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Melissa
read and liked
Curt's
review of Labyrinth13: True Tales of the Occult, Crime & Conspiracy:
"I am the author of this book and offer the following information about the contents:
The Labyrinth13 book is divided into three sections containing (of course) 13 chapters. Included are newly updated and fully revised versions of all the stories f...more
I am the author of this book and offer the following information about the contents:
The Labyrinth13 book is divided into three sections containing (of course) 13 chapters. Included are newly updated and fully revised versions of all the stories from the original website, along with new chapters and original illustrations. I have also added eight full-length appendixes, detailed and highly-readable endnotes, and lists of all source materials.
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Inside Labyrinth13, you will find true tales of bizarre coincidences, strange occult happenings, unusual paranormal events, including phantom black dogs, vampires in America, werewolves and a haunted island, weird hippie cults, LSD murders, mind control, and unsolved crimes, as well as:
• The possible solution to a Da Vinci Code-style occult cryptogram over 100 years old
• The mysterious yearly visitor to Edgar Allan Poe's grave known as the Poe Toaster
• An exploration of the unsolved Zodiac murders, including a detailed discussion of the "radian theory," and speculation that the killer may have actually been the most violent and dangerous visual artist who ever lived
• An analysis of whether the death of Kurt Cobain was murder or suicide
• A close look at aspects of the Manson/Son of Sam murders that examines the alleged connections of those crimes to a wider occult conspiracy involving the Process Church of the Final Judgment
• An expose that scrutinizes the possible role of the U.S. Government’s mind control experiments that may have been used to create programmed assassins
This book also contains detailed endnotes, fully cited resources, and highly readable appendixes - including interviews with key figures in some of the most unusual events in paranormal, conspiracy and true crime history.
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Table of Contents:
Part I: Tales of the Occult
1. Historical American Vampires: In Fiction and Fact
2. The Strange Case of John Whiteside Parsons
3. The House of Blood
4. Phantom Black Dogs
5. The Tale of the Poe Toaster
6. The Curse of Palmyra Island
7. A Lecture on Lycanthropy
8. Reports from the Labyrinth: A Curious Collection of Uncanny Occurrences
Part II: Crime
9. The Z Files: Labyrinth13 Examines the Zodiac Murders
10. Charles Manson, Son of Sam and the Process Church of the Final Judgment: Exploring the Alleged Connections
11. The Summer of Love Breeds a Season of Hate: The Effects of the Manson Murders on Public Perceptions of the Hippie Lifestyle
Part III: Conspiracy
12. Project Mind Kontrol: Did the U.S. Government Actually Create Programmed Assassins?
13. The Mysterious Death of Kurt Cobain
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Appendix 1: The History of Palmyra
Appendix 2: The Mikado: A Brief History and Discussion
Appendix 3: My Correspondence with Wheat Carr
Appendix 4: Interview with The Process Church of the Final Judgment
Appendix 5: Interview with Michael Mountain of Best Friends Animal Society
Appendix 6: List of Hippie Exploitation and Manson-Inspired Films
Appendix 7: My Correspondence with Sharon Jordan, Rob Jordan, Tom Wolfe, and Amanda Lane
Appendix 8: Barking Up the Wrong Tree
Also includes: detailed endnotes, appendixes, and fully cited resources.
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What others are saying about Labyrinth13:
"I ate this stuff up . . . [Labyrinth13:] reads like In Search Of . . . narrated by Glenn Danzig. The Zodiac chapter, far-reaching as it is, is only one of a baker's dozen detailing the bizarre, the obscure, and the sinister. The overview of the [Zodiac:] case is as good as it gets in print, and ample space is given over to the radian theory and Zodiac-cohort Mike Cole's work . . . [Labyrinth13 is:] an excellent overview of the Zodiac story with briefs on various theories, a lineup of the high-profile suspects, and a relevant examination of The Mikado. Accurate and well-written, it's a terrific crash course in the case. It's part of a larger [effort:] that deals with other unsolved true crime cases, conspiracy theories, and the occult."
