I had the pleasure of visiting and drinking with Mr. Wilson casually for a couple hours over a couple of days at a conference in New York City 10 years ago. As a connoisseur of fine conspiracies, I was pleased to give him a Kentucky moonshiner variant on some of this. That is, I got to detail some of the finer points of my late grandfather's riffs on the close ties between the Democratic Party in America with the communists and the Catholic Church, whom Brown Barger strongly suspected were in cahoots. Good times there, laughing at the silly hillbilly conspiracy theory. Of course, just last week the Pope had to cut loose a high priest in their Polish organization after it came out he was in cahoots with the communist government during the Cold War. Wheels within wheels.
Anyhow, Brother Bob has slipped this mortal coil. One might guess that Tim Leary greeted him with a dose, and they're trippin' like fat rats and bouncing off the stars.
His personal consciousness might not be here to continue enjoying it, but in his mortal time Robert Anton Wilson put his own distinct twist into the DNA of our collective intellect that will far outlive his weak fleshly body. He may be dead and gone, but he'll probably always be one of the top voices I hear in my head.
Editor's note: Another BC writer, Jesse Miksic, has also written a tribute.
ROBERT ANTON WILSON RESOURCES
Robert Anton Wilson - his official site
Al Barger's Robert Anton Wilson stash
Guns and Dope Party Robert Anton Wilson's political party, advocating drugs, guns and equal rights for ostriches
RAW's introduction to the Principia Discordia, which was written by some fans of the Illuminatus! books in which Wilson had made up quotes from a non-existent treatise. Or that's what he said some days. Lying bastard had a different story every time he told it. Any way you slice it, Robert Anton Wilson was the inspiration and patron saint for Bob and the whole Church of the Subgenius stuff.
De-oxy Major RAW stash
Article comments
1 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Nice write-up, Al--I'll never look at the stars in quite the same way.
2 - Joe Erjavec
That was a nice review of his writing and his life.
3 - Natalie Bennett
This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net, which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States. Nice work!
4 - Paul Levinson
I never had the pleasure of meeting him, but I was proud - and still am - that he cited my Digital McLuhan as a book worth reading.
5 - Al Barger
Paul Levinson- That is TOTALLY COOL! If RAW recommended your book, that's one of the coolest literary endorsements you could ever get.
Also, thank y'all for your kind words.
And remember: If you don't SEE the fnords, they can't eat you.
6 - Richard Marcus
Al
I had the extreme pleasure of being entirely confused and befuddled by the Illuminatus Triology every time I picked it up. Thank you for this timely reminder of one of the truely wonderful books out there. One as shame that the mind behind it has moved on.
"Will always be one of the voices..." offers the world of explanation for so much.
Great review old buddy, keep the faith, however you need to.
cheers
Richard Marcus
(Beady Eyed Canadian with my head full of lies and proud of it)
7 - M Stokes
A voice in my head for years as well, Wilson will live long in the heads of many fans.
8 - Al Barger
Thank you for your kind words, Brother Marcus. I would return the display of affection, but I'm afraid that people will say we're in love.
Here's a favorite quote though, and probably his best bit of practical RAW wisdom.
9 - SHARK
RAW = One of the great minds of the late 20th century.
Most of America (including the media) has no idea what a wonderful treasure has been lost.
I first read RAW some 30 years ago -- and he's always been one of the most powerful [literary] influences on my life. I probably go back and reread RAW once every few months, sometimes weeks; there's always an epiphany hidden somewhere in there that I had forgotten.
What a rare mind he had.
No wife, no horse, no mustache,
Shark
10 - SHARK
My special favorites:
The Universe Next Door (trilogy)
Masks of the Illuminatus
Cosmic Trigger (series)
========
PS: Happy birthday, Robert!
11 - Moses Austin
Robert Anton Wilson was a pope among tsars. He was the greatest mind of the late twentieth century. There is no doubt about it.
(Sorry Bob for all the is's)