"
Paving Stones of Xanadu is
a conscientious assault not only on all literary convention and
'rules-of-writing'
but an assault on the reader by manipulating images and symbols
to trigger repressed connections in the subconscious mind. it
is an examination of identity as illusion. it ranges from absurdity
and exalted silliness to graphic violence and the nightmarishly
erotic. the use of nineteenth century purple prose is a sensual
experience. a reader might not easily recognize, it is essentially
a work of erotica-as well as a symbolic rape not only of all
the
socio-cultural paradigms but of the reader's consciousness as
well."
- L. A. Ruocco, Brooklyn, NY, 2004
"Master Dark is a monumental work of modern poetic
literature, full of ubridled perversity and dark lurking wisdom.
It rivals
Burroughs
in its hallucinogenic visulas and mutated protagonists, and Ballard
in its dreamily scientific erudition and verbal precision. It
creates a modern and timeless mythology, weaving together strands
pulled from the depths of history and the bowels of the psyche.
This is a book you can smell."
- Sean Hopp, Chicago, 2004
It looks like erotic horror. It is listed as adult fiction. But
what is THE CULT OF FLESH really? Well, I'm not sure and I just
finished reading it. The story centers around a poet living in
Paris. He has decided to give up on his unremarkable career and
spend his days pursuing a hedonistic lifestyle by immersing himself
in the pleasures of the flesh. But as the story opens, he makes
the acquaintance of a beautiful woman and is introduced to Count
Vico.
Count Vico is central to the story but we know little about
him. He seems to be of evil intent. One character calls him
the Anti-Christ. James Joyce wrote of a Count by the same name.
But whatever he is, he seems in control of the lives of many
people. Soon our protagonist is deeply involved with the Counts
machinations and flees to Spain in the company of a beautiful
woman. Eventually he winds up back in Paris and we learn more
of the Count and his control of others.
Oddly, this book is written by a poet and is about a poet.
In one scene, the main character meets someone with the author's
name. Is this a poet's attempt at describing a philosophy of
freedom, or is it the justification of free love? Whatever
you feel it may represent, it is done by mixing non-erotic
sex scenes with the spouting of philosophy. While the book
is packaged to resemble erotica and it is packed with sexual
encounters, it is not an erotic work. It is often very explicit
but never titillating. It is not erotica or horror. It is instead
a philosophical exercise that probably sold better marketed
as erotica than it would have as philosophy.
- Joshua Koppel, Chicago, 2005
