Rating: 
Summary: Awful
Review: I picked up this book a couple of years ago while in search of literature on the secret Illuminati society, which according to legend, has run the world behind the scenes for centuries. Well, it was one of those few books which I could not even read. It was so trashy and sporadic in the first hundred pages that I tossed it aside. No doubt cult fans will be as mad at me as I would be if someone insulted "Star Wars," but in my humble opinion, this is shlock literature of the highest sort.
Rating: 
Summary: Either you love it or you hate it. Some people do both.
Review: I, personally, love it--not for the politics, not for the sex, but just for the fact that it's a berserk adventure story. How can you not like a story which begins with a simple magazine-office bombing and ends with resurrected Nazis, the Goddess Eris walking the earth in the body of Marilyn Monroe, and the oldest creature on earth marrying a submarine computer?
Rating:
Summary: Paradigm Shift (I hate my own title)
Review: Usually a damn funny story, sometimes tedious. I would have rated it a bit lower but for one thing. It really has changed how I view the world and taught me to reason for myself. When I read Nato press releases about Bosnia the Fnords are everywhere.
Rating:
Summary: what...what just happened? where am i?
Review: I read this book at the urging of my boyfriend. At first, it was to humor him...but then, I found myself totally caught up in the story! At times, it was a little hard to follow, jumping from place to place and time to time, but once I caught the swing, I couldn't put it down! But, one question...was there any woman in the book (besides, of course, Saul's and Barney's wives) that Hagbard DIDN'T have sex with??
Rating:
Summary: Approach with an open fnord mind!
Review: Flicking through the reviews, I find many of the people who don't like this book complain about the philosophy found within it, or the fact that the book contradicts itself. Well, let me tell you now why these are good points about the book. I don't agree with some points of Shea and Wilson's philosophy either. But the whole point of philosophy is debate. Illuminatus is the closest thing I've found to an "argument in a book" - you find yourself agreeing with some points the authors make, disagreeing with others, arguing with them mentally - and beginning to _think_. The ideas you come out with may not be the author's ideas - but they are ideas nonetheless. Secondly, the contradiction: it's intentional. The conspiracies in the book often hide their true history and purpose, and often people are lied to in order to manipulate them. It's ultimately up to the reader to interpret the book. I reckon this is one of the best books ever - and all the "neophobes" out there can winge all they like! ("Neophobe" is the book's term for one who fears new ideas).
Rating:
Summary: 23 point plan to destroy america and kill the reader
Review: I know who killed JFK! The authors, writing most of it on a long trip through the door of perception (of which I'm sure), reveal it quite openly. I know why there are wars. I know why there are the United States of America. I know virtually everything (I don't know the reasons for which one squirrel is wandering through the Central Park right now, though) for I am a new man after having read this novel. I know much enough to tell the omnipresent simultaneous narration and the sham stream of consciousness style will make you sick after having crawled through several pages of it. Yet then, before you decide whether you're reading a whodunit or a psychological-naturalist-science-fiction-metaphysi cal-gothic-horror-ezoteric-novel-with-a-deeper-mea ning you will get entangled into loads of data of which none will seem entirely false nor entirely true. You will read this book in secret. From then on you are lost and no-one can help you till you get to the last page and go 'Knew it!'. You will be avoiding shadowed places for the fear of the Illuminati (the beddies) by then, and trying to get in touch with the Discordians (the goodies). You will draw hundreds of pyramids and thousands of apples. You will go nearly crazy. And then you will go crazy.You're never gonna believe it, yet you're never gonna forget it. Addictive.
Rating:
Summary: Don't be afraid. Be very, very frightened!
Review: Read this book. Then remember that the truth is always stranger than the fiction!
Rating:
Summary: This book is so "out there" that it may be true
Review: The ultimate in conspiracy. The ultimate in the inner workings of the world. It sounds so crazy that it may be true. This book requires an open mind; a very open mind. The characters are as sensational as the story. This is not a cliche: you cannot put this book down!
Rating:
Summary: good
Review: Wilson is my master.This book changed my life.Well at least it gave me something to focus on during sex.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!
Review: This is such a cool book! I've read lots of conspiracy novels in my life, but this was the first one I read by Mr. Wilson. Though it his style can be very confusing at times, it is very thought provoking. Needless to say, I'm now going to have to get the rest of his books, if I ever get a job. But, I would highly recommend this book to any Discordians or englightened types, and even those who love conspiracy books. I must admit, that this may not be a good book for your general science fiction/fantasy conisseur, but too bad for them. This is such a cool book!
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