Jake Wark, author and webmaster of the This is the Zodiac Speaking website
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"A former Merchant Marine and rock musician, Curt wrote some insightful work on the nature of mind controlled assassins for Steamshovel. Now he has produced a book, Labyrinth 13, that explores the topic a little more thoroughly and also mixes in some fascinating forteana - hound phantoms and haunted islands - with analytical insights into mondo subculture phenoms like the Manson family, the Process Church, the Zodiac murders, acid heads and various cults. Curt has mastered the Steamshovel approach of thorough documentation ("rich in important details not included in the main body of the book") and his conversational style is that of a genuine southern gentleman, thoughtful and not lurid or mawkish. Charles Fort himself wrote with similar clarity, but Rowlett seems to know how that sensibility stretches into new areas."
Kenn Thomas, author and editor, Steamshovel Press
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“Curt Rowlett is obsessed with the hidden, the obscure, the weird and the strange. He also has a deformity. He has three feet: one in the paranormal camp, one in the true crime camp, and one in the conspiracy camp. As a result, he has written Labyrinth13, a collection of his best internet and magazine articles. The majority of articles concern the paranormal and occult, but conspiracy folks who wish to broaden their horizons should have much to ponder after reading this unique collection.
Rowlett’s detailed analysis of the various theories surrounding California’s Zodiac killings is particularly compelling. The article includes new information missed by past, more cursory, examinations of the case. For aspiring code breakers, the author includes the still-unsolved 13-character cipher which the killer claimed would reveal his real name.
In writing this diverse anthology, Rowlett wasn’t afraid to tell the reader when his investigation led him to doubt the veracity of a particular theory. While this approach may sometimes be less than tantalizing, it builds confidence in the author’s intellectual honesty.
Lastly, the section of appendixes, notes, and resources is quite extensive, at nearly 80 pages. However, if this conjures images of page after page of tiny and boring text, that’s not the case here. The commentary, previously unpublished research interviews, and updated information truly enhance the reader’s understanding of what they’ve read.
From phantom black dogs, vampires, and haunted islands, to the Son of Sam, MKUltra, and the death of Kurt Cobain, Labyrinth13 is certain to tell even jaded conspiracy researchers something new.”
Al Hidell, author and editor, Paranoia Magazine
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"True to its title, Curt Rowlett's book is a labyrinth through which one travels to the less-explored reaches of Forteana, occultism, crime, and unnerving doings. Vampires, werewolves, black dogs, and sinister criminals abound here, as do more benevolent characters like the Poe Toaster - who annually visits Edgar Allan Poe's grave to leave tokens of respect.
Rowlett has contributed much to Strange Magazine, and the late editor/publisher Mark Chorvinsky was an early publisher of Rowlett's work.
Even when dealing with familiar topics, Rowlett finds unexplored aspects. Many famous murders, such as those by the Manson "family" and Son of Sam, have been saddled with occult connotations. Those who have previously written about them have not been in a position to know about occultism from the inside - and have not asked the needed questions. Labyrinth13 is, as Rowlett puts it, an 'explorer's notebook' of one who has explored 'the vast landscape of the weird.' And he brings a refreshingly non-paranoid point of view. Too many tabloid-style books have done the opposite.
Curt Rowlett's background as a former merchant marine has likely contributed to his wide worldview, able to take in many cultures and a wide variety of arcana. He explores peoples, places and ideas that few have dared. Whether concerning coincidence, spy-craft, the occult, or strange human behavior, he is in a position to make connections that elude most. He is an ideal guide through a massive maze - the highways and byways of which will never lose their fascination to readers who love the unusual. Labyrinth13 is a treasure trove."
Douglas Chapman, author and editor, Strange Magazine
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I came across an interesting article titled The Curse of Palmyra Island while searching for evil/cursed places. At the bottom of the article, I found a link to the Labyrinth13 site, in which Curt Rowlett is selling his book.
I read a couple of his excerpts, including the one about Kurt Cobain’s death and the conspiracy theory surrounding that event. [Rowlett's:] writing style is objective and concise, allowing you to form your own opinion. I respect writers who have this attitude.
Short review posted by a blogger at: Paranormal Watch...less
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