Scientologist! - by David S Wills (Paperback)

About the Book

The first book ever to explore the influence of Scientology on the life and work of an important American author, William S. Burroughs.

Book Synopsis

Scientology is largely overlooked in major texts about the life and work of William S. Burroughs, author of some of the most notorious literature of the 20th century. Its importance in the creation of the Cut-up Method and Burroughs' view of language as a virus is undermined by the omission of details regarding his interest in the religion over the course of a decade - certainly the most creatively fertile period of his life. Instead, biographers and critics tend to focus on his other obsessions in the realm of fringe science, and on the period during the early 1970s when Burroughs left the religion and began a public crusade against it.

However, Burroughs' involvement with L. Ron Hubbard's organization was no fleeting interest; he was a fully-fledged member and even obtained the rank of 'clear' - a prestigious achievement for a Scientologist. Scientology ultimately inspired the plot, the structure, and various elements of some of Burroughs' most important works, including The Soft Machine and The Wild Boys. His fascination was genuine, and his progress through the hierarchical structure of the Church signals a dedication that he would later downplay after being excommunicated in 1969.

Now, for the first time, his life and literature are reexamined in the light of newly uncovered information about Burroughs' fascination with this 'weird cult, ' as he once described it.

Review Quotes

"Burroughs' involvement in Scientology has received only scant mention in the biographies that have appeared about him, so it has been left to David Wills, the publisher of theBeatdom journal and books, to right the record in his Scientologist! Williams S. Burroughs and the Weird Cult (Beatdom, 2013)." - Huffington Post "5 out of 5" - Flavorpill "an engrossing read" - Tony Ortega "Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the "Weird Cult" is a marvellous, thoroughly researched, and well-written volume that should be of interest to fan and scholar alike." - Matthew Levi Stevens "If you're a William S. Burroughs or a Beat Generation fan, this is a must-read." Daily Beat Blog "this is a must-read" - Cambodia Book Club "Read it, it's good!" PopDose "Quite Fascinating" - John Tytell, author of Naked Angels "David S. Wills presents a page-turning account of this, an indispensable read for any Burroughs scholar, whether academic or autodidact." - Marc Olmsted