Uncle Fester (author)

:"For the character in The Addams Family, see Uncle Fester"

Uncle Fester is the author of such controversial books as "Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture," and "Silent Death."

hort bio

"Uncle Fester" is the nom de plume used by Steve Preisler to write his books. He gained underground fame after publishing his first book "Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture" in the early 1980s. He says that he got the nickname "Uncle Fester" from his college years, since he was very well known for producing explosives, and blowing things up, like the character in "The Addams Family".

Steve Preisler is an industrial chemist working in an electroplating factory he calls "the rat hole". In his spare time, he writes books. Preisler graduated in 1981 from Marquette University with a Chemistry & Biology degree. Two years later, he was arrested for methamphetamine possession and was sentenced to probation. He was arrested again in 1984 for methamphetamine charges, and put in the Waupun Correctional Institution. He says that the arrest was over a few grams of methamphetamine, but the DEA brought back credit card information saying that he had been buying large quantities of ephedrine, which is a for methamphetamine.

Outraged, Fester borrowed a typewriter from a fellow inmate, and began writing the manuscript for "Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture". Loompanics Unlimited published the book, and it was an instant success. "Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture" is now in its Seventh edition. It was one of Loompanics' best sellers. The book has information on how to produce crystal methamphetamine through over six different methods. It also has data on how to synthesize MDMA or MDA, and how to synthesize Methcathinone by oxidation of ephedrine. It also contains syntheses for precursor materials such as phenylacetone, ephedrine, methylamine, and alkyl nitrites. Previous editions of "Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture" have had some criticism, see for example [http://www.erowid.org/archive/rhodium/chemistry/eleusis/eleusis.vs.fester.html Eleusis Vs. Fester] for discussion between Fester and "old English" major Eleusis/Zwitterion.

Uncle Fester has since written six more books, "Home Workshop Explosives", in which Fester goes into detail of how the underground chemist can easily manufacture his own explosives. One of the most interesting explosives he covers is nitroglycerin. Also included in the book are syntheses for RDX, ammonium nitrate, acetone peroxide blasting caps, nitroglycol, mannitol hexanitrate or nitromannitol, and PETN. Not only does he offer the syntheses for the explosives, but also has information on how to purify glycerin, how to synthesize nitric acid with minimal equipment, and how to make a Fuel-air explosive (commonly known as an FAE). One reviewer of "Home Workshop Explosives" (David Harber, author of "Guerrilla's Arsenal") notes that although the chemistry is solid, the chapter on Detonation Systems "borders on insanity."

One of his most deadly books is "Silent Death", which describes routes for manufacturing nerve gases (such as tabun and sarin gas), botulinum (botulin toxin), ricin, phosgene, arsine, and other poisons.

"Vest Busters" is Fester's smallest book. It goes over easy methods for creating Teflon coated bullets, and other vest penetrating ammunition. It has since been determined that the addition of a Teflon coating to a projectile has little or no effect on its ability to penetrate bullet-resistant vests.Fact|date=March 2008

"Practical LSD Manufacture" is one of Fester's more famous books. It deals with how one could manufacture a large quantity of LSD. This book is not filled up with most of the hard-to-understand information on LSD syntheses that is currently available. The book has production information for the drug TMA-2, and plenty of information about how to isolate lysergic acid from morning glory seeds, and other plant material. This work is not without its criticisms: the use of more outdated syntheses from the 1950's and 1960's, lacking the synthesis using POCl₃ as a dehydrating reagent in the condensation between diethylamine and lysergic acid; the speculation about "Method X" is erroneous, as propionic anhydride is used in the synthesis of fentanyl analogues; and there is some confusion over stereoisomers by Fester.

A more advanced 'add-on' for Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture is his book "Advanced Techniques of Clandestine Psychedelic & Amphetamine Manufacture". The main focus of the book is to provide a more advanced method of synthesizing methamphetamine using what is called "The Fester Formula," which describes how to manufacture methamphetamine through an electric synthesis. The book also covers many alternative methods for manufacturing phenylacetone and methylamine. One chapter of the book, "A Convenient Tabletop MDA Synthesis" describes an alternative method for synthesizing MDA in a small area such as a dorm room.

His newest book, "Bloody Brazilian Knife Fightin' Techniques" covers methods for common fighting techniques from Brazil.

Books by Uncle Fester

*"Advanced Techniques of Clandestine Psychedelic & Amphetamine Manufacture". ISBN 1-55950-174-X.
*"Home Workshop Explosives, Second Edition". ISBN 0-9701485-4-2.
*"Practical LSD Manufacture". ISBN 1-55950-123-5.
*"Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture Sixth Edition with Recipes for MDA, Ecstacy, and other Psychedelic Amphetamines". ISBN 1-55950-223-1.
*"Silent Death, Revised and Expanded Second Edition". ISBN 0-9701485-3-4.
*"Vest Busters: How to Make your Own Body-Armor-Piercing Bullets". ISBN 0-9701485-1-8.
*"Bloody Brazilian Knife Fightin' Techniques" ISBN 0-9701485-5-0.

ee also

* Amphetamine
* Methamphetamine
* Clandestine chemistry
* Chemistry
* Ecstasy
* Ephedrine
* Nerve gas
* Nitroglycerin

External links

* [http://www.unclefesterbooks.com Uncle Fester's official website]
* [http://eurohacker.mine.nu/index.php?show_article=i004a015 Review of "Silent Death"] in EuroHacker Magazine
* [http://eurohacker.mine.nu/index.php?show_article=i004a018 Review of "Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture"] in EuroHacker Magazine
* [http://eurohacker.mine.nu/index.php?show_article=i006a009 Review of "Bloody Brazilian Knife Fightin' Techniques"] in EuroHacker Magazine