The Way Of Wyrd: Tales Of An Anglo-Saxon Sorcerer

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Summary: Anglo-Saxon Castaneda
Review: Like my subject line says, I conceive this book as having been written as a response to Castaneda. The similarities are remarkable. The differences, however, are striking. Primarily, Bates has done his homework and his research is impeccable. A valuable bibliography is provided at the end of the text. Also, the protagonist is much stronger and more direct with his observations, thereby allowing the subject to be explored and completed in one volume rather than 9 (were there really that many Castaneda books?) Although its "Saxonness" is minimal, this is a strength of the book. It doesn't fall into a narrow perspective, but rather incorporates the most important aspects of shamanism as a whole. Recommended as a refreshingly alternative way to jar the average person out of their own "reality" and into that of the sorcerer.

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Summary: possible life-changing experience, so they say!
Review: Like the previous reviewer from NY, I too read this book after listening to Sabbat's "Dreamweaver" LP. It is a dark, yet enchanting book that portrays life as it was, or could well be. Based upon lost wisdom, this book may well awaken primeval instincts, provide the reader with a connection to man's latent power....just read it and see what you feel.... a very powerful piece of literature!

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Summary: subtle powerful
Review: this book touched something deep within me...i am scottish but i identify the english need to rediscover their pagan past and this book gives a snap shot of the dark maysteries that surrounded the shaman and the fear that he struck in the souls of the early christian missionaries... but to be frank...how people can link it with people like matrin walkier and sabbat/skyclad is a bit of a mystery to me...when i saw skyclad in plymouth in '92...it was like watching a grotesque pantomime..pueudo pagans jumping on a bandwagon..