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"The Book of Results" returns

trouser the trouserian

03:59 / 21.04.05

Ray Sherwin's classic "The Book of Results" is coming back into print. First released in 1978, it was the first book to and examine & represent Spare's sigil techniques, and is rightly considered to be one of the founding texts of the chaos scene. Apparently this edn has been greatly revised and expanded.

You can order it here

More details as I get 'em.

electric monk

20:12 / 21.04.05

So down with this. It'll be a pleasure to replace the printout from Jaq Hawkins site that sits on my bookshelf.

And now you've got me wondering about 'Theater of Magic'. Know of any plans for that? 'Results' and 'Theater' were the first two Chaos texts I read as a fresh-faced newbie and, like a baby duck just cracking out of his shell, I seem to have imprinted on Sherwin in a big way. Are u my Chao-Daddy? I don't know what it is about his writing, but it yanked me ferociously into the magic lifestyle and I haven't looked back. I still read the printout of 'Theater' (complete with handmade cover *blush*) every now and again, always starting at the stroke of midnight as per the instructions contained therein. Silly, I know.

Anyways, looking forward to more details. T'anks for sharing.

trouser the trouserian

04:05 / 22.04.05

Know of any plans for that?

I can but ask. I do feel Ray deserves his 'profile' upping somewhat - after all, chaos magic would not have kicked off the way it did without him.

illmatic

08:50 / 22.04.05

I'd like to know exactly how updated it will be. I have the first reprint by Revelations23 from a couple of years ago - wonder if they'll be much new stuff that's not in there?

trouser the trouserian

10:14 / 22.04.05

Well I've just blagged a copy out of the bloke who's organising the reprint - Phillip Cooper, author of a number of books on magic himself. Nice chap, as I recall. I'll let you know soon as I get my sticky paws on it.

electric monk

13:15 / 22.04.05

I can but ask.

Much appreciated, trouser. Thanks.

trouser the trouserian

07:16 / 04.05.05

I've had some time to look at this edn now and it is basically a re-presentation of the 1987 (Revelations 23 Press) edn, with some additional material - essays on Chaos Magic, Aromatics in magic, Ray's objections to hierarchical structures, etc., most of which has been previously published in either Nuit-Isis or Chaos International. There's only one essay which I haven't read before. I was rather hoping that Ray's marvellously satirical arabian-nights style tale "The Black Ass" would be included, but it wasn't.

However, it is nice to have Ray's various thoughts on magic in one volume, and if you're interested in sigil magic - well, "The Book of Results" was the first book to deal with Spare's methodology in an accessible way, so reading it could well be a counter to much of the obsfucation which has followed it.

xytar with a Z

00:48 / 12.10.06

I've read some of the online book.
My girlfriend just got me a copy.
I haven't done much with my Sigils lately.
so I am looking forward.
Anyone know the book?

ghadis

01:16 / 12.10.06

Well worth a read.
Get your Sigils flying.
Sherwins great for groups.
Get your friends all trying.
(or is that the other book?)

But, yes xytar, it a great book.
Try it all out then come back
to barbelith
to tell us
how it
turned
out.

And give your girlfriend a kiss from me.

Robert B

19:47 / 28.10.06

I picked it up last year and it was a good, quick, and succinct primer on sigils. Certainly worth picking up.

Scarlet Reed

09:59 / 29.10.06

I got these books from the Sorcerers' Apprentice who published them. They also published Liber Null and Psychonaut. Book of Results is headed 4th edition 1983 so presumably it had been around for a bit. Excellent books - Sherwin manages to pack a lot into a pretty small space.

Olulabelle

13:06 / 29.10.06

So Trouser, would you recommned it to someone who hadn't read it the first time around?

Frank Fress

16:23 / 29.10.06

I purchased what I feel was a recent reprinting a couple of years ago, I'm not exactly certain of the printing date. As far as the update is concerned, there was an expanded section on the use and creation of incense for ritual work. Some thirty or so pages I believe. Very in depth and it really opened me up to the incorporation of the olfactory sense in ritual work. This book stands as a seminal choas text and as such is short sweet and to the point. Highly recommended.

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