wake-up!"..." Is everybody in, everybody in? The ceremony is about to begin. Let me tell you about surrealism and the lost god."For those who are sincere to themsleves and can dig deep into the soul, you could indeed capture the poetry in which life is all about. Poetry gives life form, most people see poetry as a series of rhyming words. They have got it all wrong. Jim explored the world not as how he would of wanted it to be, but the way this world already is. Some people show ignorance in the disorder that we are sorrounded with, Jim didn't. He was a poet of truth, that's what Jim tells us in this book.