Reviewed by
Paul Lappen
For a couple of years, the Disinformation TV series
was shown in Britain. It dealt with all sorts of
strange topics. Through a quirk of fate, it was
scheduled right after Ally McBeal, an unintended bit
of surrealism. In America, the show was bought by the
Sci-Fi Channel, but never shown, because they suddenly
realized just what they had. The interviews reprinted
here represent the tame ""intellectual"" part of the show. The companion DVD contains the more bizarre
bits.
Duncan Laurie discusses the science of radionics.
Douglas Rushkoff looks at media viruses. Howard Bloom
(The Lucifer Principle) talks about the coming
biological apocalypse. Grant Morrison talks about
Hollywood's interest in underground culture and
relates a very cool alien abduction story. Artist Joe
Coleman discusses his thinking on serial killers.
Peter Russell looks at spiritual renewal and
ecological doomsday.
Robert Anton Wilson talks about Aleister Crowley and
the Illuminati. Artist Paul Laffoley has a solution to
the housing shortage; grow houses from plants. A
separate interview with Laffoley looks at a painting
of his which is supposedly alive. Metzger, the
interviewer, visits Kembra Pfahler, New York's most
outrageous performance artist. Last, but not least,
Genesis P-Orridge (of the band Throbbing Gristle)
tells what it's like to be the leader of your own
cult.
Those who understand the previous two paragraphs need
read no further; buy this book. For everyone else, the
people profiled here take their own paths through
life. They visit places that the rest of us don't even
know exist. The fringes of modern culture are where
they hang out.
Lest anyone think that this is just an interview book,
there are plenty of pictures included. Some of them
are quite disturbing, so this book is very much not
for everyone. For those who are ready to have their
minds forced open, this book will do a very good job.
It's highly recommended.