it´s great book and all things go right... ( )

While this text is not on my usual list of reading preferences, it was a book given to me recently. An avid bibliophile, I could not pass up the opportunity to read Satan Speaks by Anton Szandor LaVey. While I am Wiccan and my belief system certainly clashes with the teachings of LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan established in 1966, I still believe that every individual has something to teach: even if that teaching relates to what people SHOULD NOT do. Thus, I decided to read the text and offer up a review of its contents.

About the Author:

As mentioned earlier, Anton Szandor LaVey is the founder of the Church of Satan, an organization established in 1966. He authored the Satanic Bible in 1969, The Satanic Rituals in 1972, The Devil’s Notebook in 1992 as well as a number of other miscellaneous publications. The text, Satan Speaks was completed just before his death on October 29, 1997. He died of pulmonary edema in St. Mary’s Hospital, San Francisco: an ironic location for a Black Pope to pass away. Admirers of LaVey insist his stay in a Catholic hospital was not by choice, but that the location was the closest at the time he needed care. While his death certificate states that he died Halloween morning, some people consider this nothing more than hype: there has been speculation suggesting that his death was two days earlier than stated. His funeral was a private one, a private Satanic rite, and his ashes were distributed to family members for future use in Satanic rites.

Was Anton Szandor LaVey a dark, cynical man? If to judge by his writing alone, his text certainly suggests it. Judging from Satan Speaks, his last work before his death, LaVey had little compassion for other people and preferred isolation. Combine his essays and his life achievements in the perpetuation of the darker arts and the definite answer is yes, LaVey was dark and cynical: some may even call him frightening.

About Satan Speaks

This text was compiled shortly before LaVey’s death in 1997. The text consists of a series of essays, poems, and quotes, some that don’t even really relate to one another with any fluency. In some instances, it seems as if some of the writing is nothing more than rambling, angry, resentful ramblings at that: rants about the human race and how inferior they are to the author. While the book is indeed a fast read, consisting of 179 pages, some of the material is a bit too ribald and brash, even for the most seasoned reader. If the text is to reflect the personality of the Black Pope realistically, indeed, the book is a success. The writing voice is pompous, arrogant, pretentious, and haughty: a tone that, many will agree, is clearly fitting and matches the personality of Anton Szandor LaVey. While he insists that his sense of humor is merely sarcastic, it is clearly hard to define the difference between LaVey’s actual views and the moments he calls sarcasm.

What’s interesting about the text is that little can be derived out of the text that has anything to do with the occult. The text is primarily dealing with LaVey’s personal views pertaining to modern society. In contrast, the argument that LaVey presents pertaining to the Laws of Invisibility are quite fascinating, and fall right in line with the idea that “everyone has something to teach,” even when beliefs are not necessarily the same or shared.

In the essay, “The Art of Invisibility,” LaVey discusses the lack of awareness many people have for “the seemingly obvious.” LaVey skillfully argues that people take in and observe their environment, based only on their expectation of that environment; in other words, seeing only what is expected and not immediately seeing anything more than that. Taking a look at this argument from a paranormal angle, it is quite possible that “seeing is not believing,” but that “believing is seeing.” Just an interesting thought for readers to consider. Finally, while I cannot whole-heartedly recommend Satan Speaks as quality reading material, I can say that LaVey’s views and writings give the reader an interesting view of the Satanic mindset. In fact, sometimes the view is downright disturbing. ( )