Just as interesting are McWilliams' revelations regarding ardent anti-spammers, the folks who have tracked spam back to the lair of those who spewed it, complained to ISPs, created blacklists of spammers, and more. And what is intriguing is the degree to which spammers and anti-spammers both detest one another and yet continue to speak to one another. McWilliams documents countless conversations between anti-spammers and their opponents; often, the spammers complain of being unfairly lumped in with the "real" bad guys in the business. And often spammers seemed willing to provide anti-spammers with information on other spammers, if only in the hope to get a break themselves.

And it's also ultimately an unflattering indictment of our society in general. McWilliams notes that a number of prominent anti-spammers ended up working for their erstwhile foes (supposedly to help fight spam "from the inside"). Many anti-spammers bemoan the fact that once upon a time, "hackers" regarded spammers as a species of insect only worthy of destroying, whereas now many hackers have embraced spam (largely because they've seen the dollar signs). And that's the real problem: that people want the crap peddled by spammers. The Internet lets them set up a little "brown bag" delivery system without ever leaving the comfort and sanctuary provided by their computer screen.

As McWilliams writes:

The Internet didn't invent plan, brown-wrapper deliveries. But spam provides Internet users with new levels of anonymous access to the dodgiest of items. By double-clicking a hyperlink in a spam message, consumers can order cable descramblers, "free" government grants, and fake diplomas. Thanks to junk email, any consumer with an Internet connection and a credit card now has access to raunchy, and in some cases illegal, porn without the inconvenience of having to drive to the nearest adult bookstore. From the privacy of their homes or offices, spam recipients can get nonprescription access to controlled drugs via the web sites of fly-by-night apothecaries on servers in South America.

The thing about Spam Kings is this: it is fascinating to read about the bizarre characters behind so many of the bogus messages that appear in my email inbox, and it's also intriguing to learn about the odd duality between spammers and those who fight it. But it is also rather depressing to realize that yet again, "We have met the enemy, and it is us." McWilliams' Spam Kings is a good, entertaining book that ultimately may only confirm one basic principle, articulated by Davis Hawke like this: some people are stupid.