Disinformation: The Interviews

Richard Metzger

Richard Metzger presents the most compelling interviews from the hit TV series Disinformation, revealing mind-blowing thoughts from modern culture's most radical thinkers, including: Paul Laffoley on how to build a working time machine; Lucifer Principle author Howard Bloom on biological apocalypse; Genesis P-Orridge on what it's like to be the leader of his own cult; Robert Anton Wilson on The Illuminati and Aleister Crowley and more modern revolutionaries on their thoughts, fears, enthusiasms and predictions. Illustrated with almost 250 colour and b/w photos.

Review by Paul Lappen (190304) Rating (9/10)

Review by Paul Lappen
For a couple of years, the Disinformation TV series was shown in Britain. It dealt with all sorts of strange topics. Through a quirk of fate, it was scheduled right after Ally McBeal, an unintended bit of surrealism. In America, the show was bought by the Sci-Fi Channel, but never shown, because they suddenly realized just what they had. The interviews reprinted here represent the tame "intellectual" part of the show. The companion DVD contains the more bizarre bits.

Duncan Laurie discusses the science of radionics. Douglas Rushkoff looks at media viruses. Howard Bloom (The Lucifer principle) talks about the coming biological apocalypse. Grant Morrison talks about
Hollywood's interest in underground culture and relates a very cool alien abduction story. Artist Joe Coleman discusses his thinking on serial killers. Peter Russell looks at spiritual renewal and ecological doomsday.

Robert Anton Wilson talks about Aleister Crowley and the Illuminati. Artist Paul Laffoley has a solution to the housing shortage; grow houses from plants. A separate interview with Laffoley looks at a painting of his that is supposedly alive. Metzger, the interviewer, visits Kembra Pfahler, New York's most outrageous performance artist. Last, but not least, Genesis P-Orridge (of the band Throbbing Gristle) tells what it's like to be the leader of your own cult.

Those who understand the previous two paragraphs need read no further; buy this book. For everyone else, the people profiled here take their own paths through life. They visit places that the rest of us don't even know exist. The fringes of modern culture are where they hang out.

Lest anyone think that this is just an interview book, there are plenty of pictures included. Some of them are quite disturbing, so this book is very much not for everyone. For those who are ready to have their minds forced open, this book will do a very good job. It's highly recommended.
Paul Lappen (19th March 2004)