Predicate

by Peter Sotos

Ten years after the massacre, Peter Sotos re-examines Dunblane, dissecting Thomas Hamilton's motives and revealing the gay sub-culture of clandestine paedophilia which spawned this most reviled of all killers.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

191 pages, Paperback

First published December 21, 2005

About the author

Peter Sotos (born April 17, 1960) is a Chicago-born writer who has contributed an unprecedented examination of the peculiar motivations of sadistic sexual criminals. His works are often cited as conveying an uncanny understanding of myriad aspects of pornography. Most of his writings have focused on sexually violent pornography, particularly of that involving children. His writings are also considered by many to be social criticism often commenting on the hypocritical way media handles these issues.

In 1984, while attending The Art Institute of Chicago, Sotos began producing a self-published newsletter or "fanzine" named Pure, notable as the first zine dedicated to serial killer lore. Much of the text and pictures in Pure were photocopied images from major newspapers and other print media. Sotos also used a photocopy from a magazine of child pornography as the cover of issue#2 of Pure. In 1986 this cover led to his arrest and charges of obscenity and possession of child pornography. The charges of obscenity were dropped, but Sotos eventually pled guilty to the possession charge and received a suspended sentence. Sotos was the first person in the United States ever to be charged for owning child pornography.

Sotos' writings explore sadistic and pedophilic sexual impulses in their many, often hidden, guises. Often using first person narratives, his prose takes on the point of view of the sexual predator. Despite his early legal troubles, and the seemingly fatal stigma of falsely being labeled a pedophile, Sotos continues to garner support for his ideas and literary output.

He was until 2003 a seminal member of the industrial noise band Whitehouse.

Reviews

[Shrouded Hand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ive got to admit, this one got to me. I didn't think much could offend or disgust me but this book managed both. At the same time I was fully aware that the book is trying really really hard to do exactly that, so it bugs me even more. The writing style can be very word salady or stream-of-conciousness at times with one subject leading on to another in ways that dont immediately make sense or feel a bit disorientating. I got the feeling that some parts are written deliberately badly to further annoy the reader. It has very little to do with the actual events of the Dunblaine Massacre, mostly it focuses on the authors own sexual exploits and seedy anecdotes. Reading the book is like being in the company of a person who is trying to get you to punch them in the the face by being as obnoxious as possible. I highly recommend it.

[D Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

i need a gf

[Josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say about this Peter Sotos book that isn't true of his other books, or him in general? Predicate is a journey into the heart of sexual darkness, with all possible trigger warnings attached, but especially involving pedophilia. And yet that is true of all of his books. No other author is as great of a writer for reasons that make him a horrific person. Imagine if Hitler or Eric Rudolph wrote with the talent of Louis-Ferdinand Celine, except Sotos is more Hannibal Lecter than Hitler. Dunblane is only part of a larger mesh of observations on the great sin of the human race, the one that is currently manifesting itself in hysteria over QAnon and trans "groomers" that is preached by weirdos like Ron Watkins and Matt Walsh. I don't think books like this should exist, because people like this shouldn't exist - but, since they unfortunately do, Sotos serves as a peek into the gloryhole booth of society's darkest impulses.

Don't read this book. B+