Nexus - 0703 - New Times Magazine-pages

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APRIL — MAY 2000 & REVIEWS against work which is further highlighted in background (and gives some sensible tips) to B oO oO K Ss the so-called Neo-Catiline conspiracy where _ steer the lay "ley hunter" on the right path. he argues for the cancellation of all Third And while these ancient paths through the THE ARCH CONSPIRATOR World debt in the face of the forces of glob- _ landscape (not just in Britain, but in Europe, by Len Bracken al capitalism. There are raves taking incon- _ the Americas and Australia) have unusual Publisher: Adventures Unlimited Press, spiratorial underpinnings in Russia, Poland, _ properties and connections, long-term Kempton, Illinois, USA, 1999 Italy, Central America and South Africa, as _ attempts to quantify their energy patterns SBN: 0-932813-72-0 (343pp tpb) well as his lengthy thesis on a zero-work and functions have drawn inconclusive Price: NLGf40,90 to UK; NLGF35,90 in theory of revolution and general theory of results—as Sullivan's predecessor and men- Europe; USD$1 4.95 + p&h , civil war. Some of this material is off the tor Paul Devereux found with his Rollright Avail bl - UKIE NEXUS Offi wall, but Bracken is ultimately witty, enter- stones Dragon Project. . . vallable: urope— Ice, taining and mind-expanding. Here, Sullivan's focus is on the enigma of Haar eoaii af “3 (on a eis) 2s3 straight landscape lines, be they Watkinsian —Aaventures Unlimited, tel . . . ley lines, astronomical alignments, energy 6390, fax (815) 253 6300, e-mail LEY LINES: A Comprehensive Guide paths, processional ways, old straight tracks, auphq@frontiernet.net to Alignments . funeral paths, death roads, spirit lines, or merican author and self-styled "arch by Danny Sullivan UFO highways a /a Aimé Michel. Sullivan conspirator" Len Bracken has some Publisher: Piatkus, UK, 1999 includes a directory of ley lines, together nerve stamping his favourite moniker on his ISBN: 0-7499-2017-3 (230pp he) with diagrams, covering over SO sites in the new book, but it's in keeping with the rogu- Price: AUD$44.95; NZD$79.95; £16.99; —_British Isles and Europe. Above all, he fos- ish style that permeates his writings on con- | NLG66,90 , ters the spirit of enquiry by encouraging spiracy theory and history. Bracken has his Available: Aust—Hodder Headline, tel readers to get involved and build up their own conspiracy zine, Extraphile, and is a (02) 8248 0800; NZ—David Bateman Ltd, own ley maps in their areas. contributor to alternative publications such tel (09) 415 7664; UK—Piatkus Books, tel as Steamshovel Press, whose editor, Kenn 0171 631 0710; Europe—NEXUS Office, Thomas, contributed the cryptic foreword to _ tel +31 (0)1321 380558; USA/Canada— this collection of essays. General Publishing, tel (416) 445 3333 Bracken's anarchic approach takes in the definitive explanation of the ley line psychological dimension of geography phenomenon continues to elude across time; thus it's not surprising to find researchers, despite the past 75 years of references to ancient Greek wars, Roman investigation and theorising. The scientific slave revolts, Machiavelli and the streets of study of Earth mysteries began in modern New York City in the same flow of argu- times with Alfred Watkins’ 1925 survey of ment, all connected in a conspiracy sense to _ Britain's criss-crossing lines and monu- basic drives like instinct and lust for life. As ments, and has metamorphosed through the for the definition of psychogeography, 1960s spiritual revival to new heights in the Bracken offers more than a dozen, including —_ 1990s, taking in academia, the new age, the that it "is intentionally vague", but "is the crop circle phenomenon and UFOs. outlook of the lookout, an inspection of the In Ley Lines, author Danny Sullivan, an spectacle", which gives some vague idea! architect and recent former editor of The Ley Included is an Anti-Labor Day polemic Hunter magazine, provides the essential background (and gives some sensible tips) to steer the lay "ley hunter" on the right path. And while these ancient paths through the landscape (not just in Britain, but in Europe, the Americas and Australia) have unusual properties and connections, long-term attempts to quantify their energy patterns and functions have drawn inconclusive results—as Sullivan's predecessor and men- tor Paul Devereux found with his Rollright stones Dragon Project. Here, Sullivan's focus is on the enigma of straight landscape lines, be they Watkinsian ley lines, astronomical alignments, energy paths, processional ways, old straight tracks, funeral paths, death roads, spirit lines, or UFO highways a /a Aimé Michel. Sullivan includes a directory of ley lines, together with diagrams, covering over 50 sites in the British Isles and Europe. Above all, he fos- ters the spirit of enquiry by encouraging readers to get involved and build up their own ley maps in their areas. NEXUS -75