Join My Cult

Infobox Book |
name = Join My Cult
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translator =


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author = James Curcio
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series =
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genre = Satire, Novel
publisher = New Falcon Publications
release_date = November 2004
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 256 pp
isbn = ISBN 1-56184-173-0
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"Join My Cult" is a subversive, satirical novel written by James Curcio and released by New Falcon Publications (publisher of some notable counter-culture authors such Robert Anton Wilson, Timothy Leary, and Aleister Crowley). It is a work of collaborative fiction based on real events. In a subsequent interview the author said the book was meant to be a prologue for his second novel, "Fallen Nation: Babylon Burning". [ [http://fallennation.mythosmedia.net/content/139interview.mp3 Freq23 Interview] ]

Plot summary

Many have likened "Join My Cult!"'s non-linear or cut-up style to Thomas Pynchon, William Burroughs, and Robert Anton Wilson. Also like the works of these authors, there have been heated debates about its cultural value or lack thereof. [e.g. [http://ashejournal.com/index.php?id=35 Ashe Journal Review.] ]

Various plot elements focus on groups of suburban kids experimenting with shamanism and hallucinogens, who quickly discover themselves unhinged from the culture around them. It details events surrounding their harrowing plunge into this abyss, regularly shifting narrator and frame of reference from one member of the group to the other. Curcio utilizes atypical narrative and grammatical structures in the form of neurolinguistic and hypnotic confusion techniques within the text in an effort to stimulate a similar experience over the course of reading. That Curcio was intentionally utilizing these techniques is shown in various interviews such as a Gpod radio interview found on his website. [ [http://www.greylodge.org/gpc/?p=49 Gpod Interview with Joseph Matheny] ]

It was later revealed in a free online sample of his second novel, "Fallen Nation: Babylon Burning" [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/1419672657 Fallen Nation: Babylon Burning] ] that "Join My Cult!" was penned by the one member of this group, "Agent139," while in the mental asylum, with the intention of driving his doctors insane. "Fallen Nation: Babylon Burning" - published by Mythos Media - chronicles the adventures of several of the characters from "Join My Cult!" after their escape from this asylum, and follows a more traditional narrative structure.

Reviews

The book received a positive review from Jive Magazine. [ [http://www.jivemagazine.com/review.php?rid=940 Jive Magazine review] ]

About the author

Born Jamie Curcio (July 9, 1978, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Curcio has published numerous novels, graphic novels, essays, albums and podcasts independently as well as through Disinfo, New Falcon, Alterati, Key 64, JIVE Magazine, Immanion Press, and New Fiction. Many of these projects use heavily applied viral marketing, and deal with issues relating to myth, consciousness and identity. [ [http://www.realitysandwich.com/node/268 Reality Sandwich Interview] ]

Footnotes

References

*Curcio, James (2004). "Join My Cult". New Falcon Publications. ISBN 1-56184-173-0

External links

* [http://www.joinmycult.org Join My Cult!]
* [http://www.key64.net/feature/535-join-my-cult-the-truth-behind-the-story Join My Cult! - The Truth Behind the Story]
* [http://newfalcon.com/books/join_my_cult.htm The New Falcon site of the book]
* [http://fallennation.mythosmedia.net Fallen Nation: Babylon Burning]
* [http://www.jamescurcio.net Author's site]